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com by - Anju Pal

LIFE PROCESSES
The processes which are essential to sustain life are called Life Processes. Life processes include a) Nutrition b) Respiration c) Transportation d) Assimilation e) Excretion Life processes are needed to prevent damage and breakdown (for maintenance) and to get energy. In a simple form we can say Life processes Energy - Through nutrition - food sources are carbon based

In single cell organisms simple diffusion takes place but in case of multi-cellular organisms, various body parts have specialized in the functions they perform (Division of labour).

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NUTRITION

Nutrition

Autotrophic

Heterotrophic

Eg.Green plants

Eg.Algae

Eg.Some bacteria

Parasitic Eg.Cuscuta,Ticks,

Saprotropic Fungi

Holozoic Herbivore,Carnivore

Autotrophic Nutrition Autotrophic nutrition involves the intake of simple inorganic materials from the environment and using an external energy source like sun to synthesize complex high- energy organic material.

Raw Materials required for Photosynthesis are: a) Water used in photosynthesis is taken up from the soil by the roots in terrestrial plants. b) Other materials like nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and

Blog: Scienceworkplace.blogspot.com by - Anju Pal

magnesium are taken up from the soil. c) Nitrogen is an essential element used in the synthesis of proteins and other compounds. This is taken up in the form of nitrates and nitrites. d) Carbondioxide is taken from atmosphere through stomata.

Blog: Scienceworkplace.blogspot.com by - Anju Pal

The following events occur during this process I. II. III. Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll. Conversion of light energy to chemical energy and splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.

The carbohydrates which are not used immediately are stored in the form of starch.
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EXTRA KNOWLEDGE

Blog: Scienceworkplace.blogspot.com by - Anju Pal

Photosynthesis in Desert plant

CAM Photosynthesis : CAM plants. CAM stands for Crassulacean Acid Metabolism

Called CAM after the plant family in which it was first found (Crassulaceae) and because the CO2 is stored in the form of an acid before use in photosynthesis. Stomata open at night (when evaporation rates are usually lowers) and are usually closed during the day. The CO2 is converted to an acid and stored during the night. During the day, the acid is broken down and the CO2 is released to RUBISCO for photosynthesis
Adaptive Value: o Better Water Use Efficiency than C3 plants under arid conditions due to opening stomata at night when transpiration rates are lower (no sunlight, lower temperatures, lower wind speeds, etc.). o May CAMidle. When conditions are extremely arid, CAM plants can just leave their stomata closed night and day. Oxygen given off in photosynthesis is used for respiration and CO2 given off in respiration is used for photosynthesis. This is a little like a perpetual energy machine, but there are costs associated with running the machinery for respiration and photosynthesis so the plant cannot CAM-idle forever. But CAM-idling does allow the plant to survive dry spells, and it allows the plant to recover very quickly when water is available again (unlike plants that drop their leaves and twigs and go dormant during dry spells).

CAM plants include many succulents such as cactuses and agaves and also some orchids and bromeliads

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TEST YOURSELF

Blog: Scienceworkplace.blogspot.com by - Anju Pal

Heterotrophic Nutrition Organism depends upon other organism for their food in Heterotrophic nutrition. Types of heterotrophic nutrition

Heterotrophic Nutrition

Parasitic Derive nutrition from plants or animals without killing them

Saprotrophic Breakdown the food material outside the body and then absorb it

Symbiotic Two orgnisms depend on each other

Holozoic Engulf complete food

Eg. Cuscuta, Ticks, Lice,Leeches, Tapeworm

Eg. Fungi, Bread-mould, Mushrooms

Eg. Lichens ( Algae and Fungi live together)

Herbivores

Carnivores

OMnivores

Amoeba Single cell organism form temporary finger like extensions of the cell surface (pseudopodia) which fuse over the food particle forming food-vacuole. Complete food digestion takes place inside food vacuole.