Activity 2.1.

3: Feedback Student Response Sheet

Define feedback or feedback mechanism. This definition must include an example that
shows you understand the concept.
Feedback in biology, a response within a system (molecule, cell, organism, or
population) that influences the continued activity or productivity of that system. In
essence, it is the control of a biological reaction by the end products of that reaction.
An example would be positive and negative feedback

Research how the body regulates body temperature. Think about the organs, tissues, or
functions involved in warming and cooling the body. Use the Internet or other resources
to find information. Take notes below:
The body takes a very active role in temperature regulation. Vasoconstriction to
decrease the flow of heat to the skin. Shivering to increase heat production in the
muscles. In lower animals, the erection of the hairs and fur to increase insulation.
The temperature of the body is regulated by neural feedback mechanisms which
operate primarily through the hypothalmus. The hypothalmus contains not only the
control mechanisms, but also the key temperature sensors
When the brain increases the body's temperature set-point, the rest of the body gets
confused and feels like it needs to meet that higher temperature. You feel cold because
technically you are colder than your body's new set-point. In turn, the body works to
generate heat to warm itself by contracting and relaxing muscles, hence the shivering.
If your body temperature drops to just a few degrees lower than this, your blood
vessels in your hands, feet, arms, and legs start to get narrower. Narrowing of the blood
vessels helps your blood stay warm so it can help keep your major organs warm

Open Inspiration software. Construct a feedback diagram depicting the regulation of

body temperature. Indicate whether the feedback loop you have drawn represents a
positive or a negative feedback mechanism. Insert diagram below:

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Imagine you just ate a candy bar. Research your bodys hormonal response to this
influx of sugar (glucose). Take notes below on the steps your body goes through to
control this increase. Make sure to mention the key terms, the glands involved, the
hormones released, and the response of target organs. Refer to the video you
watched in Step 1 if needed.
Higher amounts of refined carbohydrates or simple sugars will raise your insulin
faster and in higher amounts. Blood sugar is fuel. In a healthy person, insulin
drops off a whopping sixty percent of the sugar at your liver which acts as a
warehouse, converting the blood sugar to glycogen for storage. As you are
eating, some of the insulin transports blood sugar to your white adipose tissue or
stored fat. The blood sugar is taken up by fat cells, activating their metabolism, in
turn producing the hormone leptin. Leptin now enters your blood and begins
traveling up to your brain. The more you eat, the more insulin you make, and the
more leptin you make.

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Principles of Biomedical Science Activity 2.1.3 Feedback Page 2

Imagine your candy bar has long since worn off and your blood sugar is beginning to
drop. Research the role of the hormone glucagon in getting your blood sugar back to
normal. Make sure to mention the glands involved, the hormones released, and the
response of target organs. Take notes below:
In response to insulin, cells (muscle, red blood cells, and fat cells) take glucose
in from the blood, which ultimately lowers the high blood glucose levels back to the
normal range. Glucagon is secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreas when blood
glucose is low.

Use your findings to create a feedback loop diagram that describes how your body
maintains the proper level of sugar in the blood. Combine your findings about how
insulin and glucagon work and think about the sequence of events that occurs to
restore balance in the body. Complete this loop using Inspiration software. Insert
diagram below:
Depending on how you set up your loop, Add additional boxes or delete
unnecessary ones. Be specific, detailing glands and organs as necessary, and
make sure your progression makes sense.
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Create separate diagrams and add additional information to the diagram to show what
happens to this loop in the case of diabetes. Be sure to address both Type 1 and Type 2
diabetes in separate diagrams.
Insert Type I Diabetes Diagram below:

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Insert Type II Diabetes Diagram below:

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Conclusion
1 Is blood sugar regulated by negative or positive feedback? Explain your answer.
Blood sugar levels are regulated by negative feedback in order to keep the body in
homeostasis. The levels of glucose in the blood are monitored by the cells in the
pancreas's Islets of Langerhans

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1. Explain how a problem with insulin receptors would affect the ability to achieve
homeostasis.
It would be a problem because then the insulin would not unlock the door to the
cell so then the glucose cannot be absorbed by the cell which causes glucose

2. Explain how it is possible that a problem with hormones and feedback led to
Anna Garcias untimely death.
It could be that Anna had a negative feedback to one of her medications or she did
not know that she had diabetes that is why her levels for insulin were all 0 no matter
what time limit that it sit for.

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Principles of Biomedical Science Activity 2.1.3 Feedback Page 7