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Chapter 6

Life Processes

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Class 10

The topic of Life Processes, for Class 10 Biology, is a critical subject covering every essential type of life process that is important for students to learn, to develop a foundational understanding of the same. The essential life processes include nutrition, metabolism, transportation, reproduction, excretion, and respiration.
This topic found in chapter 6 is prescribed by CBSE, and comes in the board examination; thereby an understanding of every aspect of the topic is inevitable. 

Life on earth is channelled by certain processes, which are  vital to sustain life, keep organisms functioning and healthy. As such, it would not be wrong to say that life processes lead to survival. Every activity performed by an organism is a “Life Process”. 

The chapter on Life Processes for Class 10 is a detailed version of different processes performed by organisms.

Definition - Basic Life Processes

Specific processes and functions are responsible for life on Earth. Many fundamental yet critical activities are required for organisms to remain healthy and sustain the appropriate functioning of their organ systems. All of these mechanisms are necessary for survival; and are known as basic life processes.

When it comes to life processes, there are six different kinds that an organism can perform that calculate the total state of life. Among the several sorts of life processes are:

1. Nutrition

2. Metabolism

3. Respiration

4. Transportation

5. Reproduction

6. Excretion

These life processes have to be thoroughly learned and so we have explained them precisely in the following sections.

The process by which plants and animals obtain food, and use it to produce energy is referred to as nutrition. It is a fundamental biological process that allows living beings to obtain energy from many sources. The components that offer this nutrition are Nutrients that are based on specific body needs.

The mode of nutrition, on the other hand, varies from one species to the other. Plants have Autotrophic Nutrition because they produce their own food through photosynthesis, which involves the use of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
Animals, on the other hand, are Heterotrophs, which means that they consume plants and other species. A holozoic style of nourishment is found in all vertebrates, including humans, as well as a few unicellular creatures such as amoebas.

Both plants and animals have different modes of mobility. In animals, the main mode of transportation is via the circulatory system, which consists of blood, the heart, and the blood vessels.

Plants, on the other hand, have vascular tissues to conduct and transport the materials throughout their different parts. These vascular tissues are the xylem and phloem. The xylem tends to conduct both water and minerals from the roots to the shoots, whereas the phloem transports the food which is prepared from the leaves to the other parts of the plant.

Metabolism is a chemical process that involves a variety of steps that control the living state of an organism's cells. A set of chemical events that occur in a living organism to sustain life is referred to as metabolism. 

Metabolic processes can be divided into two categories:

  • Catabolism
  • Anabolism

Catabolism is a metabolic process that releases energy. It is a chemical reaction that breaks down bigger, organic molecules into smaller ones. Energy is released as a result of this metabolic process.

Anabolism is a metabolic process in which energy is conserved in preparation for future needs. It is the process of developing or synthesising molecules from simpler substances that the cells require. This metabolic process necessitates the use and storage of energy. Thereby the process through which energy is saved for future use is known as anabolism.

The exchange of gases occurs during the process of respiration. To carry out the process of respiration, animals have a well-defined respiratory system. Glucose is broken down to release energy during breathing. It's a form of redox reaction that can occur with or without the presence of oxygen. The process of respiration takes place in the mitochondria of the cells, and the energy released is in the form of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP).

Respiration is Mainly of Two Different Types:

  • Respiration in the presence of oxygen is referred to as Aerobic Respiration.

It is a type of cellular respiration that produces energy in the presence of oxygen. It is a continual process that takes place within animal and plant cells.

  • Respiration in the absence of oxygen is referred to as Anaerobic Respiration

It is a sort of cellular respiration that produces energy in the absence of oxygen. The following chemical equation can be used to explain this process:

Glucose(C6H12O6) + Oxygen(6O2) → Carbon dioxide(6CO2) + Water(6H2O)+  Energy (ATP)
 
The three phases of Respiration are:

  • Glycolysis
  • Oxidative Phosphorylation
  • Citric Acid Cycle

Reproduction - Ncert Class 10 Science Life Processes

One generation after another, the biological process of reproducing offspring affects the species' survival. There are two modes of reproduction:

  • Sexual Reproduction: Sexual reproduction is the process of reproducing offspring by involving two gametes or parent cells.
  • Asexual reproduction: Asexual reproduction refers to a procedure in which a single gamete or parent cells carried forward the reproduction.

The process of excreting hazardous waste substances from an organism's body is known as excretion. Different creatures excrete in different ways. Plants have a variety of excretion mechanisms. Stomata are the openings through which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged during photosynthesis and respiration.

Excess water is expelled through the process of transpiration in plants. They even shed dead cells and leaves. These waste products are deposited in the vacuoles of the plant and in the leaves that fall off. Resins, gums, and other waste products are among the others.

Humans, on the other hand, have a complex excretory system that includes a pair of kidneys, and urinary bladder, and a urethra. Nephrons are the structural units of kidneys, where blood is filtered. After filtering, pureblood flows to various regions of the body, while waste items are removed to pass through the ureter and into the bladder. Urine is collected in the urinary bladder and subsequently expelled through the urethra.

Difference between Plants and Animals Life Processes

Here are the essential differences between the life processes of plants and animals.

Plants Animals
They provide oxygen to the atmosphere and are green in colour due to the presence of chlorophyll. Animals do not have the ability to make their own food and rely on a specialised system to carry out various life activities.
Plants are rooted in the earth and are unable to migrate from one location to another. Animals that have the ability to move.
Plans are autotrophic and can prepare their own food. Animals are heterotrophs, meaning they feed on plants and other animals.
Food is stored in the form of starch in plants. They are unable to digest food because they lack a digestive system. Animals have a well-developed digestive system and the ability to store food as glycogen.
The stomata are the openings through which plants breathe. Gases are exchanged through the lungs, gills, skin, and other organs.
Plants use budding, vegetative propagation and other methods of asexual reproduction. Pollination is a method by which they reproduce sexually. Sexual reproduction is the most common mode of reproduction for animals. Lower animals reproduce asexually through fragmentation and budding.

What do you mean when you say "life processes"?

Life processes are the most basic and important activities that an organism performs in order to survive. These aid in the upkeep and survival of an organism.

What are the many stages of life in humans?

Nutrition, Metabolism, Respiration, Transportation, Reproduction, Metabolism are all examples of human life processes. These processes are critical for carrying out day-to-day tasks.

What role do life processes play in our lives?

The importance of life processes lies in carrying out regular life tasks, which cannot be overstated. They aid in the production of energy and the maintenance of physiological homeostasis. Life processes assist a body in adapting to changes in the environment. A minor disruption in any of the body's life processes causes the entire system to malfunction.

 

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