Updated on: 2026-03-31 | Author: Rahul Patil

Science & Tech Part 2 Chapter 2 Life Processes In Living Organisms Part 1 Solutions

Q1. _________ is not a part of mitosis.

Diplatin is not a part of mitosis.

Q2. ___________ cells divide by mitosis.

Both Somatic and Stem cells divide by mitosis.

Q3. What are vitamins? Classify them according to their solubility. Give one example of each type as per above classification.

Answer

Vitamins are a group of heterogeneous compounds that are essential for the proper operation of various life processes.

Vitamins can be classified into two types:

Water-soluble vitamins: Vitamins cannot be stored in the body and must be ingested on a regular basis. Any excess is expelled in urine.

Fat-soluble vitamins: They are absorbed with fat and stored in fatty tissue and liver.

Water-soluble: B, C

Fat-soluble: A, D, E, K

Q4. Complete the following concept map.

Diagram: Refer textbook

Q5. Distinguish between Aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

  Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic respiration
i) It occurs in the presence of oxygen. It occurs in the absence of oxygen.
ii) It occurs via. three steps, namely, glycolysis, TCA cycle, and electron transfer chain It occurs via. two steps, namely, glycolysis and fermentation.
iii) The end products are CO2, H2O, and energy. The end products are organic acids or alcohol and energy.
iv) More amount of energy is generated. Less amount of energy is generated.
v) Complete oxidation of glucose takes place.  Incomplete oxidation of glucose takes place.
vi) It takes place in higher plants, animals, and certain aerobic microbes. It takes place in yeast, muscle cells, erythrocytes, and some anaerobic microbes.

Q6. Distinguish between mitosis and meiosis.

  Mitosis Meiosis
i) In this, the nucleus divides only once. In this, the nucleus divides twice (Meiosis I and Meiosis II)
ii) In this, two daughter cells are formed. In this, four daughter cells are formed.
iii) It occurs in somatic cells and stem cells It occurs in germ cells.
iv) Daughter cells formed by mitotic division are diploid (2n). Daughter cells formed by meiotic division are haploid (n).
v) Mitosis plays an important role in growth, repair, healing, and development. Meiosis is important for the formation of haploid gametes and spores.
vi) It is also known as equational division, as the daughter cell has the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Meiosis I is known as the reductional division where the chromosome number is reduced to half. Meiosis II is known as the equational division, where the sister chromatids separate while the chromosome number remains the same.
vii) The prophase stage is short and does not comprise synapsis, crossing over, and the formation of chiasmata. The prophase I stage is very long. It comprises five stages. In the zygotene stage of meiosis I, the pairing of homologous chromosomes takes place. During the pachytene stage, crossing over occurs, while in the diplotene stage, chiasmata formation occurs.

Q7. Explain the advantages of cell division to your friend.

Answer

Following are the advantages of cell division:

Cell division is the property due to which a new organism (unicellular) is formed from an existing one.

In the case of multicellular organisms, the growth of the organisms is dependent on cell division.

It is also essential for the restoration of the emaciated body.

Cell division is an important aspect of wound healing, formation of blood cells, and other such important life processes.

Q8. Explain the following figure.

Answer

The process depicted in the given diagram is cytokinesis.

This step takes place at the end of the karyokinesis (nuclear division) of mitosis.

It depicts the division of the cytoplasmic material in order to form two daughter cells that resemble each other.

Q9. Explain the Steps of Glycolysis.

Answer

Glycolysis is the first step of aerobic/anaerobic respiration and occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.

In this process, a molecule of glucose is oxidized in a stepwise manner to form two molecules each of pyruvic acid, ATP, NADH2 and water.

Pyruvic acid formed during this process is converted into acetyl-coenzyme A with the release of two molecules each of NADH2 and CO2. This acetyl-coenzyme A then enters the Krebs cycle.

Q10. Explain the use of fatty acids.

Answer

Following are the uses of fatty acids:

Progesterone, estrogen, testosterone and aldosterone are hormones produced from fatty acids.

Phospholipids are molecules formed from fatty acids. They form the basic structure of the cell membrane and are essential for the functional ability of a cell.

Fatty acids are present in the covering around the axon of nerve cells.

Q11. Find an odd one out.

Potato

Explanation:

Carrot, radish, and sweet potato are root vegetables, while potato is a stem tuber.

Q12. Give scientific reason. Cell division is one of the very important properties of cells and living organisms.

Answer

Cell division is the property due to which a new organism (unicellular) is formed from an existing one.

In the case of multicellular organisms, the growth of the organisms is dependent on cell division.

It is also essential for the restoration of the emaciated body.

Cell division is an important aspect of wound healing, formation of blood cells, and other such important life processes.

Hence, cell division is one of the important properties of cells and living organisms.

Q13. Give scientific reason. Fibers are one of the important nutrients.

Answer

Fibers cannot be digested by humans, yet they are essential nutrients.

Fibers are important as they promote the movement of materials through the digestive system and thus aid in the digestion of foodstuffs.

They also help in the egestion of undigested substances from the body.

Vegetables, fruits, cereals, etc. are sources of essential nutrients like fibers.

Hence, fibers are one of the important nutrients.

Q14. Give scientific reason. Kreb's cycle is also known as citric acid cycle.

Answer

Acetyl-CoA (2 carbon compound) enters the mitochondria to combine with oxaloacetic acid (4 carbon compound) and form a six-carbon compound i.e., citric acid.

Since citric acid is the first stable compound formed, Krebs cycle is also called the citric acid cycle.

Q15. Give scientific reason. Oxygen is necessary for complete oxidation of glucose.

Answer

Glucose can be oxidized in two pathways i.e. aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

A molecule of glucose is completely oxidized in aerobic respiration (i.e. in the presence of oxygen) to form \[\ce{CO2, H2O,}\] and energy (38 ATP), via. three steps namely glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron transfer chain.

However, in anaerobic respiration (i.e. in absence of oxygen), glucose is incompletely oxidized via. glycolysis and fermentation, resulting in the formation of organic acids or alcohols and lesser amount of energy is obtained.

Hence, oxygen is necessary for the complete oxidation of glucose.

Q16. Give scientific reason. Some higher plants, animals and aerobic microorganisms also sometimes perform anaerobic respiration.

Answer

Respiration is an energy-yielding process and takes place by the oxidation of foodstuffs.

Higher plants and animals require oxygen in order to respire aerobically.

However, in conditions where oxygen is depleted, these organisms perform anaerobic respiration to obtain energy.

Glucose is incompletely oxidized and a comparatively lesser amount of energy is obtained through anaerobic respiration.

Therefore, sometimes, higher plants, animals, and aerobic microorganisms also perform anaerobic respiration.

Q17. Give scientific reason. We feel tired after exercising.

Answer

While exercising the muscle cells perform anaerobic respiration.

During anaerobic respiration in muscle cells, lactic acid accumulates in the body.

Lactic acid accumulation is a result of the process of fermentation during which glucose is broken down by anaerobic respiration, forming organic acids.

Also, the production of ATP is comparatively less during anaerobic respiration.

Therefore, we feel tired after exercising.

Q18. Identify the given reaction and explain it.

Answer

The given reaction represents the conversion of ATP to ADP. ATP is composed of a nitrogenous compound (adenine), pentose sugar (ribose) and three phosphate groups.

These three phosphate groups are linked to one another by two high-energy bonds.

When one phosphate group is removed by breaking a bond, energy is released, and ATP is converted to adenosine diphosphate (ADP).

Q19. Prokaryotic cells divide through mitosis or meiosis.

False

Q20. Protein located in bones is ___________.

Protein located in bones is ossein.

Q21. State six types of vitamins.

There are six types of vitamins, i.e. vitamin A, B, C, D, E and K.

Q22. State the characteristics of step of cell division shown in figure.

The given figure represents the Anaphase I of Meiosis.

In this phase, one chromosome of the homologous pair moves to the opposite pole with the help of spindle fibers.

Q23. State two groups/types of vitamins.

There are six main types of vitamins, e.g. A, B, C, D, E and K. Out of these, A, D, E and K are fat-soluble whereas B and C are water-soluble vitamins.

Q24. State two methods of cellular respiration.

The two methods of cellular respiration are aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Q25. The first step of karyokinesis is ____________.

The first step of karyokinesis is prophase.

Q26. We get __________ energy from lipids.

We get 9 kcal/gm energy from lipids.

Q27. What are the main energy sources of living organisms?

Carbohydrates, fats and lipids are the main sources of energy in living organisms.

Q28. What are the main steps of anaerobic respiration?

Glycolysis and fermentation are the two steps of anaerobic respiration.

Q29. What is cellular respiration?

Cellular respiration is a type of respiration in which foodstuffs are oxidized for the production of energy.

Q30. Which amino acids are obtained after digestion of proteins?

There are 20 amino acids obtained after digestion of proteins.

The different amino acids are as follows:

i. Glycine xi. Valine – Val
ii. Alanine xii. Leucine
iii. Serine xiii. Isoleucine
iv. Cysteine xiv. Lysine
v. Aspartic acid xv. Histidine
vi. Glutamic acid xvi. Arginine
vii. Asparagine xvii. Phenylalanine
viii. Glutamine xviii. Tyrosine
ix. Methionine xix. Tryptophan
x. Threonine xx. Proline – Pro

Q31. Which hormones are formed from the fatty acids?

Progesterone, estrogen, testosterone and aldosterone are hormones produced from fatty acids.

Q32. Which molecules are formed after whole oxidation of Acetyl co-enzyme A?

Acetyl Co-A enters in tricarboxylic acid cycle and the products formed are CO2, CoA, ATP, NADH2 and FADH2.

Q33. Which molecules are formed during the glycolysis process?

In glycolysis process, a molecule of glucose is oxidized in a stepwise manner to form two molecules each of pyruvic acid, ATP, NADH2 and water.

Q34. Which of the following vitamins is necessary for the synthesis of NADH 2 ?

Vitamin B3

Q35. Where and in which forms the amino acids formed after digestion of food are used in the body?

Amino acids are formed after the digestion of proteins.

Amino acids are utilized for the formation of the following:

Skin: Melanin and Keratin

Bones: Ossein

Cells: Various proteins of the cell membrane, various enzymes

Pancreas: Insulin and Trypsin

Pituitary gland: Various hormones

Muscles: Actin and myosin, flexible proteins

Blood: Hemoglobin and Antibodies

Q36. Why is water an essential nutrient?

Our body consists of about 65-70% water. Cells and blood plasma contain 70% and 90% water respectively.

Water acts as a universal solvent as it provides a medium for many metabolic reactions.

It also helps in the transportation of dissolved nutrients to various parts of the body.

When there is a little loss of water from the body, the functioning of the cell and thereby the whole body gets disturbed.

Hence, water is an essential nutrient.

Q37. Write the importance of fibers in our diet.

Answer

Fibers cannot be digested by humans, yet they are essential nutrients.

Fibers are important as they promote movement of materials through the digestive system and thus aid in digestion of foodstuff.

They also help in egestion of undigested substances from the body.

Vegetables, fruits, cereals, etc. are sources of essential nutrients like fibers.

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