Topics in Biology
Tropical savanna explained with its characteristics Ecological pyramid explained with its importance and limitations Hindbrain: Medulla Oblongata and its features Food web explained with examples Biology Scheme of Work, SS1, First Term Biology Scheme of Work, SS1, 2nd Term Biology Scheme of Work, SS1, 3rd Term Male accessory sex organs: Seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands Scrotum and its contents: Testicles Brain: Introduction to the human brain Forebrain: Lobes of the cerebrum and their functions Cerebellum: Parts and functions of the cerebellum Midbrain: Division and functions of the midbrain Negative feedback mechanism in homeostasis Arterial disorders explained with their causes Types of desert and their characteristics Characteristics of tropical rainforest Swamp forest: What are swamp forests? Characteristics of swamp forests Savanna biome: Concept of the savannaAcademic Questions in Biology
In a food chain, the primary consumers are classified under trophic level _____.
A. Zero
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
E. Four
F. Five
Cold blooded animals are referred to as _____.
A. Homeotherms
B. Endotherms
C. Poilokitherms
D. Ectotherms
E. Thermotherms
F. None of the above
All reptiles are vertebrates.
A. True
B. False
_____ cells are responsible for the formation of osteoblasts.
_____ is a bone that constitute the axial skeleton.
Which of the following is false concerning cartilages and bones?
A diagram showing the movement of energy through a food chain is called a _____.
Which of the following is NOT a part of the wrist bones (or carpal bones)?
To explain the concept of negative feedback mechanism in homeostasis, take a moment to imagine yourself 'walking down the road on a sunny day'. Through this action, you are likely to sweat.
From the above scenerio, your act of sweating is good for you because this is how the homeostatic process regulates (or attempts to cool) your body from the sun's hot rays.
Meanwhile, a good understanding on the concept of homeostasis will aid you to better comprehend the negative feedback mechanism.
Please read on the concept of homeostasis here.
The diagram below shows the process of homeostasis and its eventual negative feedback mechanism on a sunny day.
You can read on the red blood cells and hemoglobin here.
Still using the above instance as a point of reference, you will also notice that the amount of urine produced by your kidneys will become lesser on this sunny day. This is happening because you are already losing water and salt through the process of sweating. As a result, less urine is produced in an attempt to make up for your water loss, (that is; an attempt to conserve water).
Again, you are likely to drink a lot of water on this sunny day due to a higher tendency of being thirsty. This thirstiness is brought about by the hypothalamus through stimulations from the pituitary gland (also referred to as the master endocrine gland). The goal of being thirsty is to enable you drink more water, thus compensating for the water loss which resulted from sweating.
All of these homeostatic processes in the above paragraphs will continue on and on. If not checked, it might become detrimental to the your health.
From our above instance (walking down the road on a sunny day), you can't continue to sweat forever because that will not be good for you.
Now, what seems to be a solution (that is; sweating) at the beginning of our example can now potentially cause excessive water loss; and this is where the negative feedback mechanism comes into play. To this end, the kidneys produces less urine while the hypothalamus stimulates thirst in an attempt to compensate for water loss through sweating.
Please read on sources, functions and defficiencies of mineral salts here.
Below is an explanation on the concept of a negative feedback mechanism through an homeostatic process occuring on a cold day:
On a cold day, the body's metabolic rate reduces. As a result, we barely sweat. Also, the body's temperature decreases. To this end, the various homeostatic organs will carry out the following processes (homeostatic functions) in an attempt to increase the body's temperature and metabolic rate, thus ultimately resulting in the elimination of water from the body. These homeostatic processes are as follows:
The above homeostatic processes is vital for survival on a cold day. However, the point to note is: 'Such processes must eventually stop; else the individual will die from the continuous loss of water'. Once again, it is at this point that the negative feedback mechanism comes to the rescue.
Note: It is important to state that the stimuli that initiated the the homeostatic process will at some point cease to exist. For instance, the individual may put on the house heater in order to reverse the stimuli, (that is, the cold environment).
From our explanations above, the negative feedback mechanism is therefore a result of coordinations from the nervous and endocrine systems in an attempt to inhibit, stop or reverse the homeostatic responses to a stimuli.
Negative feedback mechanism therefore allows the increasing product of a process or pathway to be controlled, decreased or put into check. Generally, it causes an eventual decrease in the function of a homeostatic process.
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Amazing facts in Biology
99% of a panda's diet is bamboo. They may eat fish or other small animals occasionally
When attacked by insects, lima beans plant will often command parasitic wasps to their defence.
When the leaves of the lima bean's leaves are eaten by insects, the plant gives off a substance that signals parasitic wasps to swam in, destroying its enemies (the leaf-eating insects) in the process
Frogs drink water through their skin
Armadillos are western mammals known for their unique armor-like shell which are bulletproof
Although zebras are known for their characteristics black and white stripes, we still have some polka-dotted zebras
Charles Darwin is a British naturalist and biologist who contributed greatly into the study of evolution. According to research, he frequently ate the animals he studied
Lungs are the only human organ that can float on water
Unlike most snakes that lay eggs, anacondas give birth to live babies
A shrimp's heart is in its head
Women have more pain receptors than men
NOTABLE POINTS IN Biology
For a thing to be considered living, it must possess all the basic characteristics of life. These include:
Movement
Respiration
Nutrition
Irritability or Sensitivity
Growth
Excretion
Reproduction
Death
Adaptation
Competition
Please read the explanations on all the basic characteristics of life here
During strenuous exercises like sprinting or running, your body may actually work in the shortage of oxygen. During this time, your body owes oxygen (called oxygen debt) and it must be replenished or repayed after the exercise is stopped. This is why you breathe excess of oxygen after you stopped the exercise.
This is the concept of anaerobic respiration
A food chain is a diagram that shows the relationship between plants and animals within a habitat on the basis of how they rely on each other for food.
Note: Habitat is a place where an organism live. It is of three types:
The term Biology originated from two Greek words. They are:
Bios: means life.
Logos: means knowledge or to study.
Biology can therefore be defined as the study of life
Anything that has life is generally considered as a living organism (or organism). All living organisms must be able to carry the following activities:
Movement
Respiration
Nutrition
Irritability or Sensitivity
Growth
Excretion
Reproduction
Death
Adaptation
Competition
The above listed points are often regarded as the basic characteristics of life. You can memorize them using the acronym -> MR. NIGER DAC.
You can read on the introduction to biology and the basic characteristics of life here
The gas used in the manufacture of food by plants is Carbon dioxide or Carbon(IV)oxide or CO2
Plants manufacture food through a process called photosynthesis.
Please read on photosynthesis here
It is noteworthy to state that plants are the only orgnisms that take away CO2 from the atmosphere