Topic 5: Homeostasis and response

• What is the purpose of a clinical trial?

  To test the effectiveness of drugs
• What is a key component of vaccine function?

  Vaccines use weak antigens to stimulate antibodies
• What is a flaw in testing drugs on ill patients?

  Data may not be balanced
• What is the role of the kidneys in urine production?

  They filter excess substances from blood
• How does light intensity change with distance?

  It decreases as distance from the source increases
• How can you measure the effect of CO2 concentration on plant growth?

  By changing CO2 levels in a controlled environment
• What are the steps to investigate the effect of different foods on running speed?

  1. Independent variable: Type of food
  2. Dependent variable: Running speed
  3. Control variables: Distance, amount of food, time after eating
  4. Split groups and assign different foods
  5. Measure running time and calculate differences
• What is the definition of tropism in plants?

  The growth towards an environmental stimulus
• What does gibberellin do in plants?

  Stimulates seed germination and stem growth
• What is the function of auxin in plants?

  Controls growth near shoot and root tips
• How does auxin stimulate plant growth?

  By increasing cell elongation
• Why does a plant grow upwards when light is evenly distributed?

  Because auxin promotes equal growth on both sides
• What are the methods of removal for water and nitrogen in the body?

  • Water: Removed by lungs (breathing out), sweat, urine
  • Nitrogen: Removed primarily through urine
• What happens to excess proteins in the body?

  They are converted into urea and excreted
• What is ammonia converted into in the liver?

  Urea
• What is the role of ethylene in plants?

  Controls cell division and aging
• What is the significance of the reaction zone in a pregnancy test?

  It detects the presence of HCG hormone
• How do monoclonal antibodies function in medical tests?

  They bind specifically to target antigens
• What is the purpose of monoclonal antibodies?

  To target specific antigens for treatment
• What is the process of deamination in protein metabolism?

  It converts excess amino acids into urea
• What is the main waste product of protein metabolism?

  Urea
• What happens to amino acids after deamination?

  They are transported out in urine
• How do plants respond to gravity according to gravitropism?

  Roots grow downwards while shoots grow upwards
• What is the effect of auxin on fruit ripening?

  It causes fruit to ripen
• What is the role of auxin in phototropism?

  It causes plants to bend towards light
• How does auxin distribution affect plant growth direction?

  Uneven distribution causes bending towards light
• What is the purpose of homeostasis?

  To maintain optimum internal conditions
• What does "Homeo-" mean in homeostasis?

  Same
• What does "Stasis" mean in homeostasis?

  Keep
• What are some factors regulated by homeostasis?

  Oxygen levels, hormone levels, body temperature
• What role do receptors play in homeostasis?

  They detect changes in the environment
• What is the function of coordinators in homeostasis?

  They tell other parts what to do
• What is a reflex action?

  A quick, subconscious protective response
• What is the difference between voluntary and reflex actions?

  Voluntary actions are conscious and learned
• What are the components of the central nervous system?

  • Brain
  • Spinal cord
• What are the components of the peripheral nervous system?

  • Sensory neurons
  • Motor neurons
• What is the role of the relay neuron?

  To transmit messages between neurons
• What is a synapse?

  A gap between two neurons
• How do neurotransmitters function at a synapse?

  They travel across via diffusion
• What are two methods to study the brain?

  Electrical stimulation and EEG/MRI