The concept behind this assignment is for you to take what you have learned about feedback loops and see if you can apply it to a new situation. You have seen the feedback loop on temperature in the power point lecture. Now take what you learned and apply it to the scenario for blood sugar. The case studies are for you to apply what you have learned to a given situation. This takes your learning from a view of "what is it and what is it doing", to what does this look like in our bodies and in an applied situation. This application of information is what will be required in your advanced programs. We will practice with the case studies. Part 1: Homeostasis Read the following paragraphs: One example of homeostasis is the regulation of blood sugar levels. After a meal when blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas sends out a chemical signal-the hormone insulin -that tells the body's cells to take up and store sugar. This lowers the blood sugar to the optimum range-70-110 mg sugar/100ml of blood. Between meals, as the cells consume the sugar, the blood sugar concentration begins to drop. The pancreas responds by decreasing its production of insulin and increasing its production of another hormone known as glucagon. Glucagon stimulates cells in the body to release stored sugar, thereby raising blood sugar levels. Now, fill in the following chart comparing the regulation of blood sugar with that of body temperature: Receptor? Controller? Effector(s)? Response? Signal (hormone or nerve?) Set point? Type of homeostasis? Blood Sugar Body Temperature
