How do living material obtain material and energy
Living materials obtain materials and energy through various processes.
1. Ingestion: Animals directly consume organic matter as food. They obtain materials such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, and minerals through ingestion.
2. Photosynthesis: Green plants, algae, and some bacteria synthesize their own food via photosynthesis. They utilize sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen. This glucose serves as a primary source of energy and building blocks for their growth and development.
3. Absorption: Fungi and some bacteria absorb nutrients from their environment. They secrete enzymes to break down organic matter present in their surroundings, and then absorb the dissolved nutrients.
4. Decomposition: Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, obtain material and energy by breaking down dead organisms and organic waste materials. They convert complex organic compounds into simpler molecules that can be used as a source of energy and raw materials by other organisms.
5. Symbiosis: Some organisms form symbiotic relationships where they obtain materials and energy from each other. For example, lichen consists of a symbiotic association between fungi and algae. The fungus provides the structure and protection, while the algae provide food through photosynthesis.
Overall, the diverse strategies employed by living organisms allow them to acquire the necessary materials and energy for their survival and growth.
Living organisms obtain material and energy through various processes. Here's a step-by-step explanation:
1. Ingestion: Many organisms, such as animals, consume food to obtain the necessary nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. They take in organic material from their environment, mainly by eating other organisms or plants.
2. Digestion: After ingestion, the food is broken down into smaller molecules through the process of digestion. This allows for easier absorption into the organism's body. Digestion can occur through mechanical processes (chewing, grinding) and chemical processes (enzymes breaking down complex molecules).
3. Absorption: Once the food is digested, the small molecules are absorbed into the organism's cells. In animals, this absorption occurs in the digestive tract, where nutrients are transported across the intestinal lining into the bloodstream. Plants absorb nutrients through their root systems.
4. Metabolism: After absorption, the organism's cells undergo metabolic processes to convert the ingested materials into usable energy and building blocks for growth, repair, and reproduction. Metabolism involves various chemical reactions, such as cellular respiration (for energy production) and anabolism (for synthesis of complex molecules).
5. Energy production: The primary source of energy for living organisms is usually in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is generated through cellular respiration, which occurs in the mitochondria of cells. It involves the breakdown of glucose (in animals) or photosynthesis (in plants) to produce ATP.
6. Photosynthesis (for autotrophs): Photosynthetic organisms, such as plants, algae, and some bacteria, use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce their own food and energy. Through the process of photosynthesis, they convert solar energy into chemical energy (glucose) using chlorophyll.
7. Food chain and food web: In ecosystems, energy and nutrients flow through different trophic levels, forming food chains and food webs. Producers (plants) provide energy and food to primary consumers (herbivores), which, in turn, provide energy to secondary consumers (carnivores or omnivores), and so on. This transfer of energy occurs through predation.
Overall, living organisms obtain the necessary material (nutrients) and energy through the processes of ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism, energy production (cellular respiration or photosynthesis), and the transfer of energy through food chains or webs.