SBI4U - Biology Name:

Homeostasis Lab
Introduction: Homeostasis means maintaining a relatively constant state of the bodys internal
environment. The term used to describe a pattern of response to restore the body to normal
stable level is termed negative feedback. When a stimulus (environment change) is met by a
response that reverses (negates) the trend of the stimulus, it is negative feedback. As a result
the internal environment is returned to normal. Pulse rate is constantly checked by receptors
(sensors) throughout your body. A stimulus such as elevated pulse rate leads to a reaction by an
organ making the response. An appropriate response will return the pulse rate to normal.

Purpose: To observe an example of homeostasis working to control your bodys pulse rate
(heart rate).

Materials: stop watch

Procedure:
1. Start by determining which person in your group will exercise and which person in your
group will watch the stopwatch and record data.

2. Have you OR your partner sit down and measure

their pulse rate in their radial artery (wrist).

3. Take three separate measurements, each for thirty

seconds. Calculate the beats per minute by
multiplying the values obtained by 2. Record each
in Data Table 1.

4. Find an average for the three values of your resting

heart rate. Record this in Data Table 1.

5. You OR your partner will exercise vigorously for three minutes by jogging in place or doing
jumping jacks. Start your stop watch when you start exercising. Measure the pulse rate
immediately on finishing the three minutes of activity; measure the same as before (count
for 30 seconds then multiply by 2). Record the value in Data Table 2.

6. Let your stop watch continue as you rest for 5 minutes. Measure your pulse rate again
after you rest for 5 minutes the same way. Record your pulse rate after this 5 minute rest
period in Data Table 2.

7. Repeat steps 5-6 two more times for a 2nd and 3rd trial. Record the value in Data Table 3 &
4.

8. Create a bar graph that shows the results of each trial. Remember each trial has 2
different values that need to be graphed. Make sure you include all necessary graph
components!
Data:

Data Table 1: Resting Pulse Rate

Resting Pulse Rate Resting Pulse Rate Resting Pulse Rate Average Resting
1 2 3 Pulse Rate

Data Table 2: Pulse Rate After Exercise Trial 1

ACTIVITY PULSE RATE

After 3 minutes vigorous activity

After 5 minutes of rest

Data Table 3: Pulse Rate After Exercise Trial 2

ACTIVITY PULSE RATE

After 3 minutes vigorous activity

After 5 minutes of rest

Data Table 4: Pulse Rate After Exercise Trial 3

ACTIVITY PULSE RATE

After 3 minutes vigorous activity

After 5 minutes of rest

Graph:

Questions:
 1. What is your average resting pulse rate? Most adults are between 60-90 beats/min. How
do your values compare?

2. What happens to your pulse rate with vigorous exercise?

3. Every cell in the body requires oxygen for respiration so that sufficient energy can be
produced. Carbon dioxide, a waste product, is also produced and needs to be removed.
Therefore, the levels of both gases must be regulated. How does this explain the changes
in your pulse rate?

4. How did your body respond during the resting period after each activity?

5. Explain why your body responded this way during the resting period after each activity?

6. How do you think the results from this lab would compare for a trained athlete and an
average person? Explain.

7. What are some ways your body regulates the increase of body temperature that also
occurs when exercising?

8. Explain what happened to your respiratory rate (breaths per minute) during exercise.

9. Explain what happened to your respiratory rate during the resting period after exercise.

Action Potentials: Virtual Leech Lab

Go to the following link: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/neurophysiology-virtual-

lab
Click Start Virtual Lab
Read all instructions carefully and answer the questions below.
1. What are the components of the leechs nervous system? Describe it.

2. What is the difference between the resting potential & action potential?

3. Outline how an oscilloscope functions. What does it record?

4. Briefly describe each step (1-3 sentences) in the procedure to complete this lab.

5. What is the purpose of the 20% ethanol?

6. Illustrate what you see when the dye is injected into the cell and placed under UV. Show
where each cell is located.

7. Create a chart the details the responses to each of the stimuli (feather, probe, forceps).
Identify what each cell is, based on the responses to the stimuli.
8. If this dissection was conducted in a real laboratory:
Name 2 precautions that need to be taken to complete this lab.
Name 2 sources of error that could arise in this laboratory.

9. Every year, scientists across Canada apply for prestigious funding opportunities called CRCs
(Canada Research Chairs) to continue their research. These opportunities are very limited and
only a few scientists hold them.
a. On Google, search for Canada Research Chairs. Find the government website for it.
b. How many tiers are there? What is the difference?
c. Find a scientist who conducts neuroscience, neurophysiology, or psychology research.
i. What is their name?
ii. What institution are they from?
iii. Name their specific topic of research in which they received a CRC for.