14.4.1

Homeostasis

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Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment It is the term used to describe all processes that occur for the purpose of keeping the internal conditions of a cell or organism within set limits in response to internal and external environmental changes.

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Enzyme functioning

  • Because humans are organisms that live in a changing environment, we must regulate our body’s internal conditions to make sure our enzymes and cells function well.
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Denaturing

  • If conditions are not optimal, then our enzymes can denature (change shape).
  • This reduces their ability to catalyse (speed-up) metabolic reactions (chemical reactions in organisms). This can be fatal.

Jump to other topics

1Classification of Living Organisms

2Organisation of the Organism

3Movement Into & Out of Cells

4Biological Molecules

5Enzymes

6Plant Nutrition

7Human Nutrition

8Transport in Plants

9Transport in Animals

10Diseases & Immunity

11Gas Exchange in Humans

12Respiration

13Excretion in Humans

14Coordination & Response

15Drugs

16Reproduction

17Inheritance

18Variation & Selection

19Organisms & Their Environment

20Human Influence on Ecosystems

21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

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