The Body
The goal of all living organisms, simple and complex, is to exist in a state of biological equilibrium referred to as homeostasis. Throughout an organism's life it is subjected to continuous environmental and internal stimuli. In order for an organism to grow, repair and eventually reproduce it must directly interact with its environment to acquire nourishment and protection. However the same environment that provides sustenance and shelter is also one that is unforgiving and at times lethal. For the organism to survive, it must be able to respond and habituate appropriately. Because the environment is continuously changing, this required adaptability makes homeostasis a fluid state and one that is being perpetually maintained. To achieve this balance the body employs thousands of counter-acting biological pathways to respond to any physiologic deviation form homeostasis.
To understand the physiology of the body and its relationship with plants it is most logical to begin at the genetic level. The human body's genome contains the genetic blue print for an estimated 24,000 genes. Each gene codes for a protein that performs a specific function linked with maintaining homeostasis. The up-regulation or synthesis of new proteins is dependent on the presence of specific stimuli caused by a change in the physiological milieu. This dependency allows for the body to maintain tight control over homeostatic boundaries by inducing targeted biological responses. For example, insulin is a hormone released when blood glucose increases. Its purpose is to activate a cascade of events that allows glucose to enter the cell. The up-regulation of insulin is dependent on the presence of blood sugar and its transcription only occurs when levels exceed normal ranges. To ensure that blood glucose does not fall below normal ranges a protein called glucagon is also encoded in the genome. This hormone stimulates glycogen breakdown to increase blood glucose concentration when levels fall below normal ranges. Having counter balancing pathways gives the body the ability to adapt to opposite directional shifts from homeostasis. This is only one example and a relatively simple when compared to the vast array of interdependent biological pathways required for equilibrium maintenance.
As a living organism the body has been genetically engineered for survival on earth. Everything that it requires for growth, repair and replication is available from the planet. It possesses the ability to convert the organic recourses in to energy, structural components and functioning units as needed. All metabolic systems exists interdependently and work to
Homeostatic is far from a static place, its ebb and flow oscillating between environmental pressures and the response of biological mechanisms.
Varying stimuli will induce a precise genetic response by
The road leading to both disease and health starts on your plate.
.
.
plants survive independent of humans we can not survive without them poetic quality
To understand the physiology of the body and its relationship with plants it is most logical to begin at the genetic level. The human body's genome contains the genetic blue print for an estimated 24,000 genes. Each gene codes for a protein that performs a specific function linked with maintaining homeostasis. The up-regulation or synthesis of new proteins is dependent on the presence of specific stimuli caused by a change in the physiological milieu. This dependency allows for the body to maintain tight control over homeostatic boundaries by inducing targeted biological responses. For example, insulin is a hormone released when blood glucose increases. Its purpose is to activate a cascade of events that allows glucose to enter the cell. The up-regulation of insulin is dependent on the presence of blood sugar and its transcription only occurs when levels exceed normal ranges. To ensure that blood glucose does not fall below normal ranges a protein called glucagon is also encoded in the genome. This hormone stimulates glycogen breakdown to increase blood glucose concentration when levels fall below normal ranges. Having counter balancing pathways gives the body the ability to adapt to opposite directional shifts from homeostasis. This is only one example and a relatively simple when compared to the vast array of interdependent biological pathways required for equilibrium maintenance.
As a living organism the body has been genetically engineered for survival on earth. Everything that it requires for growth, repair and replication is available from the planet. It possesses the ability to convert the organic recourses in to energy, structural components and functioning units as needed. All metabolic systems exists interdependently and work to
Homeostatic is far from a static place, its ebb and flow oscillating between environmental pressures and the response of biological mechanisms.
Varying stimuli will induce a precise genetic response by
The road leading to both disease and health starts on your plate.
.
.
plants survive independent of humans we can not survive without them poetic quality
