Gen Bio 2 - Feedback Mechanisms

• The environmental conditions vary. An organism can can respond in 2 ways: Regulation and Conformity
• Organisms that can alter and regulate their normal metabolic rate and maintain a steady internal state using physiological means

  Regulators
• Organisms that are unable to alter and regulate their normal metabolic rate and maintain a steady internal state using physiological means

  Conformers
• Any self-regulating process by which an organism tends to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are best for its survival. If homeostasis is successful, life continues; if it is unsuccessful, it results in a disaster or death of the organism

  Homeostasis
• The word homeostasis comes from the Greek words,homo, meaning “same” and stasis, meaning “steady”. In otherYour body needs to maintain proper homeostasis. Inother words, your body needs to keep someparameters steady in order to function properly some parameters
• Physiological regulation system in a living body that works to return the body to its normal internal state, commonly known as homeostasis


  Feedback mechanisms
• 2 Types of Feedback Mechanism:

  • Positive Feedback
  • Negative Feedback
• Rare. It amplifies changes rather than reverses them

  Positive Feedback
• The release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitarygland during labor is an example of a positivefeedback mechanism. Oxytocin stimulates the musclecontractions that push the baby through the birthcanal.
• The release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland during labor is an example of a positive feedback mechanism. Oxytocin stimulates the muscle contractions that push the baby through the birth canal
• The response will reverse or cause the opposite effect of the original stimulus

  Negative Feedback
• The process of insulin production and release is an example of negative feedback mechanism
• Homeostatic control systems are examples of negative feedback loops
• An example of this is when your body temperature increases slightly, it triggers sweat production which cools down the body