Monday 6th November 2023: FORM 1 :

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

SENSITIVITY/ IRRITABILITY

NUTRITION
What is Nutrition?

“Nutrition is the process of taking in food and converting it into energy and other vital
nutrients required for life.”

Nutrients are the substances which provide energy and biomolecules necessary for carrying
out the various body functions. All living organisms need nutrients for proper functioning and
growth.

Types of Nutrition

Broadly, there are two types of nutrition among living organisms, namely:

 Autotrophic mode
 Heterotrophic mode
Autotrophic Nutrition

In the autotrophic mode, organisms use simple inorganic matters like water and carbon
dioxide in the presence of light and chlorophyll to synthesize food on their own. In other
words, the process of photosynthesis is used to convert light energy into food such as
glucose. Such organisms are called autotrophs. Plants, algae, and bacteria (cyanobacteria) are
some examples where autotrophic nutrition is observed.

During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water get converted into carbohydrates. These
carbohydrates are stored in the form of starch in plants. Plants later derive the energy required
from the stored starch. The process of photosynthesis can be explained in three stages:

1. Absorption: The chlorophyll present in leaves traps the light coming from the sun.
2. Conversion: The absorbed light energy gets converted into chemical energy. And
water absorbed will split into hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
3. Reduction: At last, carbon dioxide gets reduced i.e. hydrogen molecules combine
with carbon, to form carbohydrates (sugar molecules).

Autotrophic Nutrition

All three events are not a continuous process. They may or may not take place sequentially.

In plants, stomata are the openings on leaves where gaseous exchange takes place and is
regulated by guard cells. Plants take in and release gases through these stomatal pores.

In desert-like habitats, to avoid water loss, guard cells keep these pores closed during the
daytime. Later, during the night time, stomata will be opened to absorb carbon dioxide and
store in the vacuoles. During the daytime, they will use this stored carbon dioxide to perform
photosynthesis.

Other than photosynthesis, plants also depend on soil for micro and macro elements. These
elements are used to synthesize proteins and other essential compounds required for the
proper functioning and growth of the plants.
Heterotrophic Nutrition
Every organism is not capable of preparing food on its own. Such organisms depend on
others for their nutrition. The organisms which cannot produce food on their own and depend
on other sources/organisms are called heterotrophs. This mode of nutrition is known
as heterotrophic nutrition.
Heterotrophs can be of many varieties depending upon their environment and adaptations.
Some may eat plants (herbivores) and others eat animals (carnivores) while few eat both
(omnivores). Thus we can say survival of heterotrophs depends directly or indirectly on plants.

REPRODUCTION:
Reproduction Definition
“Reproduction is the process of producing offspring that are biologically or genetically
similar to the parent organism.”

What is Reproduction?
Reproduction is a biological process by which an organism reproduces an offspring that is
biologically similar to the organism. Reproduction enables and ensures the continuity of
species, generation after generation. It is the main feature of life on earth.

Types of Reproduction
There are basically two types of reproduction:

1. Asexual Reproduction
2. Sexual Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction
“Asexual reproduction refers to the type of reproduction in which only a single organism
gives rise to a new individual.”
Binary Fission (Asexual Reproduction) – Diagram

Asexual reproduction does not involve the fusion of gametes, and therefore, the offsprings
produced are genetically identical to the parent. The organisms produced by asexual
reproduction are less diverse in nature. This type of reproduction is practised widely by
unicellular organisms.

The process involves rapid population growth and no mate is required for the process.
However, a lack of genetic diversity makes organisms more susceptible to diseases and
nutrition deficiencies.

Asexual reproduction is further divided into:

1. Binary Fission: In this, the cell splits into two each cell carrying a copy of the DNA from the
parent cell. For eg., amoeba.
2. Budding: In this, a small bud-like outgrowth gives rise to a new individual. The outgrowth
remains attached to the organism until it is fully grown. It detaches itself and lives as an individual
organism. For eg., hydra
3. Fragmentation: In this, the parent organism splits into several parts and each part grows into a
new individual. For eg., Planaria
4. Sporogenesis: In this type of reproduction, a new organism grows from the spores. These can be
created without fertilization and can spread through wind and animals.
Sexual Reproduction
“Sexual reproduction is a type of reproduction that involves the production of an offspring
by the fusion of male and female gametes.”
Sexual Reproduction Diagram

In sexual reproduction, male and female gametes are formed to produce an offspring.

This process is usually slow and complex compared to asexual reproduction. The organisms so
produced are genetically diverse. Thus, they can evolve along with the changing climatic conditions.
Humans and many multicellular organisms exhibit a sexual mode of reproduction.