Homeostasis
Skill 1: What is homeostasis and what are the consequences to an organism, if it is disrupted?
"Homeostasis"
"Homeostasis"
synonym = balance
synonym = balance
The body must maintain a stable internal environment. Not too high, not too low, but just right. Remember, "maintaining homeostasis" is one of the eight characteristics of life that all living things must do.
The body must maintain a stable internal environment. Not too high, not too low, but just right. Remember, "maintaining homeostasis" is one of the eight characteristics of life that all living things must do.
Skill 2: Be able to explain how homeostatic mechanisms work to help your body maintain it's temperature and blood sugar levels.
Skill 2: Be able to explain how homeostatic mechanisms work to help your body maintain it's temperature and blood sugar levels.
Homeostasis - Example 1 - Body Temperature
Homeostasis - Example 1 - Body Temperature
The human body must maintain a temperature of about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. If you get too cold, you suffer from hypothermia and can freeze, which causes your cells to burst and die. (Remember the property of water where it expands upon freezing. It's like a water bottle exploding in the freezer.) If you get too hot, you suffer from heatstroke. In either case, if your temperature is not restored quickly, you will die.
The human body must maintain a temperature of about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. If you get too cold, you suffer from hypothermia and can freeze, which causes your cells to burst and die. (Remember the property of water where it expands upon freezing. It's like a water bottle exploding in the freezer.) If you get too hot, you suffer from heatstroke. In either case, if your temperature is not restored quickly, you will die.
Homeostasis - Example 2 - Blood Sugar
Homeostasis - Example 2 - Blood Sugar
The human body must maintain a glucose (blood sugar) level of around 80-200 mg/dl. If it gets too high, you have diabetes, sometimes called 'sugar.' This can lead to nerve damage and even amputations of the arms or legs. If it gets too low, you have hypoglycemia, also called low blood sugar. This can leave you weak and shaky. If your blood sugar gets too low, your body does not have the energy to function and your heart will stop beating when it runs out of energy.
The human body must maintain a glucose (blood sugar) level of around 80-200 mg/dl. If it gets too high, you have diabetes, sometimes called 'sugar.' This can lead to nerve damage and even amputations of the arms or legs. If it gets too low, you have hypoglycemia, also called low blood sugar. This can leave you weak and shaky. If your blood sugar gets too low, your body does not have the energy to function and your heart will stop beating when it runs out of energy.
Above is a video about positive and negative feedback loops and how they help the body maintain homeostasis. You will need this information to build your Rube Goldberg machine.
Above is a video about positive and negative feedback loops and how they help the body maintain homeostasis. You will need this information to build your Rube Goldberg machine.
Do this!
Do this!
Do this!
Do this!
In your science notebook, explain why you were asked to read the story of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Hint - there is a connection between the story and homeostasis.
In your science notebook, explain why you were asked to read the story of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Hint - there is a connection between the story and homeostasis.
If you need more explanation on homeostasis...
If you need more explanation on homeostasis...
Do this!
Do this!
Homeostasis
Homeostasis
In your science notebook, copy the following questions and then answer them:
In your science notebook, copy the following questions and then answer them:
1. What would the consequence be for an organism if its homeostasis were disrupted and not restored?
1. What would the consequence be for an organism if its homeostasis were disrupted and not restored?
2. Research a factor, besides temperature or blood sugar, which must be kept in homeostasis, or balance, within the human body. List this example in your notebook.
2. Research a factor, besides temperature or blood sugar, which must be kept in homeostasis, or balance, within the human body. List this example in your notebook.
3. What happens if that factor gets too high? Explain how it affects the normal functioning of the body which can eventually lead to death.
3. What happens if that factor gets too high? Explain how it affects the normal functioning of the body which can eventually lead to death.
4. What if it gets too low? Explain how it affects the normal functioning of the body which can eventually lead to death.
4. What if it gets too low? Explain how it affects the normal functioning of the body which can eventually lead to death.
5. Have a teacher check your answers.
5. Have a teacher check your answers.
Design Challenge
Design Challenge
Create a homeostasis machine. Choose a factor must be kept in balance. If the factor gets too high, the machine must automatically correct it. If it gets too low, the machine must also correct it. The factor doesn't need to be related to functions of living things. For example, if water gets too high, it runs out the top; if it gets too low, somehow it fills back up. You can either physically build this machine or just design it on paper or on the computer. I recommend that you watch some "Rube Goldberg" machines on the internet for inspiration. The main difference is that they only move in one direction. Yours must represent a negative feedback look and correct for too high AND too low.
Create a homeostasis machine. Choose a factor must be kept in balance. If the factor gets too high, the machine must automatically correct it. If it gets too low, the machine must also correct it. The factor doesn't need to be related to functions of living things. For example, if water gets too high, it runs out the top; if it gets too low, somehow it fills back up. You can either physically build this machine or just design it on paper or on the computer. I recommend that you watch some "Rube Goldberg" machines on the internet for inspiration. The main difference is that they only move in one direction. Yours must represent a negative feedback look and correct for too high AND too low.
