Short Answer

Basic life processes are the essential activities that living beings perform to stay alive. These processes help organisms obtain energy, grow, repair their bodies, and maintain balance inside the body. Without life processes, survival is not possible.

The main basic life processes include nutrition, respiration, transportation, excretion, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli. All plants, animals, and microorganisms carry out these processes in different ways to maintain life.

Detailed Explanation :

Basic Life Processes in Living Beings

Basic life processes are the fundamental activities that distinguish living organisms from non-living things. These processes are necessary for survival, growth, maintenance, and continuity of life. Every living organism, whether simple or complex, performs these life processes in some form. They work together to keep the body functioning properly.

Nutrition

Nutrition is the process by which living beings obtain food and use it for energy, growth, repair, and maintenance of the body. Food provides energy needed for all life activities. Without nutrition, no organism can survive.

Plants prepare their own food by the process of photosynthesis using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. Such organisms are called autotrophs. Animals and humans cannot make their own food and depend on plants or other animals for nutrition. They are called heterotrophs. Nutrition is the first and most important life process because it supplies energy for all other processes.

Respiration

Respiration is the process of releasing energy from food. The energy released during respiration is used for movement, growth, repair, and other life activities. Respiration can occur in two ways: aerobic respiration, which uses oxygen, and anaerobic respiration, which occurs without oxygen.

All living organisms respire continuously, day and night. In humans and animals, respiration involves breathing through lungs or gills. In plants, respiration takes place through stomata and lenticels. Respiration is essential because without energy, life processes cannot continue.

Transportation

Transportation is the process of moving substances such as food, water, gases, and waste materials from one part of the body to another. This process is important for maintaining internal balance in living organisms.

In humans and animals, transportation is carried out by the circulatory system. Blood carries oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste materials throughout the body. In plants, transportation occurs through xylem and phloem tissues. Xylem transports water and minerals, while phloem transports food. Proper transportation ensures that every cell receives what it needs to survive.

Excretion

Excretion is the process of removing waste materials produced during life processes. Waste substances can be harmful if they accumulate in the body. Therefore, their removal is very important for survival.

In humans, excretion is carried out by kidneys, lungs, skin, and intestines. Carbon dioxide is removed through lungs, urea through kidneys, and excess water and salts through skin. In plants, waste materials are removed through stomata, leaves, and by storing waste in old tissues. Excretion helps maintain a healthy internal environment.

Growth

Growth is a permanent increase in size, mass, and complexity of the body. It occurs due to cell division and cell enlargement. Growth is seen only in living organisms.

In plants, growth continues throughout life, while in animals, growth occurs up to a certain age. Growth helps organisms develop from a simple form into a complex structure. Non-living things do not show true growth, which makes growth an important life process.

Reproduction

Reproduction is the process by which living organisms produce new individuals of their own kind. It ensures the continuity of life on Earth. Reproduction can be sexual or asexual.

Animals usually reproduce sexually, involving male and female organisms. Plants and microorganisms may reproduce sexually or asexually. Although reproduction is not necessary for the survival of an individual, it is essential for the survival of the species.

Response to Stimuli

Living organisms have the ability to respond to changes in their environment. These changes are called stimuli and include light, heat, sound, touch, and chemicals.

For example, humans withdraw their hand from a hot object, and plants bend toward sunlight. This response helps organisms protect themselves and adapt to their surroundings. Non-living things do not respond to stimuli.

Maintenance of Internal Balance

Living beings maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions. This balance is necessary for proper functioning of body processes.

Processes like nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion work together to maintain this balance. This coordination of life processes is essential for survival.

Conclusion

Basic life processes are essential activities that keep living organisms alive. These include nutrition, respiration, transportation, excretion, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli. All living beings perform these processes in different ways to survive and maintain life. Without these basic life processes, no organism can exist.