Big Idea 1: Process Of Evolution Drives The Diversity And Unity Of Life

Homeostasis is what allows our internal system to maintain at a constant condition. In order to maintain equilibrium the body must communicate using the control system. It is essential that the body monitors its conditions whether that be blood pressure, thirst sensation or body temperature (this is either gained or lost). Negative feedback is most important and comes first, this allows for the body to correct itself and get back to a set point when it is off track. There are three components that link with this feedback. A sensor (receptor) sends signals to the control center that something is unusual, the control center compares the many values of our normal body range and decides

Darwin had a theory that organisms that can adapt better to their environment are more likely to reproduce, obtain food, survive better, and pass on their traits to their offspring; this theory is called natural selection. Natural selection allows

Genetic diversity allows the population to adapt to changing environments and it contributes and adds to the gene pool.

Homeostasis is the way that a system functions to control and maintain the body’s physiological systems. This system consists of:

Homeostasis is the process of maintaining a fairly constant interval environment. Homeostatic mechanisms help us to be independent of our external environment. It helps us regulate our body temperature, pH, concentration of dissolved substance in the body fluids, concentration of glucose in blood, concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and body fluids, blood pressure and concentration of metabolic wastes. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to survive and adapt to our environment.

Homeostasis is a biological process that maintains a constant internal environment, regardless of what is going on in the external environment. This process ensures the bodily functions and chemicals are kept in a state of balance which in return allows the body to function optimally. Homeostasis requires coordination of the hormonal (endocrine system) and nervous systems, which together regulate the activity of the body’s organ systems. The regulatory activities are constantly adjusted in response to stimuli (change) from both the internal and external environment. A change influenced by the external environment can cause a state in the body that will take it away from the normal, the body will act to counteract this change and return the internal environment back to a steady state. This is negative feedback. Negative feedback has a stabilising effect reducing changes from a set point and returning internal conditions to a steady state. Most body systems e.g. controlling blood glucose levels, obtains homeostasis through negative feedback which makes the negative feedback system critically important in obtaining homeostasis. However there is also positive feedback which is a system that results in the escalation of a response to a stimulus. It causes instability in the system and is used when there is a specific outcome required. Positive feedback ceases once the natural resolution is reached e.g. baby is born, pathogen is destroyed, blood clot forms. This system is not used

I will initially start this assignment by explaining what homeostasis means. Homeostasis means the body’s ability to maintain a steady condition for cells live in even if the surroundings change around them. Cells rely on the process of homeostasis (Wright, 2007). I will start with thermoregulation. Thermoregulation is the method that keeps the body’s core temperature at the optimum working range, which is 37 degrees Celsius in order to function adequately. Homeostasis helps thermoregulation, osmoregulation, and sugar regulation to stay in a stable equilibrium, for this process, the whole body’s internal organs and the skin have to work together (Books, 2012).

In chapter one of Essential Biology by Campbell summarizes how the world operates, the way organisms operate and the different cells that make up an organisms . Chapter one also speaks about Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest and lastly the process of the scientific method. Firstly there are seven properties to which we associate with life. Order is one of the main properties of life because without any order our bodies would not be able to function properly. Different cells

The immune system contributes to homeostasis as it protects and defends against invaders that pose a threat to the body’s balance. Homeostasis is an internal balance that is maintained by multiple factors within the body. The immune system is responsible for avoiding and limiting infections in the body. It prevents and heals damage that invading pathogens may cause to the body. In this way, it helps maintain homeostasis by eliminating pathogens and the imbalances they cause in the body. A first defense, known as the innate immune response, activates as soon as the body is infected. It is the same regardless of the invader. Examples include skin, chemical secretions, and linings.

The human body works in complex way. Comparable to that of a well-oiled machine, the slightest error or mistake can cause chaos to ones body. The mistakes made in essential body processes, such as homeostasis, can be especially catastrophic. The body systems, or specific categories that most processes in the body are attributed to, are what must be held to perfection. The major body systems each play a key role in helping to maintain the internal homeostasis of the body.

Homeostasis must be maintained in organisms in order for enzymes to function properly. It must be maintained because if organisms have sub-optimal enzyme function, they won’t perform the correct functions. Homeostasis helps enzymes perform how they are supposed to because enzymes dissolve and break down substances, so with the change in conditions and homeostasis, your body will not absorb all the vitamins and nutrients your food gets you so you will start having less and less energy. This happens because without homeostasis, they are not able to reach the energy they need to perform. So when you have a high fever or altered blood pH, then enzyme activity would slow down in cells.

The first force of evolution is mutation; this the key driving force of evolution. A mutation is simply a change in an organism's genetic makeup. There are many different types of mutations such as point mutations, frameshift mutations, and chromosomal mutations. Most mutations are not noticeable or are harmless, but the harmful ones can cause a variety of disabilities such as Down Syndrome and sickle-cell anemia. A second force of evolution is natural selection, where unfavorable traits are selected against. The ability for an organism to reproduce is referred to in the textbook as fitness. Fitness does not mean an organism is bigger, faster, or stronger; it depends on what are considered favorable traits in a certain environment. The third force of evolution is genetic drift, which is a random change in the alleles that make up a population's gene pool. Genetic drift can be seen with a greater influence on smaller populations. The bottleneck effect can cause a reduction in genetic diversity among a population; the founder's effect can result in speciation after a small group of organisms separate from a parent population. The fourth force of evolution is gene flow, which is where though migration organisms are able to move from one population to another (USA to China) and

What is homeostasis? Homeostasis is the ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes. (McGraw-Hill) How does the body maintain homeostatic balance? Each organ system helps in some way to maintain homeostasis. However, the organ systems also work together to maintain a constant internal environment. There are seven organ systems (Integumentary, Musculoskeletal, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, and Nervous) within the body. (McGraw-Hill)

Biological evolution is the name for the changes in gene frequency in a population of a species from generation to generation. Evolution offers explanation to why species genetically change over years and the diversity of life on Earth. Although it is generally accepted by the scientific community, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution has been studied and debated for several decades. In 1859, Darwin published On The Origin of Species, which introduced the idea of evolutionary thought which he supported with evidence of one type of evolutionary mechanism, natural selection. Some of the main mechanisms of evolution are natural selection, mutation, and genetic drift. The idea that all life on Earth shares a common ancestor has been around for

Homeostasis is what physiological systems in our bodies do in order to maintain a stable internal environment. Stability is held together by the coordinated responses of the components involved to any stress or unfamiliar situation that the human body is put under that could disrupt its normal functioning conditions. Homeostasis must be maintained constantly in order for our bodies to be able to function properly and not under stress which could have major effects later on in life.