Final answer:
Positive feedback loops move a system away from its initial state by amplifying an initial stimulus until an endpoint is reached, with blood clotting and childbirth being key examples. These mechanisms contrast with negative feedback loops, which work to maintain homeostasis by correcting deviations from a set point.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, positive feedback loops move a system away from its starting state. These loops are mechanisms in which an initial stimulus causes an amplification of the response, rather than a return to a baseline. In biology, positive feedback loops continue to push the system further away from homeostasis until a specific goal or endpoint is achieved.
Examples of positive feedback include the process of blood clotting and childbirth in humans. In blood clotting, each step activates the next, leading to a rapid cascade of events culminating in the formation of a fibrin clot. During childbirth, the hormone oxytocin increases uterine contractions, further stimulating the production of oxytocin until delivery occurs.
Contrarily, homeostasis is typically maintained by negative feedback loops, which act to bring a system back to equilibrium when it deviates from a set point. Negative feedback mechanisms are crucial for stabilizing physiological processes within the body.