Final answer:
The student's question regards whether negative feedback opposes the original deviation from normal, which is indeed true. Negative feedback mechanisms work to reduce deviations and maintain homeostasis, unlike positive feedback which amplifies changes until a specific end point is reached.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that negative feedback results in a response that opposes the original deviation from normal is true. Negative feedback is a crucial concept in biology and generally refers to the process where a change in a physiological condition triggers a response that counteracts or reduces the change, thereby maintaining equilibrium within the system. This is in contrast to positive feedback, which amplifies or increases the change, pushing the system further from its normal state. Examples of negative feedback include the regulation of body temperature and the control of blood glucose levels. When these systems detect a change away from the normal range, they initiate responses to correct the deviation and restore balance.
For instance, if blood sugar levels rise, the body releases insulin to lower the glucose level back to normal. Similarly, if body temperature increases, mechanisms such as sweating are activated to cool the body down. On the other hand, positive feedback mechanisms, such as during childbirth, amplify the changes until a specific end point is reached. It is important to note that whereas negative feedback maintains homeostasis, positive feedback is generally involved in processes that must reach a completion, such as labor and delivery.