Meaning of Diseases and Pathogens

1) How Are Diseases Inherited From Parents to Offspring?

• The diseases are inherited from parents to offspring through the genetic material in our cells.
• Offsprings receive half their genetic material from each parent.
• During this transmission, the genes responsible for genetic diseases are also transferred.
• Such a transmission leads to the occurrence of genetic diseases in the offspring.

2) Why Are Viruses an Intermediate Between Living and Non-Living Organisms?

• Viruses are considered intermediate as they show the properties of a dead organism outside the host body, whereas they are living inside the host body.
• Viruses can multiply only when they are inside the host body. They remain in a dormant stage when they are not inside a host.

3) Fungi Are Often Called Saprophytes. State the Reason for the Same.

• Fungi are a group of microbes that have some similarities with the plant kingdom but lack chlorophyll.
• Fungi depend on dead and decaying matter for nourishment and absorb the nutrients from the same.
• Such a mode of nutrition is called saprophytic nutrition; hence, fungi are called saprophytes.

4) What Is a Microscope? Name the Parts of the Microscope.

• The microscope is a device used to observe microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eye.
• The different parts of a microscope are shown below—