Category Zoology

What come first-plant or animal?

               From time immemorial, the question of how this Universe came to be has haunted Man’s mind. While ancient Man chose to believe in the easiest answer that everything came into existence-through an act of God, modern science persisted with rational enquiries that proved otherwise. Have you ever wondered what it must have been like millions and millions of years ago, when the earth first came into existence? Were there plants and animals then?

               When the earth was first formed, there was no life on it. Its surface was extremely hot and had giant volcanoes that threw fiery rocks, dust, and gases into the air. Scientists estimate that the first life forms on Earth were primitive, single-celled organisms. They must have appeared about three billion years ago in the oceans. They had no bones or shells, so they looked more like worms and jellyfish. These one-celled organisms gradually became multi-cellular organisms. As time passed, more complex forms of life began to fill up oceans. One of the first forms of life was a very simple plant called algae. Different types of plants came later on. And so, yes, animal life appeared only after the appearance of plant life.

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How do plants and animals differ from each other?

            You must have observed huge trees in your own backyard that have been staying in the same place for years, without any explicit signs of movement. Unlike animals, trees cannot move about, eat through the mouth, express emotions and communicate their needs. Plants and animals are as different from each other as a rose is from a rabbit!

            Generally, plants, with a few exceptions like the swimming algae, cannot move about from place to place, while animals can move freely. One of the most distinguishing features of plants is that they can make their own food with the help of their green colouring, which is called chlorophyll. On the other hand, animals must rely on plants for their food, or hunt other animals. Animals have a nervous system, which makes them sensitive to touch, heat, cold, pain, and other stimuli. Plants lack such a nervous system. However, as you must have observed, some plants such as the touch-me-not, do fold their leaves when touched. Others sense that a support is near, and twine themselves around it.

            The cell structure of plants and animals is different too. Most plants have rigid cell walls and contain cellulose. Animal cells do not have cellulose. The development of animals and plants is different too. While animals stop growing when they reach maturity, plants do not stop growing until they die!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What is an animal?

            Life is what makes our planet different from the rest of the known universe. There are diverse forms of life on our planet. Living beings such as ants, beetles, fishes, sparrows, cats, dogs and cows have always fascinated us in several ways. Green plants like grass, shrubs, bushes and tall trees have also caught our imagination. While trees and plants are stationary, animals can move around.

            The word animal comes from the Latin word ‘anima’. It means ‘life’ or ‘breath’. Animals are living organisms, often belonging to a family or herd. They eat food, move about, and are capable of taking care of themselves. However, the simplest animals are very much like the simplest plants. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between the two.

            There are some telling differences between plants and animals. These are very clear when you look at the more highly developed animals. Plants have the ability to prepare their own food. However, animals eat plants or hunt down other animals. This characteristic of animals means that they have to be able to move about.

            On the other hand, things are not so clear-cut when you look at organisms that are made of only one cell. Sometimes, it is hard to tell if they are animals or plants. Bacteria, for example, can have characteristics of both animals and plants.

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Dissecting a Leap

 

What are the opportunities in the field of Zoology and Botany?

Botany and zoology are research subjects and can help you secure teaching jobs such as that of a lecturer in a university or a teacher in school. But there are allied areas of botany and chemistry for which opportunities are galore. Biotechnology is today’s buzzword and a graduation in botany or zoology is the route to a master’s programme in biotechnology.

With a background in botany you could make a mark for yourself in the fields of agriculture, forestry, dairy farming and even marine sciences. Anthropology is another area you could pursue after having studied zoology.

 

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Ageing

What is a healthy diet for older people?

            It is very important that old people eat fresh food. The elderly need to eat protein, fat and carbohydrate, which form the basis of any healthy diet. They need plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.           

How can old people keep healthy and mobile?

            Exercise is important because it keeps bones, joints and muscles healthy. You cannot expect an older person to take vigorous exercise, but walking and even swimming help the circulation and keeps the joints supple. If old people are receiving medical treatment, it is important that their doctor advices on the proper level of exercise, to avoid doing any damage to their body.

 

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Ageing

Can we help old people to have an active life?

            Old people sometimes need to be helped to live their lives to the full. Loneliness is one of the most common features of an old person’s life, particularly if the person has lost a partner. Most people no longer live in large families within one house, and a single older person can feel very isolated. Although they may not be physically strong, almost all older people can and should take exercise.

            Most old people enjoy the company of younger people. Keeping both the mind and body active will help an old person’s general health and wellbeing. Above all, the company of other people is the best tonic they can have.

How long do people live for?

            People are living longer and longer, and most of us can expect to live to the age of 75 years or more we can also expect to be reasonably healthy for almost all of this time. Because so many of the diseases that caused people to die young are now being controlled, and people have a far better standard of living, most of us are living much longer than our ancestors.

            We are also staying much healthier right up until the end of our lives. This means that a growing number of healthy and active older people are working part-time to occupy themselves and to provide an extra income. This activity helps to keeps their minds and bodies active.

            In 1997 a French woman died at the age of 122 years. She was the world’s longest-lived person.

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