How do organisms regulate complex systems through chemical interactions?

Example:

The heating system of a house works to keep the temperature constant. If the house gets too cold, then the heat
automatically turns on to warm the house. The heat stops when the preset temperature is reached. This is an example
of a feedback mechanism. Organisms use many feedback mechanisms to either maintain or amplify important
chemical systems. This could happen at a molecular level to coordinate the function of a single enzyme or it could
happen throughout the body to regulate the organism’s internal temperature.

Biological systems operate on a mechanism of inputs and outputs, each caused by and causing a certain event.
A feedback loop is a biological occurrence wherein the output of a system amplifies the system (positive
feedback) or inhibits the system (negative feedback).

Place these words in the diagram: Stimulus, response , increase, decrease.

1. What is the definition of a stimulus? Something that triggers the reaction

2. What is the definition of a response? Reaction to the stimulus

3. What is the definition of a signal? Communication of the response

4. Why are feedback loops important? They trigger the response that is needed
 1. What portion of the brain contains sensors that monitor body temperature?
Hypothalamus
2. What are two mechanisms the body uses to cool itself?
Sweat and vasodilation
3. What are two mechanisms the body uses to heat itself?
Shivering and vasoconstriction
Consider the feedback loop that cools the body when it is too warm.

4. Identify the “stimulus” and “response” in the feedback loop.

Stimulus is the too high temperature. Response is the sweating and vasodilation.
5. Is this feedback loop positive or negative feedback? Justify your reasoning.
Negative because the response stops the stimulus and the body cools down instead of getting hotter and
hotter.
Consider the feedback loop that heats the body when it is too cold.

1. Identify the “stimulus” and “response” in the feedback loop.

Stimulus is the too low temperature. Response is shivering and vasoconstriction.
2. Is this feedback loop positive or negative feedback? Justify your reasoning.
Negative because the response stops the stimulus and the body heats up instead of getting colder and colder.

On a poster, pick and illustrate 1 topics :

a. Research the mechanism to determine the stimulus and the response.

 b. Diagram the feedback loop(s) involved. Positive or Negative.
c. Be prepared to present your findings to the rest of the class.
d. What would happen is these feedback loops would not occur?

Negative Feedback loops in the human body (use this figure 8 diagram to the right if examples occur in the
human body)

Receptor—a sensory organ

Stimulus—an action that creates a response
Effector—An organ that acts as a response
Response—action or event

Topics or choose your own.

1. When a person has not taken in sufficient water they

become dehydrated. This may cause a loss of blood
pressure, which will trigger the release of antidiuretic
hormone (ADH).

2. When a human increases physical activity, the amount of fuel burned in its cells also increases, which in turn
increases the concentration of dissolved CO 2 in the blood. The CO2 reacts with water in the blood to make a
weak acid, which lowers the pH of the blood.

3. Eat candy and your blood sugar level is too high.

4. Terrestrial plants and their water supply.

5. The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine and responses to stress.

6. Lactation in mammals.
7. There is a surprising effect in nature where a tree or bush will suddenly ripen all of its fruit or
vegetables, without any visible signal. Once ripe, it gives off a gas known as ethylene (C2H4) through its
skin.

Eat candy and your blood sugar level is too high.

a.) The blood sugar level is the stimulus and the response is that insulin or glucagon is released by the pancreas.
b.) Negative feedback loops
c.) When blood sugar levels increase, signals are sent to the pancreas to release insulin, which reduces the sugar
in blood. When blood sugar levels decrease, signals are sent to the pancreas to release glucagon, which
increases the sugar in blood.
Stimulus: high blood sugar, Effector: pancreas, Response: insulin released
Stimulus: low blood sugar, Effector: pancreas, Response: glucagon released
d.) If the feedback loops did not occur, the body would be unable to manage blood sugar levels and blood sugar
can rise too high or too low.