SOCIAL ANIMALS – MEANING, CHARACTERISTICS, IMPORTANCE & LIFE HISTORY Social animals are those in which individuals of the same species live together cooperatively in organized communities known as societies (colonies). Examples of social animals are: social insects (like termites, honey bees or wasps, ants etc), wolves, foxes, baboons etc. Characteristics of Social Insects…
THEORIES OF EVOLUTION ORGANIC EVOLUTION Organic evolution is the sum total of adaptive changes from pre–existing or old forms that has taken place over a long time resulting in diversity of forms, structures and functions among organism. The basis of evolution is that all organisms have pre–existing ancestors. Evidences of evolution Fossil record: A…
VARIATION IN POPULATION Population is a group of organisms of the same specie living in a specified area within a given period of time. Variation refers to the differences which exist between individuals of the same species Types of variations Morphological variation Physiological variation. Morphological variation is the noticeable physical appearance of individuals of…
ADAPTIVE COLOURATION AND BEHAVIOURAL ADAPTATION ADAPTIVE COLOURATION This is the possession by an organism of a colour which enables it to catch its prey, avoid its predators or enemies, secure mates and ensure their survival. Adaptive colouration may be grouped into Concealing (cryptic) colouration to help organisms blend with their background and remain unnoticed…
ADAPTATION FOR SURVIVAL COMPETITION Competition is the process by which living organisms in the habitat struggle with one another for limited essential needs in the environment. Such scarce resources in plants include; light, space, nutrient and water while animals complete for food, space or mate. Competition finally results in survival of the fittest and elimination…
What is a fruit? A fruit is a matured fertilized ovary of a flower containing one or more seeds. Contrary to this, some plants do not undergo fertilization for the formation of their fruit.
BIOLOGY PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES – WELL EXPLAINED To observe prepared slides of transverse section of stems of herbaceous and woody plants. Permanent slides of transverse sections of: Herbaceous plant and Woody plant are obtained. The permanent slide of an herbaceous plant is placed onto the stage of the microscope. Observations under the low power and medium…
JOINTS AND MOVEMENT What is a joint? A joint is a connection between two or more bones. Joints provide articulation between bones making movement possible.. However some joints do not allow any movement e.g. the joints, between bones of the skull. Movable joints are of three main types: Gliding joint g., joints which occur…
There are three types of muscles, located at various parts of the body. In order to function all use energy in form of ATP. These include smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscles.
The mammalian skeleton is divided into two:
Axial and appendicular.
Axial skeleton is made up of the skull and the vertebral column.
Appendicular skeleton is made up of the pelvic and pectoral girdles and limbs (hind limb and forelimbs).
SUPPORT AND MOVEMENT IN PLANTS Necessity for support and movement Movement is a characteristic of all living organisms. It enables animals and plants to adjust to their environment. Most animals move from place to place but some are sessile (i.e. fixed to the substratum). Majority of plants move only certain parts. However, though not easily…
SUPPORT AND MOVEMENT IN ANIMALS Necessity for support and movement in animals. Animals move from place to place: In search of food. To escape from predators. To escape from hostile environment. To look for mates and breeding grounds. The skeleton, which is a support structure, helps to maintain the shape of the body. Movement is…
HUMAN EAR – STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS AND PARTS The Mammalian Ear The mammalian ear performs two major functions: Hearing and detecting changes in the positions of the body to bring about balance and posture. The ear is divided into three sections. The Outer Ear This consists of: An outer flap, the pinna which is made up…
HUMAN EYE – STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS AND PARTS Structure The human eye is spherical in shape and situated within a socket or orbit in the skull. It is attached to the skull by three pairs of muscle, which also control its movement. It is made up of three main layers; sclerotic layer, choroid and the light…
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM – ROLES IN HUMAN BEINGS WHAT IS ENDOCRINE? Endocrine system consists of glands that secrete hormones. The glands have no ducts and are known as endocrine glands. Other glands are known as exocrine glands because they have ducts. The pancreas has an outer exocrine portion and an inner endocrine portion. Hormones are…
SPINAL CORD – SIMPLE AND CONDITIONED REFLEX ACTIONS The spinal cord is located within the vertebral column and consist of the following: The grey matter forms the central part of the spinal cord. It consists of nerve¬cell bodies and intermediate nerve fibres. The white matter of the spinal cord carries sensory nerve fibers while…
HUMAN BRAIN – FUNCTIONS AND MAJOR PARTS OF THE HUMAN BARIN The Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The CNS co-ordinates body activities by receiving impulses from sensory cells from different parts of the body. It then sends the impulses to the appropriate effectors. The brain is enclosed…
What is the nervous system? The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body
ANIMALS – RECEPTION, RESPONSES AND CO¬ORDINATION The nervous and endocrine systems (together known as the neuro-endocrine system) act as a co-coordinating system. They linking the receptors to the effectors and regulating their activities. Receptors Receptors are cells that detect or receive stimuli. They may be scattered more uniformly all over the body surface e.g….
PLANTS – RECEPTION, RESPONSE AND CO-ORDINATION Introduction The structures involved in detecting the changes may be located far away from the ones that respond. There is need for a communication system within the body. The nervous system and the endocrine system perform this function, i.e. linking the parts of the body that detect changes…