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In order to identify living organisms, scientists listed 7 characteristics which all living organisms have:
1. Nutrition:
Taking in nutrients which are organic substances and mineral ions, containing raw materials and energy for
growth and tissue repair, absorbing and assimilating them.
2. Excretion:
Removal from organisms of toxic materials, the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess.
3. Respiration:
Chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy.
4. Sensitivity:
The ability to detect or sense changes in the environment and to make responses.
5. Reproduction:
Progresses that make more of the same kind of organism.
6. Growth:
The permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in number of cells, cell size, or both.
7. Movement:
An action by an organism or part of an organism that changes position or place.
M- Movement
R- Respiration
S- Sensitivity
G- Growth
R- Reproduction
E- Excretion
N- Nutrition
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Now, let’s take up a simple example: Humans
Kingdom- Animal
Phylum- Vertebrates
Class- Mammalia
Order- Primate
Family- Hominidae
Genus- Homo
Species- Sapiens
Eukaryotes:
Protoctista: are organisms with a nucleus, and many flexible organelles amongst their species (for
example, some have chloroplasts and cell walls like plants and some like animal cells without these
distinguishing characteristics). Their main characteristics include:
Paramecium
Chlamydomonas
Seaweeds
Fungi: are organisms which do not have chlorophyll, thus are heterotrophic and feed on dead
organic matter parasitically. The most common known is the edible mushroom; others include
fungi causing diseases like athlete’s foot, ringworm, panama disease etc.Their characteristics
include:
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Penicillium
Mushroom
Animals:
Phylum Arthropoda:
Hard exoskeleton
Segmented bodies
jointed appendages
exoskeleton composed of protein and chitin
Open circulatory systems in which heart pumps hemolymph through short arteries into open spaces
(sinuses)
Aquatic members have gills for gas exchange
terrestrial members have tracheal system of branched tubes leading from their surface throughout body
Crustaceans:
More than 4 pairs of jointed legs
Breathe through gills
Antennae present
Mostly marine
Examples of crustaceans: Crabs, lobsters etc.
Arachnids:
With 4 pairs of jointed legs
Breathe through gills and book lungs
Mostly terrestrial
Examples of arachnids: Scorpion,spider etc.
Insects:
Have 3 pairs of jointed legs
Have 2 pairs of wings
Breathe through trachea
Antennae present
Mostly terrestrial
Examples of insects: Locust, Moth, House Fly, Grasshopper etc.
Myriapods:
Phylum Annelida
They are worms
Have bodies made up of ring like segments
Live in water and moist soil
Example of Annelids: Earthworm
Phylum Mollusca
Soft bodied animals
Have unsegmented bodies
With or without shell
Examples of Molluscs: Octopus, Jellyfish, Squid etc.
Phylum Nematodes
They are worms
Bodies are not divided into segments
Usually white, long and thin bodied
feed by parasitic means
Examples of Nematodes: Hookworm, Roundworm etc.
Phylum Vertebrates
Internal skeleton with spine
Their nervous system has encephalon (brain) and a spinal cord.
The encephalon is placed inside the skull and spinal cord is placed inside the spine.
Class Fish
Are cold blooded
Have streamlined bodies
Aquatic
Have scales on their bodies
May be Herbivores or Carnivores
Lay eggs in water
Have fins
Breathe through gills
Example of Fish: Mackerel, Pomfret, Tuna, Salmon etc.
Class Amphibians
Give birth to offspring by laying eggs
Have 4 limbs
Their habitat is both terrestrial and aquatic
Have moist skin
Breathe through gills when young; when mature, breathe through lungs
Adult often lives on land
Example of Amphibian: Frog, Salamander etc.
Class Reptiles
Have scales on body
Are cold blooded
Terrestrial
Lay eggs to give birth to offsprings
Egg shells are rubbery
Examples of Reptiles: Lizard, Snake etc.
Class Birds
Don’t have teeth, instead have a beak
Have hollow bones
Are warm blooded
Lay hard shelled eggs
Forelimbs replaced by wings
Breathe through lungs
Examples of Birds: Flamingo, Eagle, Hawk, Sparrow etc.
Class Mammals
Warm blooded
Can maintain a constant body temperature
Have different types of teeth
Have skin covered by Hair
Give birth to live young offsprings
Have sudoriferous (sweat) glands
Females have mammary (milk secreting) glands that produce milk to feed young ones.
Example: Human being
Root
System Adventitious root only Adventitious root, Taproot or both
Viruses
Entirely microscopic
Consisting of a single nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat
Capable of replication only within living cells of bacteria, animals or plants.
Example of Viruses: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Tuberculosis, etc.
Prokaryotes
Bacteria are prokaryotic and unicellular. they have cell walls and circular DNA called plasmids. They
are Heterotrophs or Autotrophs.
Example: L.bulgaricus
*2-An Overview:
Right from the time when a diploid zygote was formed, till the present, we all are just made up
of 37.2 trillion microscopic and unicellular cells!
The cells cannot be seen by naked eyes; instead microscopes are needed to telescope our view of
these diminutive structures.
In the modern era, there are more than two types of microscopes that are used for viewing the cells
in detail. The most common type of microscope is a light microscope that can magnify the cell
appearance by x1500. Another one is an electron microscope that magnifies cell appearance to
x10,000,000, enabling scientists to see in greater detail.
Cell structure:
Cell membrane:
Present in all cells
Also called as plasma membrane or cell surface membrane
Made up of thin layer of protein and fats
Partially permeable
Inside cell membrane lies cytoplasm and other cell organelles.
Cell wall:
Present in plant and prokaryote cells
In plants, made up of cellulose
Cellulose forms fibres in criss-cross patterns over one other
Cell wall forms very strong covering to cell
Prevents cell from bursting
Cytoplasm:
Jelly like substance
Contains 70% water
Metabolic reactions of the cell take place over here
Harmful and useful substances diffuse in and out of cells through the cytoplasm
Nucleus:
Contains genetic information present in chromosomes
Chromosomes are made up of Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA
Controls the functions of the cells and gives instructions carry them out
Present in both plant and animal cells and absent in a prokaryotic cell
Vacuole:
Vacuoles are spaces in cells containing a solution called cell sap
Large vacuoles are present in plant cells to store the useful products formed in photosynthesis
In animal cells, small vacuoles or no vacuoles at all can be present as animal cells are heterotrophic
Small vacuoles in animal cells often store food and water
Chloroplast:
Is the organelle that distinguishes between an animal and a plant cell
Contains a green coloured pigment known as chlorophyll
They are important for plant cells in the process of photosynthesis
Mitochondria:
Are powerhouses of cells
Are found in all cells except those of a prokaryote
In aerobic respiration, oxygen is used to release oxygen from the contents of the mitochondrion (starch in
plants and glycogen in animals)
Cells containing mitochondria are-
Ribosomes:
Ribosomes are cell organelles that are the places where a protein is made by the synthesis of amino acids.
They are arranged in a network known as rough endoplasmic reticulum
They are found in all kinds of cells ranging from prokaryotic to eukaryotic.
Have a cellulose wall covering the cell membrane Don’t have cell wall
Often have chloroplasts with chlorophyll in them Chloroplasts absent in animal cells
Often possess large vacuoles containing cell sap Only possess small vacuoles containing food and water
Often have starch grains Only have glycogen granules present sometimes
Calculating Magnification:
Top tip!: questions on magnification are quite common in cambridge IGCSE Biology paper 1 and paper 6 so
do learn the formula in advance!
Magnification = Size of Image/Actual Size
Memory cell : found in the blood, keep antibodies ready to kill pathogens that have affected you
more than once.
Root hair cell : found at the end of the plant roots are responsible for the absorption of minerals and
water.
Palisade mesophyll cell : found beneath the epidermis of a leaf are specialized at photosynthesis.
Sperm and Egg cell: produced in testes and ovaries, fuse together to produce a zygote.
Nerve cell : found throughout the bodies of all organisms are responsible for the transmission of
electrical nerve impulses.
Red Blood Cell : found throughout in the blood of mammals and specialize at the transport of
oxygen using the red pigment haemoglobin.
External Links
1. Plant Cell
2. Eukaryote Cell
3. Cell Organelles
*3-Diffusion
Diffusion is the net movement of molecules and ions from a region of higher concentration, to a
region of lower concentration, as a result of their random movement.
you are spraying an air freshener in the air and soon you realize that the scent has spread all over
the room. The mixture in the air freshener bottle is the region of higher concentration, and the room
is a region of lower concentration. So the differences in the concentration gradients is what that
causes diffusion.
Diffusion in cells
When a living cell such as a plant or an animal cell is considered, there is an obstacle that can affect
diffusion: A partially permeable cell membrane which controls the movement of substances.
Importance:
Diffusion is needed by living organisms for:
Examples:
Plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis; carbon dioxide is just 0.04% in the atmosphere, but still
there is lesser volume of it in the plant cells. So the atmosphere is the region of higher concentration and
the leaves are regions of lower concentration.
The same example of the leaf can be used with oxygen, which is a waste product for the plant. Oxygen
diffuses from it’s region of production (higher concentration) to the atmosphere where it is scattered (lower
concentration)
Diffusion is also used by insect pollinated flowering plants to send out the scent of the nectar they produce
to attract insects.
Osmosis
Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules from a region of high water potential (region which has
more water molecules) to a region of low water potential (region which has less water molecules),
down the concentration gradient, through a partially permeable cell membrane.
Cell membranes play a pivotal role in Osmosis as only water molecules are allowed to pass through
the cell membrane.
Examples of enzymes:
1. Salivary amylase
2. Pepsin
3. Renin
4. Lipase
5. Catalase
6. Isomerase
7. Phosphorylase
8. Maltase
9. Lactase
10. Sucrase…etc
Types of Enzymes:
1. Carbohydrase- digests carbohydrates (eg:- Salivary amylase)
2. Protease- digests proteins (eg:- pepsin)
3. Lipase- digests fats (eg:- Enzymes from pancreas)
pH:
The pH for any enzyme to work depends upon it’s environment of production
For most enzymes in the human body, the optimum pH is 7 (neutral)
However, there are a few exceptions such as pepsin the enzyme that works in the stomach where dilute
hydrochloric acid is secreted and pH is as low as 2
Enzymes can work at pH slightly higher or lower than their optimum pH
Using Enzymes:
Uses in biological washing powders:
In order to break down organic substances such as carbohydrates,proteins and fats (that chemical detergents
fail to break), such biological catalysts are used
Organic stains such as blood, oil, egg, butter etc. are broken down to simpler substances in the presence of
proteanases.
Enzymes need to have an optimum temperature of at least 70 degree celsius and hence are extracted from
thermophilic bacteria or bacteria living near hot springs to remove the other componants of the dirt and so
that other parts of the detergant work well as well.
The enzymes found in these bacteria are majorly proteases and lipases.
In order to keep these biological catalysts away from skin contact (as proteases can digest skin cells made
up of protein!), they are packed in microscopic packets that only dissolve in the presence of water.
External Links
1. Enzyme
2. Catalysis
*5-An Overview
Wondering what makes you come to life? There are four important chemicals made majorly from
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen that are known as the chemicals of life!
The 4 ‘Chemicals’
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. They contain the elements Carbon, Hydrogen
and Oxygen.
Fats:
Fats are used for energy but only when carbohydrate supplies run low.
Saturated Fat: These are usually found in foods such as milk, butter, cheese and meat.
Unsaturated Fat: These usually found in foods such as fish oils, cooking oils and vegetable oils.
Saturated fats are converted to cholesterol by the liver.
1. HDL (High Density Lipids): Must be in greater amounts as it is beneficial and good
2. LDL (Low Density Lipids): Must be in controlled amounts or else the person may get infected with
Coronary Heart Disease.
For this reason, no more than 10% of your energy should come from eating saturated fats.
If the percentage level of saturated fats in your diet increases, fat deposits begin to build up inside
blood arteries, making them stiffer, less elastic, and narrower.
When this particularly happens in the coronary artery that supplies oxygen to the heart, very less
oxygen is supplied to it, decreasing it’s performance and increasing the risk of coronary heart
disease. This usually results in a blood clot and a heart attack.
Eating too much of fat leads to obesity, coronary heart disease and diabetes.
Function of Fats:
Needed to keep us warm
Stored in the adipose tissue, which can break the fats if the body’s carbohydrate stores get exhausted
The Adipose tissue is needed to insulate our body
Proteins
Proteins are used to generate energy only when the body has exhausted it’s store of fat and carbohydrates.
Proteins are very important for the body. Our muscles and other tissues, Haemoglobin, fibrin, keratin,
collagen, DNA, enzymes etc. are all made up of proteins.
The proteins you eat are broken down into amino acids, and are used by the body to build and repair cells
and to make blood cells.
Proteins are made by the synthesis of amino acids in the ribosomes of cells.
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and a bit of Sulphur is what amino acid molecules contain.
Food containing proteins are: Eggs, Fish etc.
Kwashiorkor is characterized by a protruding abdomen due to lack of proteins.
Water:
The body is majorly composed of water. Approximately 60% of adult’s weight is composed of water
(80% of child’s weight). It is vitally important that you drink enough water. Dehydration can seriously
damage performance of body.
Utilization of water:
water is used in our body for a vast number of reasons. Here are some listed below:
1. It is an important solvent
2. It is needed for carrying out metabolic processes
3. It is beneficial in excreting waste body products such as urea
4. It can cool our body down significantly by releasing sweat
5. It is needed for enzymes to dissolve in it
6. It is the major part of blood plasma
The Tests:
This section focuses particularly on the tests to detect the presence of the chemicals of life.
Energy Calculations:
1g of carbohydrates gives 17.1 kJ of energy
1g of protein gives 18.2 kJ of energy
1g of fat gives 38.9 kJ of energy
*6-Plant Nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is taking in useful substances. You may recall that nutrition is one of the characteristic of a
living thing and therefore it is important that living things take in useful substances ideal for their
growth using nutrition.
Photosynthesis
The process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light
is called as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is extremely important in the plant’s nutrition.
Photo: Light
Synthesis: Manufacturing
Word equation:
Chemical equation:
No chloroplasts in epidermal layer To allow sunlight to reach the cells in the mesophyll layer
Xylem vessels within short proximity of To supply water to the mesophyll cells for photosynthesis
mesophyll cells and other functions
Phloem vessels within short proximity of To carry away sucrose and other organic products of
mesophyll cells photosynthesis
Stored as starch
(and not as glucose as:
It is reactive
It is soluble in water
It is a small molecule
It might be lost from plant cells when Stored as starch because:
dissolved in water Is a large molecule
It may indulge in unwanted chemical Is unreactive
reactions in the cells Is not very soluble
It may increase the glucose concentration Can be turned into small pieces
in the cell and cause damage) Can be easily stored inside chloroplasts
Nitrates
OR
Weak growth
Ammonium ions Yellow leaves
Nitrogen To build proteins
Magnesium Magnesium ions To make chlorophyll E Yellowing between veins of the leaves
Limiting Factors
A limiting factor is something present in the environment in such short supply that it restricts life
processes. This means that nutrition is restricted at a certain level and the plant is at it’s peak of
growth!
Limiting
factor Notes
Carbon Similarly, the more the carbon dioxide concentration increases, the more the photosynthesis
dioxide rate, until a maximum is reached.
A plant photosynthesises at a greater rate when temperatures are warmer, than colder
Temperature temperatures
Light
Temperature
Carbon dioxide concentration
Soil pH
Moisture (and water)
Light
A range of light intensities can be provided at the correct wavelengths to the plant even in cloudy
and dark conditions.
Temperature
The temperature of the glasshouse can be controlled with heating and cooling equipments, so that
the plant gets an optimum temperature to photosynthesise
Importance of photosynthesis
Brings the energy of sun into ecosystems
Essential for maintaining a constant global level of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Helps to stop level of carbon dioxide to rise too high
*7-Diet
A good diet on its own will not make you skillful or fit as a performer or a sportsperson, but will help
you make the most of your abilities through nutrition; hence, nutrition is very important. Your body is
an endothermic one and has the ability to maintain a constant body temperature and a lot of energy
is needed to do so. Moreover, the electrical impulses that are transmitted by the neurones in your
body as well need energy to do so. Thus it is important that you should have a good balanced diet to
get all the seven nutrients beneficial for nutrition.
Balanced Diet
Everyone, whether involved in sport or not should try to eat a healthy balanced diet. A balanced diet
includes all nutrients that your body needs and is a form of complete nutrition. to achieve this, you
need to eat a range of different types of food in the right proportion.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. They come in two kinds:
Fats:
Fats are used for energy but only when carbohydrate supplies run low.
Saturated Fat: These are usually found in foods such as milk, butter, cheese and meat.
Unsaturated Fat: These usually found in foods such as fish oils, cooking oils and vegetable oils.
Saturated fats are converted to cholesterol by the liver.
1. HDL (High Density Lipids): Must be in greater amounts as it is beneficial and good
2. LDL (Low Density Lipids): Must be in controlled amounts or else the person may get infected with
Coronary Heart Disease.
For this reason, no more than 10% of your energy should come from eating saturated fats.
If the percentage level of saturated fats in your diet increases, fat deposits begin to build up inside
blood arteries, making them stiffer, less elastic, and narrower.
When this particularly happens in the coronary artery that supplies oxygen to the heart, very less
oxygen is supplied to it, decreasing it’s performance and increasing the risk of coronary heart
disease. This usually results in a blood clot and a heart attack.
Eating too much of fat leads to obesity, coronary heart disease and diabetes.
Proteins
Proteins are used to generate energy only when the body has exhausted it’s store of fat and carbohydrates.
Proteins are very important for the body. Our muscles and other tissues, Haemoglobin, fibrin, keratin,
collagen, DNA, enzymes etc. are all made up of proteins.
The proteins you eat are broken down into amino acids, and are used by the body to build and repair cells
and to make blood cells.
Proteins are made by the synthesis of amino acids in the ribosomes of cells.
Food containing proteins are: Eggs, Fish etc.
Kwashiorkor is characterized by a protruding abdomen due to lack of proteins.
Vitamins:
Your body needs vitamins to help it work normally. they are needed for many functions including:
Minerals:
Minerals are basic elements that are found in the air and in the earth’s crust.
Our body needs certain minerals in small proportions in order to maintain the nutrient stability.
Below are the names of some minerals needed by our body, where they are found and their
importance:
Calcium: is present in vegetables, dairy products and dried fish. It is significant for keeping our bones
strong.
Iron: is found in red meat, liver, beans, lentils and green leafy vegetables. It is crucial for making blood and
for the prevention of anaemia.
Iodine: is found in seafood and dairy products. It is needed as it maintains the thyroid gland.
Fibre:
Fibres are actually a substance called cellulose. It is found in the cell walls of plants. Fruits,
vegetables, whole grain cereals are good sources of dietary fibre. Fibres cannot be digested, but it is
beneficial for the smooth working of the digestive system. People who eat too little fibre often suffer
from constipation and may acquire high risk of bowel cancer.
Water:
The body is majorly composed of water. Approximately 60% of adult’s weight is composed of water
(80% of child’s weight). It is vitally important that you drink enough water. Dehydration can seriously
damage performance of body.
Energy Calculations:
1g of carbohydrates gives 17.1 kJ of energy
1g of protein gives 18.2 kJ of energy
1g of fat gives 38.9 kJ of energy
Age
Size
Sex
Lifestyle
Diet
<chart here>
Making Yoghurt:
Made with the help of Lactobacillus bulgaricus bacteria.
Milk (Lactose) » Lactic acid+energy
Yoghurt is produced when a bacteria called Lactobacillus bulgaricus is added to milk. It uses the sugar
(lactose) from the milk as it’s energy source. It converts the lactose into lactic acid. The presence of lactic
acid lowers the pH of the milk. The proteins in the milk coagulate, forming clumps. The milk separates out
into these clumps called curd and liquid called whey.
The process:
1. The milk is heated to 70 degrees celsius and then cooled.
2. the culture of the bacterium is added to warm milk and is left for a few seconds.
3. The heating is done to kill any other harmful or unwanted bacterium so that it does not ferment the milk
and produces unwanted products.
SCP- Single Celled Protein:
Single celled protein typically refers to sources of mixed protein extracted from mixed or pure
cultures of algae, yeast, fungi or bacteria. They are usually grown on agricultural wastes. They are
used as a substitute for protein rich food in human and in animal feeds.
Mycoprotein:
Mycoprotein has the potential to maintain normal blood cholesterol levels and even lower the
cholesterol levels. It can as well regulate blood glucose levels. It is an excellent source of high
quality protein and contains all the essential amino acids for adults. It is also rich in dietary fibre and
is low in saturated fats and also does not contain trans fats!
Production of mycoprotein:
1. Mycoprotein is manufactured using a bacteria called fusarium.
2. The fusarium is grown in large vats, using carbohydrates as a food source, with other nutrients such as
ammonium nitrate added as well.
3. The carbohydrates often come from waste and leftovers from making flour.
4. Fusarium reproduces and makes a mass of mycelium, which is harvested and treated to remove a lot of the
RNA it contains, and shaped (after drying) into chunks, ready to consume as it is, or for making into other
food products.
Food Additives:
Types of food additives:
1. Flavourings: such as monosodium glutamate, better known by it’s trade name: Ajinomoto, has properties
of enhancing the flavours of savoury food. However, research reveals that msg can damage our nervous
system, introduce joint pain and headache. .
2. Colourings: such as caramel, give an appealing brown colouring. On the other hand, it’s regular
consumption can lead to vomiting, muscular weakness, asthma and cancer!
3. Preservatives: such as ascorbic acid are used as antioxidants as they stop ‘browning’. However, other
preservatives such as Carrageenan has the potential to again, increase the risk of cancer.
4. Emulsifiers: are substances that break fats into simpler substances. It is industrially used for homogenised
milk which comprises of milk fat in water and milk proteins.
Ingestion
Taking food into the body through the mouth is called as ingestion.
Digestion
The breakdown of large insoluble molecules to small water soluble molecules using mechanical and
chemical digestion is called as digestion.
Absorption
The movement of digestive food molecules through the wall of the small intestine, into the blood or
lymph is defined as absorption.
Excretion
The removal of waste products of metabolism or nutrients in excess is termed as excretion.
Teeth
The structure of teeth:
The teeth specialize in mechanical digestion of food.
They can grind,chomp, tear and crush food in order to break it down to smaller and simpler pieces of food,
The part of the tooth which is embedded into the gum is called the root.
The part which can be seen is known as the crown.
The crown is covered by the enamel which is the hardest naturally produced substance amongst animals!
Beneath the enamel is a large layer of a less hard bone, called the dentine.
The dentine has channels in it containing living cytoplasm.
Beneath the dentine is the pulp cavity. it contains nerves and blood vessels.
The root of the tooth is covered with cement. it has fibres growing out of it. it attaches the tooth to the
jawbone, but allows it to move slightly when chewing.
1. Milk teeth: the teeth which form during 5-30 months of your life. there are usually 20-22 milk teeth.
2. Permanent teeth: the teeth that replace milk teeth when you grow towards your teens. there are usually 32
permanent teeth.
Plaque
Some of the bacteria, together with other substances in your mouth, form a sticky film over the teeth,
especially next to the gums and in between the teeth. this substance is known as plaque.
Tartar
Plaque is soft and easy to remove at first. However, if it is left, it hardens to form tartar, which cannot
be removed by brushing.
Gum Disease
If plaque is not removed, the bacteria may infect the gums.
Tooth Decay
If sugar is left on the teeth, bacteria in the mouth will feed on it. Soon, due to the metabolic reactions
going in the bacteria’s body, an acidic solution will be produced which lowers the pH of the mouth
and has the potential to dissolve the enamel.
As the bacteria grows, greater volumes of acidic solution is produced. The acid gradually reaches
the dentine which gets dissolved even faster and then worms it’s way down the pulp cavity.
The bacteria can grow up to such an extent that an abscess is created by it at the root of the tooth,
causing excruciating pain!
A person suffering from tooth decay usually is recommended for a root canal treatment.
Dental Care
Avoid consuming too much of sugar
Use a fluoride toothpaste regularly as research has revealed that having fluoride ions in the mouth produces
a tough protective layer on top of the enamel and prevents tooth decay.
Visit a dentist twice a year.
Don’t use too much of fluoride toothpaste as it may cause blackening of your teeth.
The Alimentary Canal
The alimentary canal runs from the mouth to the anus. It also includes the liver and the pancreas.
Peristalsis is the longitudinal movement of the muscles in the oesophagus that help the food bolus to
travel through the alimentary canal.
Sphincter muscles act as valves and are found throughout the canal. they help regulate the
movement of food through it.
The Mouth
1. The teeth bite and grind the food into smaller pieces.
2. The tongue helps move the food and mixes it evenly with the saliva.
3. This forms a food bolus.
4. Salivary glands produce saliva containing amylase.
5. Amylase breaks down starch containing food such as bread into maltose.
Amylase
Starch —————–> Maltose
The Oesophagus
Originally, when the food moves through the mouth, there are two tubes leading to different
destinations:
1. The trachea
2. The Oesophagus
Food needs to pass into the oesophagus and not through the trachea which leads to the lungs.
The Stomach
Pepsin
Proteins ——————–> Polypeptides
2. Renin: helps the clotting of milk in young mammals
Renin
Milk ——————–> Coagulate
The pyloric sphincter opens the stomach and let’s the chyme move into the duodenum.
The Small Intestine
The small intestine is present between the stomach and the colon.
It consists of 3 parts:
1. Duodenum
2. Jejunum
3. Ileum
The duodenum has a duct leading from the pancreas that carries the pancreatic juice to it.
The Pancreas is a cream coloured gland which is also important for blood glucose concentration control.
The pancreatic juice contains sodium hydrogen carbonate, which is used to neutralize the acidic chyme so
that the enzymes in it can work efficiently.
Enzymes in pancreatic juice:
Amylase
Starch —————–> Maltose
2. Trypsin: like pepsin, it breaks down proteins into polypeptides
Pepsin
Proteins ——————–> Polypeptides
3. Lipase: breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol
Lipase
Fats ———————> Fatty acids + Glycerol
Bile is a yellowish-green, watery liquid, which is made in the liver.
It is stored in the gall bladder.
It flows to the duodenum along the bile duct.
There are no enzymes present in bile but it does contain bile salts that emulsify fats.
Bile also contains bile pigments which are produced when red blood cells are broken down in the spleen.
Villi
Food is completely digested and absorbed in the parts of the small intestine.
this happens with the help of the villi which is present on the walls of the stomach.
The villi has special features that makes it efficient in breaking food down. Some include:
Maltose
Maltose ————-> Glucose
2.Sucrase: Breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose
Sucrase
Sucrose ————-> Glucose + Fructose
3. Lactase: Breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose
Lactase
Lactose —————-> Glucose + Galactose
4. Peptidase: Breaks down polypeptides into amino acids
Peptidase
Polypeptides——————> Amino acids
5. Lipase: Breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol
Lipase
Fats ———————> Fatty acids + Glycerol
Large Intestine
In the large intestine, caecum and appendix have no functions.
The Colon specializes in the absorption of water and salt.
In the rectum, faeces are formed, which is an undigested mixture of undigested food, bacteria, bile
pigments and some dead cells.
Faeces are disposed out of the body, at the end of the alimentary canal.
*8-Transport in Plants
Transport is all about passing nutrients from one place to another to favour the living organism’s
growth.
carbon dioxide
water
mineral ions
etc to photosynthesise and grow.
To transport these substances to leaves, plants need to have a network of transport tubes and
tissues. There are two types of plant transport vessels.
Xylem Phloem
Diagram <image for xylem vessel here> <image for phloem Tube here>
Vascular bundles
A group of xylem vessels and phloem tubes are called a vascular bundle.
In IGCSE examinations, questions are often asked about the ‘positions’ of the
xylem vessels and the phloem tubes in a vascular bundle.
Structure of a root:
At the very tip is a root cap. This is a layer of cells which protects the root as it grows through the soil.
The rest of the root is covered by a layer of cells called the epidermis.
The root hairs are a little way up from the root tip. Each root hair is a long epidermal cell.
Function of roots:
Root hairs provide a large surface area and help significantly in the absorption of water.
They provide anchorage to the plant
They also absorb mineral ions through active transport
Water moves through the root hairs through osmosis:
1. The water outside the root is in it’s dilute form (High water potential)
2. The water inside the root is in concentrated form (Low water potential)
3. Thus the water diffuses from a region of high water potential to a region of low water
potential, down their water potential gradients, through a partially permeable cell membrane.
<Image for absorption of water through the root here>
Transpiration
Key definition: Transpiration is the loss of water from plant leaves by evaporation of water at the
surfaces of the mesophyll cells, followed by the loss of water vapour through the stomata.
Transpiration has significant importance in the water cycle and the transport of water in a plant.
The wind increases transpiration rates (as water evaporates more quickly on a windy
Wind speed day)
The greater the light intensity, the greater the chance that a plant will open its stomata
to photosynthesise.
Light intensity
Hence the greater transpiration will be.
In short water supply, a plant will conserve water instead of wasting it.
Water supply
The shorter the water supply, the lesser the transpiration.
Translocation
Translocation is the movement of organic food such sucrose and amino acids in phloem; from regions
of production (source), to regions of storage OR regions of utilisation in respiration or growth (sink)
A source is the part of a plant where sucrose and amino acids are being produced by photosynthesis. For
example: Leaves
A sink is the part of a plant where sucrose and amino acids are translocated. For example: flowers, roots,
tubers etc.
Uses of sucrose:
In the Roots: sucrose is changed to starch and may be stored
In the Flowers: sucrose is converted to sweet tasting nectar (fructose) and is used to attract animals (yum!)
Developing parts of plant: sucrose and amino acids are translocated to growing parts of the plant for
development.
Translocation during different seasons
Many plants have a time of year when they become dormant.
During this stage, they wait out harsh conditions in a state of reduced metabolic
Dormant plants do not photosynthesise, but survive on their stored starch, oils and other materials.
When the seasons change, they begin to grow again.
Now the stored materials are converted to sucrose and transported to the growing region.
For example, potato plants are not able to survive the cold frost of winter. Let’s see what happens!
1. So in summer, the leaves are sources and the growing stem tubers are sinks.
2. In spring, the stem tubers are sources and the growing leaves are sinks.
*9-The circulatory system
The main transport system of human is the circulatory system.
The circulatory system consists of:
Left Ventricle Receives oxygenated blood from the Left Atrium and pumps it all over the body
Right Atrium Receives deoxygenated blood from the body and passes it to the Right Ventricle
Right Receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium and pumps it over to the lungs to
Ventricle get oxygenated
Aorta Receives oxygenated blood from the left ventricle and pumps it all over the body
Vena cava Brings deoxygenated blood to the right atrium from the body
Pulmonary Receives deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle and pumps it over to the lungs to
artery get oxygenated
Important: the reason why the walls of the ventricles are thicker than those of the atria is due to the
fact that the atria just receive the blood; the actual task of pumping it out of the heart is done by
the ventricles.
Important: the reason why the left ventricle’s walls are thicker than those of the right ventricle is due
to the fact that the right ventricle pumps the blood to the lungs, which are in close proximity to the
heart. The left ventricle has the job of transporting the blood all over the body.
The Pacemaker: is a patch of muscle in the right atrium which controls the rate at which the heart
beats according to the needs of the body.
If you are exercising, then the body will need a lot of oxygen; you soon take up an oxygen debt which
causes a drop in the ph of blood (due to the production of lactic acid)
The brain senses the drop in pH and sends electrical impulses to the pacemaker to make the heart
beat faster.
Systole: the stage of a heart beat in which the muscles in the walls of the heart chambers contract
Diastole: the stage of a heart beat in which the muscles in the walls of the heart relax
Atrioventricular valves: are valves between the atria and ventricles in the heart that prevent the
blood from flowing from the ventricles, into the atria.
The valve on the left hand side of the heart is made of 2 parts and thus is called the bicuspid valve
The valve on the right hand side of the heart is made of 3 parts and thus is called the tricuspid valve
Coronary Arteries
The muscles of the heart are so thick that the nutrients and oxygen in the blood inside the heart
would not be able to diffuse to all the muscles quickly enough.
The heart muscles need a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients so that it can keep transporting
and pumping blood. The coronary arteries are responsible for it.
If a coronary artery gets blocked (e.g. by a blood clot), the cardiac muscles run short of oxygen and
they cannot respire to obtain energy to contract causing the heart to stops beating. This is called
a heart attack or cardiac arrest.
Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
Blood Cholesterol Diets rich in animal fats containing Low Density Lipids (LDL) cause CHD to
levels develop
Stress Unmanageable and long term stress leads to the development of CHD
Is caused due to heavy amounts of stress and again leads to the development of
High Blood pressure CHD
Gender CHD often develops in males than in females. (It may be due to sex-linked genes)
Exercise Regularly
Take drugs such as ‘statin’ under the guidance of a physician
Coronary Bypass A blocked or severely damaged coronary artery is replaced by another length of
Operation blood vessel taken from other parts of the body
A balloon is inserted in the damaged coronary artery and is inflated using water
In the rarest and the worst cases of CHD, a heart transplant operation may be
undertaken.
Heart Transplant The patient will have to take immunosuppressants for life if the operation is
successful and if the tissue types don’t match!
Operation
Blood Vessels
Blood vessels are an important part of human transport system.
There are 3 major types of blood vessels in the human transport system:
Blood
vessel: Function Structure of wall Width of lumen
Blood
Vessel How structure fits function
Strength and elasticity needed to withstand the pulsing of the blood as it is pumped through
Arteries the heart
No need for strong walls as most of the blood pressure has been lost.
Capillaries
Thin walls and narrow lumen bring blood into close contact with body tissues
No need for strong walls as most of the blood pressure has been lost.
Derived from fat reserves in the body To respiring cells- as an energy source
Lipids
Phagocytes:
Have lobed nuclei and granular cytoplasm.
Can move out of capillaries, to the site of an infection.
Remove any microorganisms that invade the body and might cause infection by engulfing and digesting
Lymphocytes:
produce antibodies to fight antigens
Have large nuclei
There are two different types of lymphocytes:
B-lymphocytes: secrete antibodies in response to contact with their particular antigen, which may be an
invading pathogen or a foreign tissue that has been transplanted.
T-lymphocytes attack foreign or infected cells and kill them by binding onto their surfaces.
3. Platelets
Small fragments of cells, with no nucleus.
Made in the bone marrow.
Involved in blood clotting: form blood clot, which stop blood loss and the entrance of pathogens.
Substances transported in the blood
Substance Source Destination
Blood clotting
Till now, we have learnt that platelets help in the clotting of blood. Let’s see how this happens now!
There is cut in the skin
The soluble plasma protein- fibrinogen changes to an insoluble substance called fibrin.
Fibrin causes fibres to be made in the damaged blood vessel and tissue
Red blood cells and platelets get trapped in the fibres
This forms a blood clot!
White Blood Cells (WBCs)- can easily change their shape unlike red blood cells.
Blood Plasma
So the substances that leak out from the blood capillaries are known as tissue fluid.
The tissue fluid simply surrounds the body cells.
Lymph
The tissue fluid surrounding the body cells ought to be eventually returned to the blood.
To make sure this happens, there are another set of capillaries in our body called as lymphatic capillaries.
The tissue fluid slowly drains into the lymphatic capillaries.
It is now called lymph
The lymphatic capillaries eventually join up to form larger lymphatic vessels which empty themselves
into the subclavian veins.
Here the lymph enters the blood.
Egestion
All food we eat cannot be digested
For example, cellulose in vegetables (fibre) cannot be digested in the human digestive system as we don’t
have an enzyme called cellulase to digest it.
So the cellulose simple passes through our digestive system, unchanged.
Excreting undigested food is known as Egestion.
Urea
Nitrogenous waste is formed from excess proteins and amino acids.
Animals are not able to store this waste
Excess amounts of the waste is broken down to form a nitrogen containing excretory product
In mammals, this nitrogenous waste is known as urea.
Other organs:
1. Ureter: Long narrow tubes with expanded upper end (renal pelvis). Its function is to carry the urine
produced from the kidneys, to the urinary bladder.
2. Urinary bladder: Elastic muscular organ, capable of great expansion. Its function is to store the urine until
it is released.
3. Urethra: Its function is to carry the urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
The Glomerulus
1. The Glomerulus is a mass of thin walled capillaries.
2. The Bowman’s capsule is a double walled cup shaped structure.
3. The proximal tribule leads from the bowman’s capsule to the loop of Henle
4. The loop of Henle is a long loop which extends into the medulla
5. The distal tribule connects the loop of Henle to the connecting duct
Blood Filtering
1. Blood enters the Bowman’s capsule through a tiny artery (the renal artery).
2. The artery branches to form a Glomerulus.
3. Blood pressure in the artery forces some blood plasma and some small particles into the surrounding
capsule (this is called the nephric filtrate).
4. Large particles such as blood cells and proteins remain in the capillary.
5. The nephric filtrate is pushed out of the capsule and into the proximal tribule
6. This is where reabsorption begins
7. Only materials needed by the body are returned to the blood stream (for example, 99% of the water, all of
the glucose and amino acids, and most of the salts are reabsorbed)
8. The filtrate reaches the end of the proximal tribule
9. Glucose and amino acids have been removed from the filtrate.
10. The filtrate then moves to the loop of henle where water is again reabsorbed through osmosis.
Kidney Dialysis
When a person’s kidney stops functioning, a lot of excretory products start to build up in the person’s
blood. To avoid this, the person can be treated using a kidney transplant operation, but the usual
treatment is using kidney dialysis.
The Process:
1. The person’s blood flows through the machine and back into his/her body.
2. Inside the machine, the person’s blood is separated with a partially permeable membrane (like visking
tubing) containing dialysis fluid.
3. The fluid contains all the necessary components of blood and no urea in it
4. This causes the urea in the person’s blood to diffuse into the partially permeable cell membrane, down their
concentration gradients.
5. This process usually continues till several hours.
Kidney Transplants
Most people under treatment using a dialysis machine would rather prefer treatment using kidney
transplants as, the patient would suffer much less pain and it would enhance their quality of life.
Moreover, surgeons are even quite efficient at successfully conducting kidney transplants.
In a kidney transplant operation, the person donating the kidney is called the donor and the person
receiving the kidney is the recipient.
However, the problem arises when the patient’s immune system recognizes the donor’s organ as
foreign as the DNA in the donor’s organ and the patient’s cells do not match.
This leads to the patient’s WBCs attacking the ‘foreign’ organ and destroying it. This is known as
immune rejection.
Hence it is crucial that the donor’s DNA is a close match with the patient’s cells.
To avoid immune rejection, the patient is prescribed immuno-suppressants in order to stop the
immune system do its usual task. This makes the patient vulnerable to all kinds of diseases and the
worst part is that the immuno-suppressant needs to be taken for life!
*11-Coordination in Animals
Coordination is an important life process for living beings
Myelin:
Myelin is a layer of protein and fat that is used as insulation for nerves so that the nerve impulses
don’t scatter and increase the time needed to respond to a stimuli.
Types of neurons
Sensory
Relay
Motor
Reflex action/arc
A fast, automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus is known as a reflex action.
Stimulus is detected by receptor --- Sensory neuron --- Spinal cord (relay neuron)
Effector muscle
How does a reflex arc work?
1. Stimulus is detected by receptor
2. An impulse is picked up by a sensory neuron
3. The impulse travels through the axon of the sensory neuron towards the spinal cord
4. In the spinal cord, the impulse is relayed to several other neurons by the relay neuron.
5. The relay neuron passes the nerve impulses to the brain
6. Simultaneously, the impulses are also passed to an effector
7. The effector takes suitable action.
Synapses
A synapse is a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses
pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.
Receptors
In animals, the receptors are often a part of sense organs. For example, the eye is a sense organ
and the cone and rod cells in it are the receptors that are sensitive to light.
1. Eye (Vision)
2. Ear (Hearing, balance)
3. Nose (Smell)
4. Tongue (taste)
5. Skin (touch, temperature, pain)
The eye
The structure of the eye:
1. Retina:
the part where the receptors are present, which are sensitive to light.
Consists of the fovea and the blind spot
2. Fovea: the spot where receptor sells are tightly packed
3. Blind spot: the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eve
4. Orbit: a bony socket in the skull that holds the eye.
5. Conjuctiva:
a thin, transparent membrane, that helps protect the parts behind it.
Is kept moist by the tear gland
Contains the enzyme lysozyme that kills bacteria
6. Sclera: A tough coating in the orbit, to protect the parts within.
7. Choroid:
A part that is rich in blood vessels, situated behind the retina.
It helps in the absorption of excess light
8. Cone cells:
Receptor cells that can distinguish between different colours of light.
Cells that help us to see in bright light and present a sharp image.
There are three types of cone cells- Red, Green and Blue.
9. Rod cells: Receptor cells that help us to see in dim light and don’t produce a sharp image
Pupil reflex
In bright light:
Circular muscles of the iris contract, Pupil gets smaller
In dim light:
Radial muscles contract, Pupil gets larger
Focusing light:
1. Cornea bends the light (refracts)
2. The lens makes fine adjustments
3. Semi solid vitreous humour is transparent, and nourishes the eye.
Coordination in Plants
Unlike animals, plants respond to stimuli in a slower manner.
Plants respond to stimuli in 2 ways:
Changing their rate of growth
Changing their direction of growth
If a plant grows towards a stimulus, it is known as a positive tropism
If a plant grows away from a stimulus, it is known as a negative tropism
A tropism is a growth response by a plant.
Two important stimuli for plant growth are:
Light
Gravity
For example, shoots show positive tropism towards light, whereas roots show negative tropism towards
it.
For example, shoots show negative tropism towards gravity, whereas roots show positive
tropism towards it.
Importance of tropisms
It is extremely important that plant parts respond in a correct manner to tropisms.
For example, it is necessary that shoots respond to phototropism so that they can photosynthesize as they
grow leaves.
Similarly, for a flower, it is crucial that it only blooms in response to phototropism so that it can attract
insects or the wind to pollinate them.
Moreover, in roots, it is important that they respond to gravitropism by growing into the soil to absorb
water and anchor the plant.
Key definition:
Phototropism: A response in which in which a plant grows towards or away from the direction of
light.
*12-The Human Endocrine System
In the previous chapter (Coordination), we have seen one way in which information is sent from a receptor to
an effector (through nerves!). We will be learning the other way – hormones.
In this section, we will be studying about the next way of transmitting information- through hormones.
Chemicals that transmit information from one part of the body to other are called as hormones
Hormones are made in endocrine glands
Endocrine glands release hormones directly into the blood and so they are called as ductless glands (as
they aren’t carried in ducts)
Hormones only have effect on target organs (specific organs)
Adrenaline
In our body, there are two adrenal glands, one above each kidney.
They secrete a hormone called adrenaline.
Adrenaline is secreted when you are frightened, exited, or keyed up (anxious)
Importance of adrenaline: Needed for fight and flight response.
What adrenaline does How it helps the body
Gives you butterflies in your stomach (by It ensures that maximum volume of blood is
contracting blood vessels in the skin and digestive transported to your muscles and brain, and you can
system) think faster
Causes the pupils in the eye to widen Helps you to see danger more clearly
Causes the liver to release glucose into the blood It again gives the muscles extra energy to fight or run
Effect of impulse only lasts for a shorter period Effect of hormone usually lasts for longer duration
Plant hormones
Plants respond to light and gravity with the help of plant hormones.
The Auxin then spreads to the rest of the plant by diffusing across cells.
Auxin is responsible for the rate of growth for plants; the more Auxin present, the greater will its
growth be.
Normally, Auxin is equally distributed at the tip of the shoot; however, when light is shined at the
shoot’s tip in one direction, the Auxin gets concentrated at the shady part of the shoot; hence
the growth at the shady part increases and the plant begins to grow in the direction of light.
Ethiolation
Seedlings grown in the dark tend to be pale and weak. But the reason why they are tall and thin is
Auxin. Auxin gets evenly distributed at the tip of the shoot and grows steadily using the energy from
the food stored in cotyledons of the seed. But once that gets exhausted, it gets ethiolated and will
soon die if it is not given light to photosynthesise.
Weedkillers
Weedkillers are chemicals that are needed to kill unwanted plants that compete with other plants for
minerals, light and water.
They contain a synthetic form of Auxin called 2,4D which causes rapid growth in weeds, so that they
grow faster and die quickly.
This leaves ample space for the other plants, leading to an increase in their growth.
*13-Homeostasis
The term homeostasis is derived from two Greek words:
It is an organism’s internal environment that needs to stay the same in order to continue metabolic
reactions at the same rate.
Importance of Homeostasis
Helps your cells work at optimum rate
Ensures that enzymes work most efficiently
Ensures that the cells aren’t damaged by absorbing or losing too much water by osmosis
Ensures that there is enough fuel in reserve for respiration
1. Fish
2. Amphibians
3. Reptiles
4. Large number of invertebrates
The skin
Epidermis is on the outside. This has a layer which is always forming new cells through cell division.
The new cells gradually move towards the surface, become flat, and develop keratin.
The outermost layer of epidermis is made up of flat dead cells, which are continuously worn away by
friction and are called the cornified layer.
Epidermis also contains a pigment called melanin, which gives a black colour to the skin and absorbs
harmful UV radiation
The epidermis folds inwards, forming a hair follicle, surrounded by sebaceous glands which secrete an oily
liquid called sebum.
Sebum keeps the skin soft and supple.
The dermis contains sweat glands.
Sweat travels through the sweat duct and evaporates to regulate the internal body temperature.
Blood vessels and nerve endings make us aware of pain, pleasure and temperature.
A layer of fat known as the adipose tissue acts as insulation.
When body temperature drops below 37oC
Muscles work- heat is generated and distributed all over the body by quick action of muscles
Metabolism may increase
Hair stands up and in human erector muscles leads to Goosebumps.
In hairy animals, thick layer of hair acts as an insulator
When body temperature shoots above 37oC
Hair lies flat
erector muscles relax
Sweat gland secretes sweat (so that sweat evaporates and cools the body down)
Vasodilation
If the body temperature rises:
The arteriole supplying sweat gland dilates, bringing more blood, so the gland can make more sweat.
Arterioles supplying the capillaries dilate, bringing more blood to the capillaries.
More blood is brought to the surface capillaries where, it can lose heat.
Vasoconstriction
If the body temperature falls:
Arterioles and capillaries in the skin constrict, so not much blood flows through them
Negative feedback
A mechanism used in homeostasis, in which a change in a parameter brings about actions that push
it back towards normal.
For example, when the body temperature rises, information about the temperature change is sent to
the hypothalamus which in turn sends signals to the effectors to decrease this change.
It is termed ‘feedback’ as the information about the effects of cooling the body are fed ‘back’ to it and
‘negative’ as it is compelled to ‘stop’ doing these changes in order to stop overcooling.
Diabetes
When the blood glucose concentration of the body fails to function, the person with such a condition
is said to have diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is a condition caused when the WBCs destroy our own pancreatic cells that
produce insulin.
This condition leads to a state where the blood glucose concentration does not fall.
If the person has had a high glucose diet, he may suffer from hyperglycaemia.
Key Definition: Any substance taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical reactions in the
body is called as a drug
Antibiotics
Antibiotics like penicillin are chemicals that kill bacteria by destroying their cell walls. They do not
hurt body cells when doing so.
They are very useful for killing bacteria unless they are used intensively (as intensive use exerts a
selection pressure upon them, causing the bacteria to get resistant to them)
However, they are useless against viruses as viruses don’t have cell walls! So next time you have a
cold or ‘flu they won’t be any use.
Heroin
Produced from opium
Opium contains the chemicals morphine and codeine used as medicine for pain relief
Heroin is addictive and a powerful depressant.
Addictive means that it makes the person dependent on it
Depressant means that it slows down the functions of the brain and the hypothalamus, reduces pain,
and slows down breathing rate.
Routes of administration
1. Oral
2. Injection – Extremely risky, as it can give rise to HIV transmittion through non-sterile needles
3. Sniffing
The feeling of euphoria
Brain has many neurotransmitters that transfer electrical signals across synapses, from one neurone
to other.
The second neurone that receives the electrical signal has receptors that fit accurately with the
neurotransmitter molecules.
One group of such neurotransmitter molecules is endorphins.
Endorphins help reduce the sensation of pain and it affects our mood, including hunger and thirst.
When a person takes a dose of heroin, it gets broken down to morphine in the brain.
Morphine molecules fit precisely into some endorphin receptors, inducing the feeling of euphoria
1. Alcohol lengthens reaction time: which means that it acts like a depressant and slows down the metabolic
reactions in the body. This can be very risky during situations when people drink and drive.
2. Alcohol can boost aggression in some people: Intake of alcohol can cause a person to succumb to
committing crimes and being violent with family members.
3. Enormous volumes of alcohol consumption can kill: Alcohol is like a poison; it can be life threatening if
a person consumes alcohol in huge volumes, resulting in ecstasy, excitement, confusion, stupor, coma and
even death!
Alcoholism:
Alcoholism is a disease where a person gets addicted to alcohol. Alcoholics drink huge volumes of
alcohol regularly.
1. Genes
2. Personality
3. Amount of stress
Effects of alcoholism:
Liver cirrhosis: Alcohol is poisonous to cells and can damage them. One such example is the liver which
has the task of breaking it down. In liver cirrhosis, fibres grow inside the liver. This can be fatal!
Brain damage: Alcohol consumption can also cause loss of memory and a lot of confusion.
1. Alcohol in the body fluids draws water out of the cells through osmosis
2. When this happens with the brain cells, they get irreversibly damaged.
3. This damage gets worse when alcohol prohibits the secretion of a hormone that is responsible in the re-
absorption of water.
4. This causes too much of urine to be produced in a dilute form, resulting in low water levels in the
blood.
Anabolic Steroids
Some hormones belong to group called steroids.
Testosterone
Oestrogen
Progesterone
There are some steroid hormones that stimulate metabolic reactions in the body by the synthesis of
body cells into larger molecules.
Let us consider the example of testosterone, which is a male reproductive hormone that is
responsible for the synthesis of proteins from amino acid molecules in the muscles, so that the
muscles become larger and stronger.
Anabolic steroids have been used in sport by athletes to increase their muscle size and strength.
They help athletes to train harder for longer duration.
However, the usage of anabolic steroids is banned in sport as it can give any athlete unfair
advantage.
Tobacco smoking
The main components of tobacco are:
1. Carbon monoxide
2. Nicotine
3. Tar
4. Carbon particulates
Effects of Nicotine
Nicotine is addictive
It is also a stimulant (a substance that makes the person feel more alert)
Nicotine damages the circulatory system
It makes the smoker’s blood vessels to get narrower
This can cause an increase in blood pressure
And finally, cause hypertension
Nicotine is the substance behind Coronary Heart Disease.
Effects of Tar
Tar contains many different chemicals such as carcinogens
Carcinogens are substances that cause cancer
These substances cause unusual behaviour in the cells inside respiratory passages.
This can lead to the formation of a tumour.
If the tumour is malignant, then it can cause cancer by breaking away from the cell and dividing
uncontrollably.
This causes lung cancer.
Along with lung cancer, there are many other components in tar that can cause different types of cancers to
the smoker.
Sexual Reproduction
A process involving the fusion of the nuclei of two gametes to form a zygote and the production of
offspring that are genetically different from its parents.
The table below shows the difference between asexual and sexual reproduction:
Sexual reproduction in flowering plants usually takes place in their flowers. The function of a flower
is to make gametes. Usually, plants are a hermaphrodite, which means that they can produce both-
male and female gametes.
Pollination
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains, from the male part of the plant (anther of stamen) to the
female part of the plant (stigma)
Methods of pollination
Insect pollination
Wind pollination
Insect pollination: involves the medium of transfer of pollen as the insect.
1. An insect such as a bee visits the flower
2. It follows the guidelines towards the nectary
3. And feeds on the nectar.
4. Meanwhile, some pollen gets brushed on its body and remains there.
5. When the insect visits another flower of the same plant or species, it is likely that some pollen sticks onto
the carpel.
Wind pollination: involves the medium of transfer of pollen as the wind.
1. The anther produces large amounts of pollen grains
2. The wind may blow some of these pollen onto the carpel of another flower of the same species.
Types of pollination
Self pollination
Cross pollination
Self Pollination
The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of the same flower, or different
flower of the same plant.
Cross Pollination
The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of another flower of the same
species
*16-*Humans undergo sexual reproduction where the sperm from the father fuses with the egg
cell from the mother. This results in an offspring being born…
Penis The male reproductive organ that is inserted into the vagina during sexual intercourse
Fallopian tubes
(oviducts) Connect the ovaries to the uterus
Has thick muscular walls that are occupied by the developing baby during
Uterus pregnancy
Narrow muscular opening at the end of the uterus which is guarded by muscles.
Vagina Receives semen from the erect penis during sexual intercourse.
Consists of:
Head
Structure Tail (flagellum) Consists of a deep layer of jelly
Vesicle (containing enzymes)
Puberty
The point in a person’s life where sexual maturity is reached is defined as puberty or
adolescence. Puberty prepares a boy or a girl for adulthood and reproduction.
When a person reaches puberty:
Facial hair, pubic hair, hair in armpits emerge Hairs emerge in armpits and in pubic areas
Body becomes more muscular and stronger The pelvis (hip) widens
Follicle Stimulating Hormone Pituitary Gland (in the Stimulate the developing follicle to keep
(FSH) brain) secreting oestrogen
Thick
Progesterone Corpus Luteum Spongy
Well supplied with blood
Common misconception: Oestrogen makes the uterus wall develop into a thick and spongy layer;
progesterone maintains the lining
A follicle develops
Secretes oestrogen Secretes LH, FSH
Oestrogen concentrations in the blood increase Stimulates follicle to secrete
Lining of the uterus grows thick and spongy oestrogen.
When the follicle is fully developed, there is a surge in the levels of:
LH at a greater extent
FSH at a smaller extent
Empty follicle stops secreting oestrogen Levels of LH and FSH fall in the
It is now called as a Corpus Luteum blood
Sexual Intercourse
When the man is sexually excited, blood is pumped into his penis. This causes it to become erect.
Simultaneously, mucus is produced from the woman’s vagina to lubricate the passage of the penis
The erect penis is inserted into the woman’s vagina.
At a point, thrusting movements are made which stimulate the tip of the penis with the clitoris.
This results in a reflex action to take place:
The walls of the tubes containing the sperm contract rhythmically and sperm is ejaculated into the vagina.
This biological process is known as sexual intercourse and is the beginning of reproduction.
Fertilisation
Once the sperms reach the egg cell, they begin to use enzymes in their vesicles to dissolve their way into
the thick jelly layer.
Only one sperm cell (in rare cases more than one) is able to do so.
The head containing the nucleus enters the egg cell; its tail remains outside it.
The egg cell and the sperm cell fuse together. This is known as fertilisation. A zygote (diploid cell) is
formed.
Implantation
When the embryo reaches the uterus, it sinks into the uterus wall. This is known as
The Placenta
As the embryo grows, a structure called the placenta also develops.
It is soft and dark and has finger like projections called the villi
The villi help connect the placenta to the uterus wall.
The placenta is the embryo’s life support system.
It is responsible in the exchange of substances between the embryo and the mother.
It separates the mother’s and the fetus’s blood and brings them close enough so that substances can diffuse.
Oxygen and food materials diffuse across the placenta into the fetal blood.
Carbon dioxide and waste materials diffuse the other way, into the mother’s blood
Ante-natal care
Ante-natal (before birth) care is a routine care for the healthy pregnant woman.
Dietary needs
The mother needs to take care of her diet as everything she will eat will diffuse across the placenta
to her baby.
Some of the nutrients that are necessary for the mother and her baby are:
Things to avoid
Smoking (nicotine and carbon monoxide) Restricts growth of baby
Birth
Giving birth to a child is what brings pleasure to every child’s parents. This is the final stage of
reproduction.
Mammals have a unique feature: lactation; mammary glands in the mother’s breasts begin to produce milk
which is extremely nutritious and beneficial for the child.
The parents also need to support the child emotionally and physically till its adulthood
Parental care also includes teaching the child about how to take care of itself in the society
Sterile
Free of cost
Improves bond between mother and
baby Father is unable to bond and spend
Perfect composition of nutrients time with baby
needed for the baby Sometimes the mother is unable to
Composition of nutrients naturally produce sufficient breast milk
changes according to baby’s growth It can be difficult for mothers to breast
Breast feeding Contains antibodies feed babies in certain situations
Gives baby passive immunity Keeps mother preoccupied
Birth Control
Birth control is important in order to keep families small and limit the increase of the human
population exponentially.
There are many birth control methods practiced by people worldwide. These birth control methods
usually come into 4 categories: Natural, Chemical, Mechanical and Surgical:
Natural methods
Abstinence Woman avoids sexual intercourse completely
Woman keeps track of her body temperature (that rises at ovulation) and
doesn’t have sex during this period
How they Other Woman checks if the mucus produced in her vagina has become slippery
work methods or not
Useful for couples who don’t want to use other measures of birth control for religious or
Advantages other reasons
Chemical Methods
Spermicides can be used to kill sperm that enter the vagina
Spermicides They can be effectively used in combination with another method- a
diaphragm
Contraceptive
Pills Contraceptive pills containing sex hormones can be taken by the
woman; this stops the production of egg cells in the ovaries
Advantages A very effective method only when contraceptive pills are taken at the right time.
The IUS and IUD lasts till 10 years
It is important to have regular check ups by a doctor as some women do experience side
effects of contraceptive pills
Disadvantages Contraceptive pills play a vicious part in river pollution and cause some male fish to
change gender as well!
Mechanical Methods
A condom is a piece of rubber sheath
Condom A condom is placed upon the erect penis and acts as a barrier
between the sperm and the vagina.
Femidom
A femidom is a female version of a condom and is used similarly
How they Diaphragm (or A diaphragm is a circular and slightly domed piece of rubber
work cap) Inserted into the vagina on the top of the cervix
Diaphragms are often used with spermicide for the best results
Disadvantages Care must be taken when using a condom or a femidom; no sperm should escape through it.
Surgical Methods
In a man the sperm ducts are cut and tied, thus preventing the passage of
any sperms produced.
How it works Vasectomy In a woman the oviducts are cut or tied, sopping egg cells from travelling
down the oviduct.
Till date, the most treacherous STI has been the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
The person may develop cancer as well because one function of the immune system is to destroy
cancerous tumours.
There is no cure for AIDS. Research is being conducted worldwide to produce a vaccine that can kill
the virus without infecting body cells.
But still there is a ray of hope- HIV cannot be cured; it can be prevented.
Preventing HIV
Never have more than one sexual partner
Use condoms
Never have unprotected sexual intercourse
Always sterilise needles before injecting drugs into your blood
Screen blood for HIV when donating blood
Always wear protective clothing when dealing with road accidents, if you are a policeman or a paramedic
(I’m sure you aren’t!)
*17-Inheritance
Inheritance is the passing of traits from parents to their offspring, either through asexual reproduction
or sexual reproduction. This is the process by which an offspring cell or organism acquires or
becomes predisposed to the characteristics of its parent cell or organism.
Important Terms:
Term Meaning
Examples:
· Sperm cells
Haploid
· Egg cells
nucleus
Examples:
· Zygote
· Heart cells
Diploid
· Liver cells
nucleus
Reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid,
Meiosis resulting in genetically different cells
Any of the alternative versions of a gene
Such as TT, Tt, tt are alternative forms of the gene for height)
Allele
Example: To describe a person with gene for height, ‘T’ can be used.
Genotype
Means having two identical alleles of a particular gene (such as TT and tt)
· Two identical homozygous individuals that breed together will be pure breeding (for
example if TT breeds with TT, an offspring with TT will be born)
Homozygous
Heterozygous Having two different alleles of a particular gene (such as Tt), not pure breeding.
Dominant
alleles An allele that is expressed if it is present (such as T)
Recessive
alleles An allele that is expressed only if the dominant allele of the gene is absent (such as t)
A condition where both the alleles (dominant and recessive have an effect on the phenotype
of that plant
For example,
Important:
Dominant and recessive expressions
TT = Homozygous dominant
tt = Homozygous recessive
Tt = Heterozygous
Mitosis
Nuclear division that gives rise to genetically identical cells
<Image for the process of mitosis here>
Meiosis
Reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid, resulting in
genetically different cells
Genetically identical chromosomes are formed Genetically different chromosomes are formed
All cells except sex cells are made by this kind Only sex cells (sperm and egg cells) are made by this kind
of division of division.
Stem cells
When a zygote forms, it begins to divide by mitosis; forming genetically identical cells. This soon
forms an embryo.
After this period, the cells from the embryo (known as embryonic stem cells) begin to take up different
functions; some of them will become skin cells, some liver, some brain, etc.
This is known as differentiation.
Though every cell in our body has the same genes, only some of them specifically, are expressed.
Inherited diseases
Inherited
disease Notes
In cystic fibrosis, the cells in the lungs make mucus more thicker than usual
It decreases the efficiency of the gas exchange surfaces due to the trapped mucus
The mucus made blocks the pancreatic duct and prevents digestive juices from flowing,
affecting digestion
Cystic fibrosis
In haemophilia, the blood in a person’s body fails to clot when there is a cut or wound.
Sickle cell Is a genetic disease where the red blood cells become sickle shaped in the absence of
anaemia oxygen
Is another genetic disorder where the chromosomes 21s fail to separate during meiosis in a
woman’s ovaries.
This means that an extra chromosome 21 will be in the egg cell; if it gets fertilized, then the
zygote will have 47 chromosomes instead of 46!
Downs Children with downs syndrome are usually extremely friendly people and have heart
diseases when they grow up
syndrome
Genetic diagrams
There is a standard way of writing information such as an organism’s and its parent’s genotypes and
phenotypes. Moreover, these genetic crosses help us to predict the probabilities of an offspring
inheriting a particular characteristic of its parents.
For example, a tall pea plant is bred with a dwarf one. What do you think will its offspring be?
Parental genotype TT tt
Gametes T t
‘Tt’ means that all the offsprings born would be tall, and they would be having the ‘hidden’ or non
expressed recessive gene in them. This means that the plant offspring is a ‘carrier’ of the gene for
height.
To get dwarf plants, the offsprings in the above example can be breeded amongst themselves; this
would give rise to half of the offsprings being dwarf.
Sex determination
Similarly, using genetic diagrams can be useful to determine the sex (gender) of an offspring.
Sex linkage
A sex-linked characteristic is one in which the gene responsible for a particular function is located on a
sex chromosome, which makes it more common in one sex than the other.
The sex chromosomes X and Y not only determine your gender; they contain other genes as well.
The X chromosome has a larger chromatid than the Y chromosome. Thus the genes present on the X
chromosome (apart from the gene for your sex) will not be present on the Y chromosome.
This means that if an X chromosome has a gene for colour blindness, The Y chromosome will not have the
gene; this can lead to a male having colour blindness being born as the X chromosome is dominant and
there is no recessive allele on the Y chromosome.
Similarly when an X chromosome (from a female) with a gene for colour blindness fuses with another X
chromosome (from a male) with a recessive allele for the same gene, an offspring who is the carrier of
colour blindness is born.
Hence colour blindness is more common due to these reasons in males rather than in females as:
There is less chance of a recessive allele being expressed in a female (XX) because the other X
chromosome may carry the dominant form of the allele.
The male chromosome doesn’t have a recessive allele.
The 5 possible phenotypes and their genotypes for red-green colour blindness are:
In the following case, a male without red-green colour blindness (XBY) mates with a female with its
carrier gene (XBXb). Let’s see what will happen now!
The genetic diagram predicts that about half of their male children will have red-green colour
blindness; whereas all of their female children will have normal vision.
Protein synthesis
Protein synthesis is all about how a protein is made in reality with the ‘synthesis’ (joining) of amino
acid molecules.
Continuous variation:
Differences in the features of a group of organisms, in which there are no definite categories; each
individual’s characteristics can lie anywhere between two extremes.
Example:
1. Height
2. Weight
3. Finger length
4. Leaf length
5. Heart beat rate
Discontinuous variation:
Differences in the features of a group of organisms, where each individual fits into one of a few clearly
defined categories.
For example, blood group. Every person has a specific blood group and there are no exceptions to it; Blood
groups always have specific categories such as A, B, O, and AB.
Genetic variation: where the genes affect an organism’s genotype and thus its phenotype.
Environmental variation: where the environment is responsible in interfering with the organism’s
phenotype; For example, a pine tree has a genotype to grow tall. But it will not realize this until it has
got enough space to grow. It may remain stunted for life!
Causes of variation
Cause Notes
This is why every person born is genetically unique! (I am sure you are as well
unless you have a twin!)
Fertilization
Adaptation
Nature has an amazing rule- ‘survival of the fittest’. It means that an organism is much more likely to
survive if it is well adapted.
The ‘fitness’ of an organism is the probability that it survives in the environment where it is found.
An adaptive feature is the inherited functional feature that increases an organism’s fitness.
Let us see how organisms are adapted to their environments:
This helps conserve water by restricting plant growth (as photosynthesis is rarely
possible.
Closing Stomata
Stomata on underside of
leaves (or less stomata) Lower part of the leaf is usually cooler than the upper part
Less stoma means less transpiration, hence less growth.
For buoyancy
Stomata on both
surfaces Helps absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
Stage Notes
Survival of the fittest Organisms who are well adapted to the environment will survive
Gradual change over population This continues over generations and soon the well adapted organism has
for a period of time a greater population than the other.
In a population of cacti,
Struggle for existence During dry season, there is competition for water.
The cacti with the longest roots are able to go deep and obtain water;
so they survive
The cacti with roots spread over a large area die with dehydration.
Survival of the fittest
Advantageous characteristics are The long rooted cacti reproduce; producing offsprings more likely to
passed on to the offsprings be long rooted themselves!
Gradual change over population for a The population of cacti with long roots increases; the population of
period of time cacti with roots spread over a large area decrease.
Stabilising selection
Many times, natural selection tends to keep the characteristics of organisms the same for
generations to generations.
If
Coelacanths for example have remained unchanged for 350 million years. They live in a very stable
environment in the depths of the Indian Ocean.
Some people have mutations in a gene that result in the production of haemoglobin
People with the normal allele HbA code for the production of haemoglobin
People with the mutant allele HbS code for the production of a faulty type of haemoglobin
The faulty type of hemoglobin can produce fibers inside RBCs when oxygen concentrations in the
blood drop. These causes the RBC to become sickle shaped and get stuck in blood capillaries.
When this happens, the person is said to be suffering from sickle cell crisis as a blockage in the
capillary forms. This can cause intense pain over hours and weeks! (Ouch!)
All the populations of different species The populations of camels, cactus and scorpion in
Community in an ecosystem the desert, make up a community
An ecological unit containing all biotic The community of all desert animals and plants
and abiotic factors, interacting with along with the sand, the sun, the wind, the water in
Ecosystem each other an oasis, all form the desert ecosystem
The way in which an organism lives its The camel feeds on desert grass, drinks some water
Niche life in an ecosystem from an oasis etc. all form a part of a niche
Trophic level
A trophic level is the position of an organism in:
A food chain
A food web
A pyramid of biomass
A pyramid of numbers
*21-Biotechnology
Biotechnology involves using living organisms to carry out processes that make substances that we
eat.
For example,
Why microorganisms?
No ethical issues in using them
Share the same genetic code of DNA
Also have little loops of DNA called plasmids that can be used in moving genes from one organism’s cells
into other
Microscopic structure- easy to store
Easy to grow in laboratory
Take up less space
Able to produce wide range of substances
Their reproduction rate is high
Yeast
Yeast is a unicellular fungus.
It is able to respire anaerobically, and it produces ethanol and carbon dioxide as it does so.
Uses of yeast
Bread making
Making bio-fuels
Making alcohol (brewing)
Bread making
Wheat flour contains lot of starch and a protein called gluten.
To make bread:
Bio-fuels
Bio-fuels are made by yeast and it produces ethanol. They are crucial in order to replace non-
renewable energy sources such as petroleum.
Making bio-fuels:
1. Maize is treated with amylase
2. Addition of amylase breaks down stored starch to glucose.
3. A solution of sugars made by plants is extracted.
4. Yeast is added to the solution.
5. The solution is enclosed in a container with vacuum to support anaerobic respiration in the yeast.
6. An air lock is added so that bacteria cannot enter the solution.
7. At the end of fermentation, ethanol is produced
8. The ethanol is then purified using distillation.
Advantages Disadvantages
Lactase
Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose, a sugar found in milk, to glucose and galactose.
Milk is treated with lactose, so that people of Asian descent can readily digest it and not feel ill.
Penicillin
Genetic engineering
Changing the genetic material of an organism by
Removing
Changing
Inserting
…Individual genes is called as genetic engineering.
*22-An Overview
The Earth- an exceptional planet isn’t it?
So why do you think life can exist on earth? It’s simple! We’ve got the right distance between the sun
and our planet which leads to an appropriate surface temperature on earth. We have also fortunately
got the right composition of gases in the atmosphere and the unique presence of water. These are
just a few factors from the many!
Earth- Who rules the earth? Mother Nature? Certainly not. The earth is now reined under the
bloodthirsty monarchy of us- the humans!
Food Production
One reason for the increase in our population is food production. Food is produced majorly
by growing crops and breeding livestock.
Factors that led to an increase in food production:
Advanced agricultural machinery such as tractors and combine harvesters have enabled farmers
to cultivate larger areas of land in shorter time
Chemical fertilizers containing mineral ions have been used to improve the land’s fertility and hence
it’s yield
Insecticides have been used to destroy pests that could affect the yield and quality of the produce
Herbicides (Weedkillers) have been used in order to destroy weeds that compete for minerals, soil, water
and sunlight with the crop plants; this leaves enough space for the crop plant and
thus improves the yield
Selective breeding has been practiced which has developed new and improved varieties of plants and
animals
For example, selective breeding has produced crop plants that grow in poor soil and plants that
are resistant to diseases
Use of satellites to monitor crop development and monitor crop diseases
Use of antibiotics, hormones and artificial insemination techniques in intensive livestock production.
Habitat Destruction
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of large areas of forest.
Reasons why deforestation occurs:
Pollution
Eutrophication
Damage by eutrophication can be done in 2 ways:
Sewage
Sewage is the untreated organic waste produced, along with household and industrial waste
materials.
Chemical waste
Chemical waste is all the inorganic waste disposed into water bodies. These include:
Heavy metal compounds such as mercury, lead, nickel and aluminium
Women contraceptive hormones such as oestrogen
Crude oil
All these things can cause serious damage to the environment.
When heavy metal compounds are dumped into water bodies, they get accumulated in aquatic
organisms through bioaccumulation and enter food chains and webs.
When humans eat organisms from these polluted water bodies, all the heavy metal compounds get
accumulated in the highest concentrations, causing maximum damage.
These heavy metal compounds are toxic for humans and can damage our Central Nervous
System (CNS)
Acid Rain
Causes Sources Damage caused Solutions
Greenhouse effect
This radiation strikes the earth’s surface and reflects back in the form of infrared radiation with a shorter
2. wavelength towards the atmosphere.
3. Most infrared radiation with a shorter wavelength is stopped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
1. Carbon dioxide
2. Methane
3. CFCs
4. Oxides of Nitrogen
5. Water vapour
Insecticides
Insecticides are chemical compounds used to control populations of insect pests such as
mosquitoes.
Though an insecticide kills the insect pest, it remains in the environment and also kills other
harmless animals. This was the case with a pesticide named DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
which was used to kill mosquitoes. DDT remained in the environment and was absorbed into the
food chains. This lead to bioaccumulation and the concentrations of DDT in the organisms increased
as the trophic levels increased. This was lethal and caused a lot of damage to organisms that it was
not supposed to kill.
Herbicides
Herbicides are often used by farmers to control the populations of weeds which compete with the
crop plant for nutrients, space, sunlight and water.
However, when herbicides are sprayed onto the crops, they not only kill the weeds, but also can get
washed away into water systems and kill the aquatic plants there. This disrupts the aquatic food
chain as the consumers get affected.
Nuclear fallout
Nuclear fallout can be the result of a leak from a nuclear power station, or from a nuclear
explosion. Radioactive particles are carried by the wind or water and gradually settle in the
environment. If the radiation has a long half-life, it remains in the environment and is absorbed by
living organisms.
The radioactive material bio-accumulates in food chains and can cause cancer in top carnivores.
Conservation
Conservation is the process of looking after the natural environment.
Conservation attempts to maintain or increase the population of different species living in an area,
known as biodiversity.