Homeostasis Lab
Intro
Homeostasis is the tendency to resist change in order to maintain a stable internal environment. In this project, we had to create our own experiment to display this function throughout a body process. We chose to investigate the homeostasis in breathing rate.
Evidence of Work
This slide displays all of the information and data we were able to retain from our studies. Our test was to have someone run 400m, and tested his resting breathing rate prior to, and his elevated breathing rate after the run. We then timed how long it took for his breathing rate to decrease back to his resting. From this test, we were able to discover that it takes about two minutes for his breathing rate to return from an average max of 44 breaths per minute to his resting rate of 28.
Content
- Positive Feedback Loop - a stimulus leads to an increase in a hormone, action, or process in the body, that then creates more of the stimulus and in turn leads to more of an increase. In homeostasis, a positive feedback loop moves a system further away from the target of equilibrium.
- Negative Feedback Loop - stimulus leads to a decrease in that reaction. A negative feedback loop brings a system closer to a target of stability or homeostasis.
- Homeostasis - the body's tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium in bodily factors such as hormone balance, pH levels, and blood pressure
Reflection
I liked this project the most so far, because we essentially created our own lab. We chose what to investigate, wrote our own procedure, and devised our own test. I felt really independent in this project and I liked having the ability to change and alter the project at will. I believe this project however required a lot of collaboration in making a cohesive experiment. It also took a lot of willingness because someone had to run multiple times, in fairly cold weather, which isn't very ideal, so the effort in the name of science is greatly appreciated.