Life Processes

Nutrition in plants and animals:-

 Nutrition: The process by which an organism takes food and utilizes it, is called nutrition.
 Need for Nutrition: Organisms need the energy to perform various activities. The energy is
supplied by the nutrients. Organisms need various raw materials for growth and repair. These
raw materials are provided by nutrients.
 Nutrients: Materials which provide nutrition to organisms are called nutrients. Carbohydrates,
proteins and fats are the main nutrients and are called macronutrients. Minerals and vitamins
are required in small amounts and hence are called micronutrients.
 Modes of Nutrition
1. Autotrophic Nutrition.
2. Heterotrophic Nutrition.

Autotrophic Nutrition:-

The mode of nutrition in which an organism prepares its own food is called autotrophic nutrition.
Green plants and blue-green algae follow the autotrophic mode of nutrition.

 The organisms which carry out autotrophic nutrition are called autotrophs (green plants).

 Autotrophic nutrition is fulfilled by the process, by which autotrophs intake CO 2 and H2O, and
convert these into carbohydrates in the presence of chlorophyll, sunlight is called
photosynthesis.
 Equation
Nutrition in Plants: Green plants prepare their own food. They make food in the presence of
sunlight. Sunlight provides energy’, carbon dioxide and water are the raw materials and chloroplast
is the site where food is made.

What is Photosynthesis:-
Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants prepare food is called photosynthesis.

 During this process, the solar energy is converted into chemical energy and carbohydrates are
formed.
 Green leaves are the main site of photosynthesis.
 The green portion of the plant contains a pigment chloroplast, chlorophyll (green pigment).
 The whole process of photosynthesis can be shown by the following equation:

Raw Materials for Photosynthesis:

 Sunlight
 Chlorophyll: Sunlight absorbed by chloroplast
 CO2: Enters through stomata, and oxygen (O2) is released as a byproduct through stomata on
the leaf.
 Water: Water + dissolved minerals like nitrogen, phosphorous etc., are taken up by the roots
from the soil.

How do raw materials for photosynthesis become available to the plant?

 Water comes from the soil, through the xylem tissue in roots and stems.
 Carbon dioxide comes in the leaves through stomata.
Site of Photosynthesis: Chloroplast in the leaf. Chloroplast contains chlorophyll (green pigment)

Main Events of Photosynthesis:

 Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll.

 Conversion of light energy into chemical energy + splitting (breaking) of water into hydrogen
and oxygen.
 Reduction of CO2 to carbohydrates.
 Sunlight activates chlorophyll, which leads to splitting of the water molecule.
 The hydrogen, released by the splitting of a water molecule is utilized for the reduction of
carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates.
 Oxygen is the by-product of photosynthesis.
 Carbohydrate is subsequently converted into starch and is stored in leaves and other storage
parts.
 The splitting of water molecules is a part of the light reaction.
Stomata:-

 Stomata: These are tiny pores present in the epidermis of leaf or stem through which gaseous
exchange and transpiration occur.

Functions of stomata

 Exchange of gases, O2 and CO2.

 Loses a large amount of water (water vapour) during transpiration.

Opening and closing of stomatal pores:

 The opening and closing of stomatal pores are controlled by the turgidity of guard cells.
 When guard cells uptake water from surrounding cells, they swell to become a turgid body,
which enlarges the pore in between (Stomatal Opening).
  While, when water is released, they become flaccid shrinking to close the pore (Stomatal
Closing).

Significance of Photosynthesis:

 Photosynthesis is the main way through which solar energy is made available for different
living beings.
 Green plants are the main producers of food in the ecosystem. All other organisms directly or
indirectly depend on green plants for food.
 The process of photosynthesis also helps in maintaining the balance of carbon dioxide and
oxygen in the air.

Heterotrophic Nutrition :-

The mode of nutrition in which an organism takes food from another organism is called heterotrophic
nutrition. Organisms, other than green plants and blue-green algae follow the heterotrophic mode of
nutrition. Heterotrophic nutrition can be further divided into three types, viz. saprophytic nutrition,
holozoic nutrition, and parasitic.

 Saprophytic Nutrition: In saprophytic nutrition, the organism secretes the digestive juices on
the food. The food is digested while it is still to be ingested. The digested food is then ingested
by the organism. All the decomposers follow saprophytic nutrition. Some insects, like
houseflies, also follow this mode of nutrition.
 Holozoic Nutrition: In holozoic nutrition, the digestion happens inside the body of the
organism. i.e., after the food is ingested. Most of the animals follow this mode of nutrition.
 Parasitic Nutrition: The organism which lives inside or outside another organism (host) and
derives nutrition from it is known as parasites and this type of mode of nutrition is called
parasitic nutrition. For example Cuscuta, tick etc.

Nutrition in Amoeba

 Amoeba is a unicellular animal which follows the holozoic mode of nutrition.

 In holozoic nutrition, the digestion of food follows after the ingestion of food. Thus, digestion
takes place inside the body of the organism.
  Holozoic nutrition happens in five steps, viz. ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and
egestion.

Steps of Holozoic Nutrition:

 Ingestion: The process of taking in the food is called ingestion.

 Digestion: The process of breaking complex food substances into simple molecules is called
digestion. Simple molecules, thus obtained, can be absorbed by the body.
 Absorption: The process of absorption of digested food is called absorption.
 Assimilation: The process of utilization of digested food, for energy and for growth and repair is
called assimilation.
 Egestion: The process of removing undigested food from the body is called egestion.

Amoeba is a unicellular animal which follows the holozoic mode of nutrition. The cell membrane of
amoeba keeps on protruding into pseudopodia. Amoeba surrounds a food particle with pseudopodia
and makes a food vacuole. The food vacuole contains food particle and water. Digestive enzymes
are secreted in the food vacuole and digestion takes place. After that, digested food is absorbed
from the food vacuole. Finally, the food vacuole moves near the cell membrane and undigested food
is expelled out.
Anal Sphincter controls the waste removal through anus.
Glucose Presence of oxygen Pyruvate Lack Of Oxygen Lactic Acid + Energy
(Cross section Phloem tissue)