Why would temperature regulation NOT work well if it was controlled by a positive feedback
system?
If temperature regulation was controlled by a positive feedback system, it would not work well because positive feedback amplifies or reinforces the initial signal instead of counteracting it. In the context of temperature regulation, positive feedback would cause a small increase in temperature to trigger mechanisms that further amplify the temperature increase, leading to a runaway effect where temperature continues to rise without any means of stopping or stabilizing it.
In normal physiological processes, such as the regulation of body temperature, negative feedback systems are employed. Negative feedback works by detecting changes in a parameter, such as temperature, and activating mechanisms to counteract or oppose the change, bringing the parameter back to its optimal level. This ensures stability and homeostasis.
If temperature regulation was controlled by a positive feedback system, any small increase in temperature would trigger mechanisms that further increase temperature, leading to extreme overheating. This could potentially be life-threatening as the body would continuously overheat without any means of cooling down or stabilizing the temperature.
Hence, positive feedback would not be suitable for temperature regulation as it would result in an uncontrolled and detrimental increase in temperature rather than maintaining a stable and optimal temperature range.