Question

Why is homeostasis important for living organisms to survive? Give an example and explain for why it is important that the body needs maintain homeostasiswith that specific feedback loop. (Possible examples include: Glucose Levels, BodyTemperature, Water Levels (Hydration), Calcium Levels, Carbon Dioxide Levels)

Answer 1

Homeostasis is the capacity of an organism to maintain certain internal conditions regardless of the external conditions. This is important because otherwise, the organism would not be able to perform the body functions needed to live.

Some examples of variables that are regulated are the following:

• Body temperature

,

• pH

,

• Concentration of ions

,

• Blood sugar level

,

• Arterial blood pressure

Body temperature, for example, is a variable that needs to be regulated because organisms can only live in a certain range of temperature, outside of the ideal temperature, the proteins in the body stop working and this has a harmful effect on the organism.

If a human gets overheated, it would start having nausea, headaches, deliriousness, tachycardia, low pressure, and even death. On the other hand, if humans get too cold, they lose blood circulation, as well as fine motor skills, respiratory rate, and blood pressure decrease, and it can also cause death.