Life Processes
The maintenance of living organisms is essential even if they are moving, resting, or even sleeping. The processes that together maintain life are known as life processes.
The various life processes which take place in living organisms are called metabolic activities or metabolism. These life processes can either be anabolic or catabolic in nature.
Nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion are some of the life processes that are essential for the functioning as well as maintenance of living organisms.
Life Processes
Nutrition
Nutrition is defined as a process by which living organisms procure food or synthesize it and convert it into simple absorbable form by a series of biochemical processes.
Nutrient can be defined as a substance that an organism obtains from its surroundings and use as a source of energy as well as providing raw materials for the biosynthesis of body constituents.
There are two basic modes of nutrition: autotrophic and heterotrophic.
Autotrophic Nutrition
Autotrophic organisms meet their carbon and energy needs through photosynthesis. This process involves the conversion of external substances into stored energy.
During photosynthesis, autotrophs absorb carbon dioxide and water, converting them into carbohydrates with the help of sunlight and chlorophyll.
Carbohydrates produced are used as an energy source for the plant's activities.
Excess carbohydrates are stored as starch, acting as an internal energy reserve for the plant's future needs.
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