Biology — Diversity, Cell & Physiology
1. The Living World
Characteristics of Living Things
Growth. Reproduction. METABOLISM. Cellular organisation. Consciousness (response to stimuli). 'Metabolism is the DEFINING FEATURE — all living organisms exhibit it.'
Binomial Nomenclature (Carolus Linnaeus)
Genus + Species (Italics or underlined). Homo sapiens. Panthera tigris.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom → Phylum/Division → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species.
2. Biological Classification
Five Kingdoms (Whittaker, 1969)
| Kingdom | Cell Type | Nutrition | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monera | Prokaryotic | Auto/Hetero | Bacteria, Cyanobacteria |
| Protista | Eukaryotic. Unicellular. | Auto/Hetero | Amoeba, Paramecium, Algae |
| Fungi | Eukaryotic. Chitin wall. | Saprophytic | Mushroom, Yeast, Mould |
| Plantae | Eukaryotic. Cellulose wall. | Autotrophic | From algae to flowering plants |
| Animalia | Eukaryotic. No wall. | Heterotrophic | All animals |
Kingdom Plantae — Divisions
Thallophyta (algae). Bryophyta (mosses — amphibians of plant kingdom). Pteridophyta (ferns — first vascular plants). Gymnosperms (naked seeds — pine). Angiosperms (flowering plants — seeds in fruits. Monocots/Dicots).
Kingdom Animalia — Major Phyla
Ten phyla from PORIFERA (sponges) to CHORDATA (vertebrates). Chordates: Fish → Amphibians → Reptiles → Birds → Mammals.
3. Plant Kingdom — Detailed
Algae (Thallophyta)
Chlorophyll-bearing. Autotrophic. Aquatic. Body = THALLUS (no roots, stem, leaves). Economic importance: food (Spirulina), agar, algin (ice cream, toothpaste).
Bryophytes (Mosses, Liverworts)
'AMPHIBIANS of the Plant Kingdom' — need water for reproduction. First land plants. No true roots (rhizoids). No vascular tissue.
Pteridophytes (Ferns)
FIRST VASCULAR PLANTS (xylem and phloem). True roots, stem, leaves. Spores on underside of leaves.
Gymnosperms
'Naked seeds' — not enclosed in fruit. Cones. Needle-like leaves adapted to cold/dry. Pine, Cycas.
Angiosperms — Flowering Plants
Seeds ENCLOSED IN FRUIT. DOMINANT land plants. Monocot (1 cotyledon, parallel venation, fibrous roots — grass, rice). Dicot (2 cotyledons, reticulate venation, tap root — mango, bean).
4. Cell — The Unit of Life
Cell Theory (Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow)
All organisms made of cells. Cell = BASIC UNIT. Cells arise from PRE-EXISTING cells ('Omnis cellula e cellula').
Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic
| Feature | Prokaryote | Eukaryote |
|---|---|---|
| Nucleus | No true nucleus (nucleoid) | True nucleus with membrane |
| Organelles | No membrane-bound organelles | ER, Golgi, mitochondria, etc. |
| Ribosomes | 70S | 80S |
| Size | 1-10 μm | 10-100 μm |
Eukaryotic Cell Organelles
| Organelle | Function |
|---|---|
| Mitochondria | POWERHOUSE. Aerobic respiration. ATP. Double membrane. Own DNA. |
| Chloroplast | Photosynthesis. Double membrane. Own DNA. |
| ER (Endoplasmic Reticulum) | Rough (with ribosomes — protein synthesis). Smooth (lipid synthesis). |
| Golgi Apparatus | Packaging. Secretion. |
| Lysosomes | 'Suicide bags.' Digest waste and foreign material. |
| Ribosomes | Protein synthesis. |
Cell Division
Mitosis (Somatic cells)
IPMAT: Interphase → Prophase → Metaphase → Anaphase → Telophase → Cytokinesis. Result: 2 DIPLOID (2n) DAUGHTER CELLS — genetically IDENTICAL.
Meiosis (Germ cells — gametes)
Two divisions. Meiosis I (Reductional — homologues separate → 2n → n). Meiosis II (Equational — chromatids separate). Result: 4 HAPLOID (n) CELLS — genetically DIFFERENT (crossing over in Prophase I). Significance: GENETIC VARIATION. Maintains chromosome number across generations.
5. Plant Physiology
Photosynthesis
6CO₂ + 12H₂O →(Light, Chlorophyll)→ C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ + 6H₂O Two phases: Light Reaction (thylakoid membranes — light → ATP + NADPH + O₂). Dark Reaction / Calvin Cycle (stroma — CO₂ fixed using ATP and NADPH → glucose).
C3 vs C4 Plants
C3: First product = 3-carbon compound (PGA). Rice, wheat. C4: First product = 4-carbon (OAA). Maize, sugarcane. C4 plants are MORE EFFICIENT in hot/dry conditions — less photorespiration.
Respiration in Plants
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Energy (ATP)
- Glycolysis (cytoplasm — glucose → 2 pyruvate. Net 2 ATP).
- Krebs Cycle (mitochondrial matrix — acetyl CoA → CO₂. NADH, FADH₂ produced).
- Electron Transport Chain (inner mitochondrial membrane — NADH, FADH₂ → ATP. O₂ is final electron acceptor). ~34-36 ATP per glucose molecule.
Plant Growth and Development
- Plant Growth Regulators: Auxins (cell elongation — phototropism). Gibberellins (stem elongation). Cytokinins (cell division). ABA (abscisic acid — stress, dormancy). Ethylene (fruit ripening).
- Photoperiodism: Response to day length. SDP (short-day — flower when nights LONG). LDP (long-day — flower when nights SHORT).
- Vernalisation: Cold treatment to induce flowering.
6. Human Physiology
Digestion and Absorption
Alimentary Canal: Mouth (saliva — amylase: starch → maltose) → Oesophagus → Stomach (HCl. Pepsinogen → Pepsin: proteins → peptides) → Small Intestine (BILE from liver/gall bladder — emulsifies fat. Pancreatic juice — trypsin, lipase, amylase. Intestinal juice — disaccharidases, peptidases. COMPLETE digestion → Absorption through VILLI) → Large Intestine (water, mineral absorption. E.coli produces vitamins) → Rectum → Anus.
Breathing and Respiration
- Mechanism: Inspiration (diaphragm CONTRACTS → flattens. Rib cage EXPANDS. Lungs expand. Air enters). Expiration (diaphragm RELAXES. Rib cage contracts. Air expelled).
- Lung Volumes: Tidal Volume (~500 mL). Vital Capacity (~3.5-4.5 L).
- Gas Transport: O₂ carried by HAEMOGLOBIN (oxyhaemoglobin). CO₂ carried as: bicarbonate (~70%). Carbaminohaemoglobin. Dissolved in plasma.
Circulation
- Heart: 4 chambers. Double circulation. Heartbeat ~72/min.
- SA Node (pacemaker) → AV Node → Bundle of His → Purkinje fibres.
- Cardiac Cycle: Systole (contraction ~0.3s). Diastole (relaxation ~0.5s).
- Blood: RBCs (erythrocytes — O₂ transport). WBCs (leukocytes — immunity). Platelets (thrombocytes — clotting).
Excretion
- Kidneys: Filters. Functional unit = NEPHRON.
- Urine formation: Glomerular FILTRATION → Tubular REABSORPTION → Tubular SECRETION.
- Osmoregulation: ADH (antidiuretic hormone) controls water reabsorption.
Nervous System
- Neuron: Structural and functional unit. Dendrites (receive). Axon (transmits). Synapse (gap — neurotransmitter).
- Central NS: Brain + Spinal Cord. Peripheral NS: Cranial + Spinal nerves.
- Brain: Forebrain (Cerebrum — thinking, memory. Hypothalamus — homeostasis). Midbrain. Hindbrain (Cerebellum — balance. Medulla — heartbeat, breathing).
Endocrine System
| Gland | Hormone | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Pituitary | GH, TSH, ACTH, ADH | 'Master gland.' |
| Thyroid | T3, T4 (Thyroxine) | Metabolism. IODINE needed. |
| Adrenal | Adrenaline | Fight or flight. Cortisol (stress). |
| Pancreas | Insulin (↓glucose). Glucagon (↑glucose). | Blood sugar regulation. |
Locomotion and Movement
- Types of movement: Amoeboid (pseudopodia). Ciliary (trachea, oviduct). Muscular.
- Muscle Types: Skeletal (striated, voluntary). Smooth (non-striated, involuntary — gut, blood vessels). Cardiac (striated, involuntary — heart).
- Sliding Filament Theory: Actin (thin) and Myosin (thick) filaments SLIDE past each other. Ca²⁺ and ATP needed.
