2. Life Processes in Living Organisms L-01

Living Organisms and Life Processes :

  • Carbohydrates, fats and lipids are the main sources of this energy 
  • Harvested by the mitochondria present in each cell. 
  • It is not like that only foodstuff is sufficient for energy production but oxygen is also necessary.
  • All these i.e. food stuffs and oxygen are transported up to the cell via circulatory system.
  • Besides, it is coordinated by the control system of the body. i.e. each life process contributes in its own way in the process of energy production. 
  • Functioning of all these life processes also requires the energy. 
  • We get 4Kcal energy per gram of carbohydrates. 
Living organism and Energy production :
  • In living organisms, respiration occurs at two levels as 
    1. body level 
    2. cellular level. 
  • Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between body and surrounding in case of respiration occurring at body level. 
  • In case of respiration at cellular level, foodstuffs are oxidized either with or without help of oxygen.
  • Energy is obtained in the form of ATP
  • For this purpose, glucose, a type of carbohydrates is oxidized step by step in the cells. This is called as cellular respiration
  • Cellular respiration occurs among the living organisms by two methods. 
  1. Aerobic respiration (oxygen is involved) 
  2. Anaerobic respiration (oxygen is not involved).