Category: Biology Questions

Veins and Arteries are the two different blood vessel types in the circulatory system.

These are mainly involved in blood circulation throughout the body. But the blood vessels, in terms of functioning, both are different from each other.

 

What are Arteries?

Arteries refer to the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart and branch to even smaller vessels.

Further, these smallest arteries, known as arterioles, are branched into the small capillaries where the nutrients, gases, and other waste molecules exchange is carried out.

 

What are Veins?

Veins are the blood vessels that are present throughout the body.

These are the tube-like translucent structures that perform the function of carrying out the deoxygenated blood from the tissues to the heart for the purpose of re-oxygenation.

 

Two structural differences between Arteries and Veins 

Parameters	Arteries	Veins
Walls	Arteries have elastic, thick, and muscular walls	Veins have thin walls with a few elastic fibers.
Valves	Arteries do not have any valves	Veins have one-way valves

 

Arteries require thick, muscular, and elastic walls to give them strength and elasticity to cope with the oxygenated blood’s high pressure surges coming from the heart.

The elasticity permits the walls to recoil back to the original shape after being augmented in diameter to allow the blood through the surge.

Veins require valves because the blood flowing through them at low pressures further necessitates something to prevent it from going backward.

They are necessary in order to avoid blood pooling. Arteries do not require valves as the blood flows at high pressures where it cannot go backward.

 

Other differences between Arteries and Veins 

Parameters	Arteries	Veins
Functions	Arteries are involved in carrying the oxygenated blood except for pulmonary arteries	Veins are involved in carrying deoxygenated blood except for pulmonary veins
Position	These are located deep within the body	These are peripherally located closer to the skin
Walls	These consist of three layers that are highly muscular, rigid, and thicker.	These consist of three distinct layers that are less muscular and thinner
Appearance	These are red	These are blue
Pressure rate	High pressure as the blood flows by pumping heart pressure	Low pressure as the blood flows by the veins’ capillary action
Transports	Arteries carry blood away from the heart to several parts of the body	Veins carry blood towards the heart from several parts of the body
Disorders	Arteries are generally at a greater risk of specific diseases like atherosclerosis etc	Veins are generally less susceptible to the diseases like varicose veins
Lumen	Here Lumen is narrow	Here Lumen is wide
Oxygen Level	The oxygen level is comparatively high	The oxygen level is comparatively low
Blood flow direction	The blood flow direction of arteries is in the downward direction from the heart to the blood tissues.	The blood flow direction is in the upward direction from the body tissues to the heart.
Carbon Dioxide Level	The carbon dioxide level is low	The carbon dioxide level is high
Valves	Here valves are absent	Here valves are present.

 

Bottom Line!

The major structural differences between the arteries and veins include:

• Arteries have thick, elastic and muscular walls, whereas veins have thin walls with a few elastic fibers.
• Arteries do not have any walls, whereas veins have one-way valves.

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Whenever strange bacteria and pathogens discover their way into the body, they are generally destroyed by the immune system. Before getting to the immune system, the foreign material has to go through a few defense lines that your body has in place.

• The first defense line in the human body against pathogens is through the barriers like skin, saliva, and a mucus layer. This layer is known as innate immunity.
• The second defense line is via phagocytes that are produced by innate immunity.
• The third defense line is adaptive immunity.

Passive and active immunity are the two adaptive immunity types.

 

The function of an immune system

The immune system limits or prevents a person from infection. When the immune system recognizes pathogens, it generally addresses an issue.

Whenever an immune system is not activated, problems like diseases and disorders arise.

 

What is active immunity?

Active immunity refers to the immunity where a human body develops its own antibodies whenever the body is exposed to a disease.

It generally allows the immune system to identify an illness that will trigger the body to fight against the disease.

It may sometimes provide life-long protection against the diseases and is often long-lasting.

Examples of Active Immunity

• Whenever a body is exposed to pathogens, passive immunity is triggered.
• Body exposure to some pathogen parts in a vaccine-like Live attenuated vaccine

What is passive immunity?

Passive immunity refers to an immunity type that is endowed when a person is provided with antibodies from outside.

It generally supports immediate protection but at the same time doesn’t guarantee long-term safety, just like the active one.

Examples of Passive Immunity

• A baby receives antibodies from its mother during the pregnancy’s third trimester.
• Breast milk comprises antibodies in addition to other abs.

 

Understanding the differences between Active and Passive Immunity

Parameters	Active Immunity	Passive Immunity
Protection Length	It provides long-lasting protection.	It provides short-term protection.
Immunological Memory	It generates immunological memory	It does not generate immunological memory.
Abs Production	Own body’s host will make the antibodies whenever exposed to the pathogens, lymphocytes from memory cells.	Here the host receives antibodies from some outside source.
Response speed	Active immunity has a slower response.	Passive immunity has a faster response.
Side effects	It has no side effects and does not cause any chemical reactions.	It may comprise of specific side effects when it is given externally.
Antigen exposure	It requires exposure to the antigen of a pathogen.	It doesn’t require any exposure to any infectious agent.
Immune system involvement	Here the immune system of an individual is actively involved in the entire process.	Here the immune system of an individual is not actively involved.
Natural Acquirement	Arises naturally when a person is exposed to a pathogen or an antigen.	Arises naturally when the fetus obtains antibodies from the mother across the placenta.
Artificial Acquirement	It confers artificially through the vaccines.	It confers artificially through the administration of preformed antibodies.
Components	T cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells	Here no immune cells are involved
Immunity Type	It involves both cell-mediated and humoral immunity.	Here the immunity is conferred only by ready-made antibodies.
Memory cell formation	It results in the formation of long-lasting memory cells.	Here memory immune cells are not formed.
Antibody production	It involves the antibody production that is induced by immunogen or infection.	Here no antibody is produced but directly transferred.
Durability	Here the protection offered is long-lasting.	Here the protection is only transient.
Secondary response	Here the first exposure leads to response and in the case of subsequent exposure to the same pathogen, a stronger and faster secondary response is established.	A secondary response is absent here.
Reactivation	It is reactivated by infection recurrence or revaccination.	Here the frequent administration is required for renewed protection.
Response Time	Here the protective response takes time to establish	Here no lag period is there so the protection is instant.
Use	Very effective for diseases prophylaxis	Artificial passive immunity is effective as a post-exposure remedy
Suitability	It is not suitable for the protection of immune-deficient or immune-compromised individuals.	It is useful in cases of immunodeficient, immune-compromised, or severe combined immunodeficiency.
Protection Effectiveness	It provides effective protection	Protection is less effective
Adverse effects	It can be implicated in autoimmune allergies and diseases but generally does not have any side effects.	A condition known as serum sickness can be an outcome of exposure to antisera.

 

Bottom Line!

The prominent difference between passive and active immunity is that active immunity is developed because of the antibody’s protection in a person’s own body.

In contrast, passive immunity is developed by the antibodies that are generated outside and then later on introduced in the body.

 

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The action of breathing out and in is due to the pressure changes within the thorax compared to the outside. The breathing mechanism generally involves ample organs and two processes.

Let us get acquainted with everything you need to know about the breathing mechanism.

 

What is breathing?

Breathing refers to a process in which the air moves in and out of the lungs. This process is generally carried out through several respiratory organs.

In short, breathing refers to the simple give and take process.

Whenever we breathe in, we take in the air that is rich in oxygen from the atmosphere. In the return of this intake process, we give out the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that the plants further utilize for the photosynthesis process.

Breathing is basically a continuous process that goes on throughout the life of an organism.

The process of in-taking the oxygen-rich air is known as inhalation, whereas the process of giving out the air rich in Carbon Dioxide is called exhalation.

Daily a person breathes ample time, and the breathing rate generally depends on the person’s activity. The breathing rate usually rises when a person is running, brisk walking, or after some heavy exercises, and on the contrary, the rate decreases when the person is calm.

An adult’s breathing rate is 15-18 times per minute, and during heavy exercises, the breathing rate exceeds 25 breaths per minute.

 

Breathing Mechanism

The air that we breathe in and out generally varies in its pressure. So, fundamentally when there is a fall in the air pressure, the alveolar spaces also fall, and the air enters the lungs, known as the inspiration of the air.

And as the alveoli’s pressure exceeds the atmospheric pressure, the air gets blown out from the lungs, known as expiration.

The air’s flow rate is in proportion to the pressure difference’s magnitude. And a mechanism of breathing generally involves two processes.

1. Inspiration
2. Expiration

Inspiration

In the inspiration process, a muscle contraction attached to the ribs in the outer side would pull the ribs, resulting in the chest cavity expansion.

After this, the diaphragm contracts while moving downwards and expands the chest cavity resulting in the abdominal muscles contraction.

The chest cavity expansion then leads to the production of a partial vacuum that sucks the air into the lungs and fills the expanded alveoli.

Inspiration mechanism

• The intake process of atmospheric air is an active process that is referred to as inspiration.
• When the thoracic cavity’s volume increases and air pressure decreases, the inspiration process takes place.
• The external intercostal muscles contraction then increases the thoracic cavity’s volume.
• The diaphragm contraction further augments the size of the thoracic activity. Concurrently, the lungs expand.
• With the lungs expansion, the air pressure within the lungs decreases
• The pressure equalizes, and the atmospheric air rushes into the lungs.

Expiration

After the gaseous exchange takes place in the lungs and the air is barred out, the process is known as the expiration process. Basically, this air expulsion is known as expiration.

During the expiration process, the muscles attached to the ribs contract.

The diaphragm muscles and abdomen relax, leading to a decrease in chest cavity volume and augments the lungs pressure, leading to the air present in the lungs to be pushed out with the help of the nose.

Expiration Mechanism

• The exhaling carbon dioxide process is a passive process that is known as expiration.
• It takes place when the thoracic activity size decreases and outside air pressure increases.
• The external intercostal muscles relax, and the internal intercostal muscles contract.
• Consequently, the ribs are pulled inwards and the thoracic cavity size reduces.
• The diaphragm is then relaxed, and the lungs get compressed.
• As a result, the pressure increases, and the air is pulled outside.

 

Bottom Line!

Breathing is a process of inhaling (O2) Oxygen and exhaling (CO2) Carbon dioxide by the lungs, and there is a proper system of organs that are involved in the process of breathing. We hope this answer helped you understand the entire concept of the breathing mechanism.

 

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Water and carbon dioxide are the waste products of respiration.

When glucose is taken by the cells, the mitochondria inside the cells break down the glucose into the energy molecules that can be further utilized by the cells, known as ATP.

To build ATP from glucose requires oxygen, and once the glucose has been broken down into as many ATP molecules as possible, there are products leftovers, namely carbon dioxide and water.

These leftovers are excreted by every cell present in the body and eradicated by the bloodstream.

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Bottom Line!

In the cellular respiration process, a glucose molecule is completely oxidized to H2O and CO2, and the energy is produced in ATPs form. So, the waste products of the cellular respiration process are water and carbon dioxide.

 

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Cellular respiration and breathing are the living organisms defining characteristics. However, the terms are not synonymous, as there are several significant differences between both terms.

Cellular respiration generally describes how your cells make ATP, where ATP refers to a molecule used to provide the energy for performing chemical reactions. On the contrary, breathing or respiration refers to how your body gets oxygen into its lungs from the outside air.

Let us understand the difference by focusing on each one individually.

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What is cellular respiration?

Cellular respiration refers to the biochemical process of energy release that can be further utilized by the body cells to perform several daily activities, including sitting, running, walking, and many others. It is a vital process for maintaining the appropriate functioning of the organ system.

 

What is Breathing or Respiration?

Breathing refers to a biochemical process through which oxygen is inhaled, and carbon dioxide is exhaled out from the lungs to enhance the gaseous exchange within tissues, living cells, and other human body organs. The breathing mechanism involves several respiratory structures like the lungs, nose, and windpipe.

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Understanding the differences between Cellular Respiration and Breathing

Parameters	Cellular Respiration	Breathing
Definition	It is a process of glucose breakdown to generate energy that is then utilized by the cells to perform cellular functions.	Breathing is a process of exhaling carbon dioxide and inhaling oxygen.
Process type	It is an involuntary chemical process	It is a both voluntary as well as involuntary process
Process Occurrence	The respiration process takes place in cells.	Breathing takes place in the lungs and also involves the mouth, nose, and pharynx.
Energy Production	Here energy is released and produced in the form of ATP	Here no energy production occurs.
Enzyme used	A large number of enzymes are used during the respiration process.	No enzymes are used during the breathing process.
Cellular Activity	A breathing process takes place inside the cells; it is known as an intracellular process.	As it takes place outside the cells it is known as the extracellular process.
Associated organs	It takes place in the cell organelles and cells including mitochondria, etc.	It takes place through the respiratory organs including the lungs, nose, etc.

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Bottom Line!

The primary difference between cellular respiration and breathing is that

Breathing refers to a biological process of exhaling and inhaling the gases between the environment and cells and also involves several respiratory structures like lungs, nose, and windpipe.

Respiration refers to a chemical process that takes place in a cell. Here the air that we generally inhale brings oxygen to the lungs and is carried to the cells by the blood. And that is where it helps in breaking down the glucose resulting in energy generation. Furthermore, this energy is utilized by the cells to carry out their functions.

We hope this answer gave you a clear idea about the differences.

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Semi conservative means half conserved. Let us get acquainted with the whole concept by studying it in detail.

 

So, what is meant by semi-conservative DNA replication?

Semi-conservative DNA replication states that during DNA replication, the nucleotides two strands separate.

And after that, both the strands form a template for nucleotides to bind to generate two identical daughter strands. Therefore, each daughter strand has half DNA from the original strand and the other half from newly formed.

 

What is semi-conservative replication?

Semi-conservative replication refers to the mode by which the DNA replicates. In this, each strand acts as a template for a new double helix.

It is basically a process by which the DNA generates daughter DNA molecules that are the exact copy of the original DNA.

In each of the DNA molecules, one strand is older, and the other is newly formed.

In the case of semi-conservative replication DNA, semi-conservative DNA is used for DNA replication in which one strand of the DNA is not conserved while the other is conserved. Here the DNA duplex’s primary structure is conserved while the secondary structure is disrupted.

 

Understanding it in detail!

 

A formal definition of the semi-conservative model

It is the replication process in which one DNA strand is conserved, whereas the other is synthesized as per the complementary base pairing known as the semi-conservative replication. Watson Crick suggested the semi-conservative model.

 

Summary of semi-conservative model

• Firstly the unzipping of double-stranded DNAs takes place. The unzipping is basically done to separate the strands, and that is what it leads to.
• Then each strand acts as a mold or a template. Here each strand gets a complementary nucleotide.
• After this, the new nucleotides are arranged on each of the model strands, leading to the formation of two daughter DNAs.
• Each daughter’s DNA has one newly formed strand and an older or, say, parental strand.
• Therefore the sequence of an original duplex is conserved into two daughter DNAs, but here the duplex itself is not conserved.
• Consequently, the primary structure is conserved, but if we talk about the secondary structure, it is disrupted. This process is known as semi-conservative DNA replication.

 

Here the parent strand denoted in dark blue color is separated while creating the two single strands.

Each strand is utilized as a template for the complementary strand.

 

Bottom Line!

The term “Semi-conservative” means that “Half Conserved.” In the case of DNA replication, it is used to separate the strands of DNA in which one DNA strand is conserved and the other is not.

And in the semi-conservative DNA replication, the DNA duplex’s primary structure is conserved while the secondary structure is disrupted.

 

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