Question

Be able to explain the effects of both physical and chemical growth requirements.

Answer 1

For an organism to grow, there are several requisites, which need to be obtained by the organism to survive and sustain in this world. In order for growth to happen, there are several physical and chemical growth requirements of an organism, which are mentioned below in detail.

Chemical growth requirements

For the successful growth of an organism, the supply of water is extremely essential, which is the most important chemical on earth and without which life cannot exist on planet earth. Supply of minerals is also essential for each and every organism for carrying out their day to day activities and in several metabolic reactions.Metals enhance the catalytic activity of enzymatic reactions.

Carbon is also a necessary requirement for each and every organism however minute it is. carbon is the primary constituent of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and every living organism has carbon in some form or the other. 50 % of the dry weight of an organism is made up of carbon only. Carbon dioxide is also used by plants and several chemotrophs for energy purposes while phototrophs use it for photosynthesis.

Among the other important elements, nitrogen is worth mentioning with its important role being in DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. Phosphorus i another trace element which has its own set of significance in membrane biosynthesis.

And forgetting about oxygen would be a criminal offence as it is the most important chemical required for cellular respiration and can be safely be called the gas of life.

Physical requirements

Certain physical conditions are quintessential which are important for maintaining the type and amount of organism growth.

Enzyme activity requires optimal temperature to work best and variety of organisms have a wide range of temperature requirements for better activity of their respective enzymes and other chemical signals.

Another very important requirement for growth is pH which gives a measure of acidity and alkalinity. Any alteration of these conditions can lead to death of an organism and hence ph plays an important role in survival of the organism.

Osmotic pressure is another ideal requirement for the growth of an organism. Salt is an important mediator for it and salt concentrations in the exterior and interior of a cell have an important say on the osmotic pressure of the cell.

So here are the important physical and chemical requirements required by any organism and their substantial effects in brief. I hope the writeup might help you!.