Biology

Examples of homeostasis in one-celled organisms include balancing the amount of ion concentration inside and outside of the cell, controlling the pH of the environment, and maintaining the osmotic pressure of the cell walls. This allows the cell to prevent themselves from becoming overwhelmed by their environment or overburdened with toxins.

In terms of ion concentration, one-celled organisms can take in or expel ions through ion channels (in the case of prokaryotic cells) or pumps (in the case of eukaryotic cells) to maintain the concentration of ions inside and outside the cell. A similar mechanism allows the cell to control the pH of its environment; by either increasing or decreasing the number of protons (H+) or hydroxide ions (OH-) in the environment, a cell can create the optimal pH for its survival. Finally, one-celled organisms use pumps to maintain the osmotic pressure of their cell walls, increasing or decreasing the amount of water that can pass through the cell membrane. This ensures that the cell remains hydrated and allows the cell to take in essential materials and expel waste products.