Why is dynamic equilibrium important for living organisms?
1 Answer
If a living organism does not respond to external or internal changes in conditions, it may die.
Homeostasis is a dynamic equilibrium between an organism and its environment. The organism must detect and respond to stimuli. Failure to respond may result in disease or death.
An organism uses feedback mechanisms to maintain dynamic equilibrium. The level of one substance influences the level of another substance or activity of another organ.
An example of a feedback mechanism in humans is the regulation of blood glucose.
The pancreas produces hormones that regulate blood glucose levels. An increase in blood glucose triggers the release of insulin by the pancreas. Insulin converts blood glucose to glycogen for storage in our liver and muscles. This restores the body to its original blood glucose level.
A decrease in blood sugar triggers the release of glucagon by the pancreas. Glucagon stimulates the liver to convert its stored glycogen to glucose. The glucose moves into the blood stream, and the blood sugar level returns to normal.
