Difference between Epiblema and Epidermis

Epiblema and epidermis both refer to the outermost layer of tissues in plants. But some specific difference as follows;

EPIBLEMA	EPIDERMIS
It refers specifically to the outermost layer of cells found in a plant's root.	An epidermis is the outermost layer of cells covering the entire aerial parts of plants, including stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
It is also called imperfect epidermis.	It is called true epidermis.
The epiblema is involved in sensing the environment and protecting the growing root as it pushes through soil.	It serves as a protective barrier against physical damage, pathogens, and excessive water loss through transpiration.
It does not have stomata, cuticles and trichomes.	It has stomata, cuticles and trichomes.

Why is epiblema called imperfect epidermis?
Due to two reasons epiblema called imperfect epidermis as follows;

1. Because of the absence of cuticles, and stomata.
2. Epiblema is short lived, after giving rising root hairs epiblema cells undergo death.

Living World Handbook

 1.1 Introduction:

1. What is the living world?

The world which contains life is known as the living world. It is also called earth or biosphere.

2. Who is called ‘the Darwin of the 20th century’?

Ernst Mayr.

3. Mention the extraordinary habitats in which we find living organisms.

• Old mountains,

• Deciduous forests,

• Oceans,

• Freshwater lakes,

• Deserts

• Hot springs,

• Marine etc.,

4. The ecological conflict and cooperation observed among;

1. Populations C. Molecular level

2. Communities D. All of the above

Ans: D,

1.2 What is living?

1. Define living:

The living organisms are self-replicating, evolving and self-regulating interactive systems, capable of responding to external stimuli.

2. How do all living organisms link to each other?

Present, past and future are linked to one another by the sharing of the common genetic material, but to varying degrees.

3. Mention general characteristics or unique features of living organisms:

1. Growth

2. Reproduction

3. Metabolism

4. Ability to sense environment and response

5. Self-replication

6. Self-organization

7. Interact and emergence (Appearance / arises).

8. Life span.

4. What is Growth?

Growth is a process of irreversible increase in the size of an organism, or body mass, or number of individuals or formation of new cells.

5. Mention the Twin characteristics of growth.

They increase in mass and increase in number.

6. How do multicellular organisms differ from unicellular organisms in their growth?

Multicellular organisms increase in size by cell division (Mitosis) and unicellular organisms increase in number by binary fission etc.

7. How does growth in plants differ from animals?

Growth in plants occurs continuously throughout their lifespan while Growth in animals only up to a certain age. However, cell division occurs in certain tissues to replace lost cells in animals.

8. Why Growth cannot be considered as a defining property of living organisms?

Because non-living things also exhibit growth from outside. It occurs by the accumulation of material on the surface called accretion. Ex: Mountains, boulders and sand mounds do grow.

9. In living organisms growth occur from

1. Inside C. Both A and B

2. Outside D. Either A or B

Ans: A,

10. What is Reproduction?

Reproduction is a biological process, the new individual or offspring or progeny give rise from their parents.

11. Reproduction is synonymous to growth; Justify.

In unicellular organisms like bacteria, algae and amoeba cell division itself is a mode of reproduction and increases in cell number (it is one twin character of growth). So, Reproduction is synonymous to growth.

12. Why is Reproduction not considered as the defining property of living organisms?

Because in nature so many creatures are unable to reproduce. Ex: Mules, worker bees, infertile couples etc.

13. Mention the types of reproduction.

Reproduction is further divided into two types as follows;

1. Asexual reproduction and

2. Sexual Reproduction

14. What is Asexual reproduction?

It is a mode of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single parent without involvement of sex.

15. Mention the types of Asexual reproduction with examples.

It is divided into following types;

1. Binary fission. Ex: Amoeba, Bacteria

2. Fragmentation. Ex: Algae and Protonema of Moss

3. Budding. Ex: Yeast and Hydra

4. Spores. Ex: Fungi

5. True Regeneration: Ex: Planaria.

16. What is true regeneration?

It is the process of formation of a complete new individual from fragmented parts of animals. Ex: Planaria, Star Fish.

17. What is Sexual reproduction?

It is another mode of reproduction by which offspring arise from two parents or organs with involvement of sex. Ex: Humans, Birds, Earthworm, Leech, Cockroaches, Mosquitoes etc.

18. What is Metabolism?

It is the set of chemical reactions that occur within the cells of living organisms.

19. Why is metabolism considered as the defining property of all living organisms?

Because no non-living things exhibit metabolism. Means metabolism is absent in non living things.

20. Mention the types of Metabolism.

Metabolism is usually divided into two categories based on utilizing or producing of energy;

1. Catabolism

2. Anabolism.

21. What is Catabolism?

Breakdown of complex organic matter into simple organic matter to produce energy is known as catabolism.

Ex: Digestion process of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.

22. What is Anabolism?

The construction of complex organic matter from simple organic matters by using energy is known as anabolism.

Ex: Synthesis of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.

23. Ability to sense the environment and response by all living organisms. Justify the statement.

• All organisms from prokaryotes to the most complex eukaryotes can sense and respond to environmental changes.

• All living organisms respond to external factors like light, water, temperature etc., and also for internal factors like infections, hunger etc.

• Photoperiod affects reproduction in seasonal breeders, both plants and animals (Photoperiodism). 

24. Name the only organism having self consciousness?

Human beings are the only organism that is aware of themselves, i.e., has self-consciousness.

25. Why is consciousness considered as defining property?

All organisms handle chemicals entering their bodies. So all organisms are aware of their surroundings (consciousness).

26. Why is it difficult to consider consciousness as defining property of life in human beings?

Because in the case of coma patients their brain is dead and life is supported with machines. They don't have any consciousness.

27. How living organisms are self-replicating, evolving and self-regulating interactive systems capable of responding to external stimuli?

• All living phenomena arise or emerge by involvement of interaction from molecular level to high level of Multicellular organisms.

• Properties of tissues are not present in the constituent cells but arise or emerge due to interactions among the constituent cells.

• Similarly cell organelles emerge due to interaction among molecular components.

28. Define LifeSpan.

It is a period from birth to natural death of a living organism.

29. Why are unicellular organisms considered immortal?

Because these organisms undergo binary fission.

30. In the majority of higher animals and plants, _________ and ________ are mutually exclusive events.

1. Reproduction; Metabolism

2. Metabolism; Growth

3. Growth; Consciousness

4. Growth; Reproduction

Ans: D,

1.3 Diversity in the living world:

1. How many species are known and described on earth?

At present the scientists or biologist identified approximately 1.7 to 1.8 million species on the earth.

2. What is biodiversity?

The different types of organisms found on earth are known as biodiversity.

3. What is Vernacular naming?

Vernacular naming creates confusion and cannot be acceptable, all over the world.

4. What is biological nomenclature or nomenclature?

The biologist or taxonomist developed scientific naming of living organisms, such that a particular organism is known by the same name all over the world by a set of certain rules is called biological nomenclature.

5. Mention the Types of Nomenclature codes.

• ICBN: International code for Botanical Nomenclature.

• ICZN: International code for Zoological Nomenclature.

• ICMN: International code for Microorganism Nomenclature.

6. Who proposed the first Binomial Nomenclature?

Carolus Linnaeus proposed binomial nomenclature. He is called the “father of taxonomy”.

7. Define Binomial nomenclature?

Scientific naming of organisms contains two components or two names. First name is genus and the second name is species. This kind of nomenclature is called binomial nomenclature.

8. Explain Universal Rules of Binomial Nomenclature.

1. Biological names are generally in Latin or in Greek language. They are Latinized at the time of translation.

2. The first word in a biological name represents the genus while the second name represents species.

3. The biological names must be in italic and bold if printed (Mangifera indica) and in handwritten underlined separately (Mangifera indica).

4. The genus name always starts with a capital letter (Mangifera) while the species name starts with a small letter (indica).

5. Name of the author appears after the species or at the end of the biological name. It is written in abbreviated form.

Ex: Mangifera indica Linn (Linn described by Linnaeus).

9. Given below is the scientific name of Mango. Identify the correctly written name.

1. Mangifera Indica C. Mangifera indica

2. mangifera Indica D. mangifera indica

Ans C.

10. Define Taxonomy.

It is defined as the branch of biology which deals with classification of living organisms.

11. What is Taxa?

It means a group of categories in classification (more than one group or categories). It is a plural form of taxon. Ex: Animals, Plants, Kingdom, Phylum, Micro-organisms.

12. What is Taxon?

It means a unit of classification or any rank in the taxonomic category.  It is a singular form of taxa. Ex: species, family (only one group), cats, dogs, humans etc.

13. Mention the Basic Processes of Taxonomy.

1. Characterization

2. Identification

3. Classification

4. Systematic and 

5. Nomenclature.

14. Briefly explain about Systematics.

• Systematics deals with study of relationships among different kinds of organisms and their diversities.

• Carolus Linnaeus used “Systema Naturae” as the title of his publication.

• Scope of systematic: helps in identification, nomenclature, classification and evolutionary relationships between organisms.

1.4 Taxonomic Categories:

1. Write the ascending and descending order of Taxonomic Categories.

  

2. Briefly explain about taxonomic categories.

• A part of overall taxonomic arrangement is called Taxonomic categories. It is also called a taxonomic group.
• All taxonomic categories together constitute the taxonomic hierarchy. It is also called the Linnaeus hierarchy.
• Taxonomic hierarchy is the process of arranging various organisms into successive levels of the biological classification either in a decreasing or an increasing order from kingdom to species and vice versa.

3. How to place an organism in various categories?
Understanding the characteristics of individuals or groups of organisms is essential for identifying similarities and differences among them.

4. What is Species?
A group of fundamental similar organisms which can interbreed truly and produce viable offspring are called species.

Or

Taxonomic studies consider a group of individual organisms with fundamental similarities as a species.

5. Give an example for species.

Common Name	Scientific Name	Species Name
Mango	Mangifera indica	indica
Man	Homo sapien	sapien
Potato	Solanum tuberosum	tuberosum
Brinjal	Solanum melongena	melongena
Blackberry Nightshade	Solanum nigrum	nigrum
Lion	Panthera leo	leo
Tiger	Panthera tigris	tigris
Leopard	Panthera pardus	pardus
House fly	Musca domestica	domestica
Wheat	Triticum aestivum	aestivum

6. What is Genus?

Genus comprises a group of related species. In the hierarchy of biological classification genus comes above species and below family.

7. What is Family? Mention suffix of animal and plants

• It is a group of related genera. In the hierarchy of biological classification family comes above genus and below order.

• Animal families end with the suffix - idae.

• Plants families end with the suffix - aceae.

8. Give an example for Family.

Family	Ex: Genus
Anacardiaceae (Fruits are drupes)	Mangifera, Anacardium
Felidae (all cats)	Panthera and Felis
Hominidae (Humans)	Homo
Canidae (all dogs)	Canis, Urocyon (tailed fox)
Solanaceae (sun shape flowers and alkaloids)	Solanum, Petunia and Datura

9. What is Order?

It is a group of related families. In this hierarchy of biological classification order comes above family and below class.

10. Give an example for Orders.

Order	Ex: families
Polymoniales (floral characters) and Sapindales (stamens inserted in disk or stamens inside the flower)	Convolvulaceae(funnel shape flower) and Solanaceae
Primata (living on trees)	Monkeys, Hominidae, gorilla and gibbon
Carnivora (meet eating)	Canidae and Felidae

11. What is Class?

It is a group of related orders. In the hierarchy of biological classification, class comes above order and below phylum or division.

Ex: Dicotyledonae, Mammalia.

12. Briefly explain about Phylum or Division.

• In the hierarchy of biological classification, phylum or division comes above class and below kingdom.

• A group of related classes of animals is known as phylum.

Ex: Chordata and Non-chordata

• A group of related classes of plants is known as division.

Ex: Angiosperms, Gymnosperms, Pteridophytes and Bryophytes.

13. What is Kingdom?

• Kingdom is the highest level of category or rank or taxon observed in the hierarchy of biological classification.

• Ex: Animalia (group of animal phylum’s), Plantae (group of plant divisions).

14. Write the Taxonomic Categories features.

• As we go higher from species to kingdom, the number of common characteristics decreases.

• Lower the taxa, more are the characteristics that the members within the taxon share.

• Higher the category, greater is the difficulty of determining the relationship to other taxa at the same level.

1.5 Taxonomical Aids:

1. What are Taxonomical Aids?

The biologists have developed many methods and techniques that help in taxonomic studies. These are known as taxonomical aids.

Or

Biologists have established certain procedures and techniques to store and preserve the information as well as the specimens. These aids are known as Taxonomical Aids.

2. Mention the types of taxonomical aids.

1. Herbariums (preserved plants)

2. Botanical garden (protected live plants)

3. Museums (Preserved animals)

4. Zoological Parks (protects live animals)

5. Keys (information based on character).

6. Recording Descriptions.

3. What are the uses of Taxonomic studies?

It helps in agriculture, forestry, industry and knowing our bio-resources and their diversity.

4. Name the primary source for taxonomic studies?

The collection of actual specimens of plant and animal species is considered as the primary source for taxonomic studies.

5. Briefly explain about Herbarium.

• Herbarium is a storehouse of collected plant specimens that are dried and mounted on a preserved sheet or on a nylon sheet.

• Few plant materials are preserved in alcohol or in preservatives like formalin.

• Ex: National Herbarium, Netherland; United States National Herbarium; Central National Herbarium, Howrah, West Bengal.

6. What is a Botanical Garden? Give examples

A botanical garden is a garden dedicated to the collection, cultivation, preservation and display of a wide range of plants labeled with their botanical names.
Ex: Kew Botanical garden (England); Indian Botanical Garden (Howrah, West Bengal); National botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, UP; and Lalbagh Botanical Garden (Bangalore, KA).

7. What is a Museum? Give examples.

• It is also called a Biological Museum.

• These museums have collections of preserved plants and animals for study and reference.

• Ex: Biological Science Museum, Australia; National Museum of Natural History, Delhi.

8. What are Zoological Parks? Give Examples

• These are the places where wild animals are kept in protected environments under human care.

• Ex: Mysore Zoo, and Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore, KA.

9. Briefly explain about Key.

• It is also known as a Biological Key or Taxonomic Key.

• Key is a taxonomic tool used for identification of plants and animals based on characteristics.

• Each option in a key represents a pair of contrasting characters of an organism. This is known as Couplet.

• Each statement in the key is called a lead.

10 Explain about Recording Descriptions.

It refers to the process of documenting or describing something in detail, often through written or verbal means of a specimen.

• Flora: It contains habitat and distribution of plants in a particular area.

• Manuals: they are useful in providing information for identification of species found in an area.

• Monographs: It contains information on any one species or one genus.

• Catalogues: It is also known as biological catalogues. It contains pictures, classification and brief information of organisms.

• Fauna: it contains a particular region, habitat or geological period of animals.

1.6 Exercise Questions:

1. Why are living organisms classified?

We classify living things to organize species, focus studies, communicate clearly, understand evolutionary relationships, predict traits, and support conservation.

2. Why are the classification systems changing every now and then?

Classification systems change because of new discoveries, improved technology, environmental changes, and efforts to standardize. These changes help ensure accuracy and reflect our evolving understanding of organisms.

3. What different criteria would you choose to classify people that you meet often?

It includes behavior, geographical location, morphology, family members, relatives, friends, colleagues, gender etc.

4. What do we learn from identification of individuals and populations?

Knowing individual organisms and whole populations unlocks secrets about their variety, habits, and where they live. This knowledge fuels efforts in conservation, research, fighting disease, and making smart choices for managing the natural world.

5. Illustrate the taxonomic hierarchy with suitable examples of a plant and an animal.

Write the taxonomic categories of Mango and House fly or wheat and Human