The characteristics of homeostasis: a new perspective on teaching a fundamental principle in biology

Homeostasis is a fundamental principle in biology that represents the biological
essence of living organisms: the dynamic stability of the body. There are difficulties comprehending
homeostasis, as there are concrete sensory aspects as well as scientific aspects that are abstract
and complex. These difficulties have led us to define eight characteristics of homeostasis, in order
to describe the ‘homeostatic features’ of physiological systems (processes and situations) in living
organisms. We present perceptions regarding homeostasis of 12th grade biology students (age
17–18) who studied homeostasis through those eight characteristics. The students’ perceptions
reflect their understanding of the multifaceted appearance of homeostasis in living organisms.