Homeostasis

Biologi Umum
Week-10: 13-04-2017
 Homeostasis:
Homeostasis: dynamic constancy of the internal environment.

conditions are never absolutely constant, but

fluctuate continuously within narrow limits.
Homeostasis
essential for life
all the regulatory mechanisms, except reproduction, are
concerned with maintaining homeostasis
one of the mechanisms of evolution

Torday, JS. 2015. Homeostasis as the mechanism of evolution. Biology 4: 573-590.

 Homeostasis in plants

Phenotypic plasticity is a change in the phenotypic

expressed by a single genotype in different environments.
Phenotypic plasticity could be under genetic control and
subjected to selective pressure.
Phenotypic plasticity is not a whole-plant response, but a
property of individual meristem, leaves, branches and roots.
For plant survival under changing environmental condition.

De Kroon, H, Huber, H, Stuefer, JF & van Groenendael, JM. 2005. A modular concept of
phenotypic plasticity in plants. New Phytol. 166(1): 73-82.

Gratani, L. 2014. Plant phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental factors.

Advances in Botany. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/208747.
Light stress or dark stress ??
Temperature or light stress Plasticity
 Homeostasis in animal:

The 1st vertebrate evolved in seawater the physiology of

all vertebrates reflects this origin
Approximately 2/3 of every vertebrates body is water
If the amount of water in the body of vertebrate falls much
lower than this, the animal will die.
Discuss:
mechanisms by which animals avoid gaining or losing
too much water
the mechanisms are closely tied to the way animals
exploit the varied environment in which they live and to
the regulatory system of the body
 The need to maintain homeostasis:

As animal body has evolved specialization of cell

function has increased needs a stability (constant)
of extracellular conditions.
Factors, such as temperature, pH, concentration of
glucose and oxygen, etc., must be held fairly constant
for cells to function efficiently and interact properly
with one another.
 Negative feedback loops maintain a state of homeostasis, or
dynamic constancy of the internal environment, by correcting
deviations from a set point.
 Negative feedback loops:

Sensors are able to measure each condition of the

internal environmental. These also constantly
monitor the extracellular conditions and relay this
information (via nerve signals) to an integrating
center, which contains the set point (proper value
for certain condition).
brain body temperature
spinal cord blood glucose concentration
endocrine glands tension on a tendon
 Negative feedback loops:

Integrating center is weighing the relative strengths

of each sensor input, and determines whether the
value of the condition is deviating from the set
point.
When a deviation in a condition occurs, the
integrating center sends a message to increase or
decrease the activity of particular effectors.
Effectors can change the value
of the condition in question muscles
back toward the set point value glands
(response)
 Example (1): regulating room temperature

The thermostat set point is 70F (integrating center)

The temperature of the house rises above the set point
(deviation from set point stimulus).
The thermostat receives the input from a temperature
sensor ( a thermometer).
The thermostat compares the actual temperature to
its set point (looking for any deviation).
When it is different, it sends a signal to an effector (
air conditioner), which acts to reverse the deviation
from the set point.
 Example (2): regulating body temperature

If the temperature of your blood exceeds the set

point of 37C, sensors in a part of the brain (anterior
hypothalamus) detect this deviation.
Acting via an integrating center (also in the brain),
the sensors stimulate effectors (sweat glands
sweating, blood vessels in the skin dilation, etc.)
that lower the temperature.

When the body temperature falls, the posterior

hypothalamus coordinates different responses
(shivering, constriction of blood vessels in the skin)
 Example (3): regulating blood glucose

When you digest a carbohydrate-

containing meal you absorb
glucose into your blood your
blood glucose concentration will
temporary rise it will be brought
back down in a few hours.

Sensor and integrating center: the

islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.

Effectors: muscles & liver are taking

up glucose from the blood to control
the levels; adipose cells can convert
glucose into fat, store the energy in
forms that the body can use later.
Example (4): regulating water homeostasis
Example (5): regulating oxygen homeostasis
Example (6): ecological homeostasis
 References:
1. Raven, P. & Johnson, G. 2002. Biology, 6th ed. McGraw Hill
Co. pp. 1173-1193.
2. Campbell, NA, Reece, JB, Taylor, MR, Simon, EJ & Dickey, JL.
2009. Biology: concepts & connections, 6th ed. Pearson
Education, Inc. pp. 424-426.
3. Torday, JS. 2015. Homeostasis as the mechanism of
evolution. Biology, 4: 573-590.
4. De Kroon, H, Huber, H, Stuefer, JF & van Groenendael, JM.
2005. A modular concept of phenotypic plasticity in
plants. New Phytol. 166(1): 73-82.
5. Gratani, L. 2014. Plant phenotypic plasticity in response
to environmental factors. Advances in Botany.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/208747.