Adaptive Resonse

Adaptive Response

Introduction

Adaptive response refers to the ability of the cells, the organisms and the tissues to resist stress better through preceding exposure to a lesser quantity of stress. In addition, adaptive response to stress is the genetic process through which organisms react to the environmental changes. The adaptive responses observed in all the organisms are necessitated by the changes that take place in the environment. The internal variables of the organisms change in accordance with the changes occurring in the external environment. However, these variables revert to their initial values after some time thus realizing both homeostasis and responsiveness. The biological system, which is regulated by the genes largely, controls the organisms’ vulnerability to diseases and the rate at which the organisms’ age. Researchers have observed two characteristics of adaptive response in the organisms. The observable characteristics include perfectness of adaptation and responsiveness. Adaptive response is grouped into various categories. The categories comprise of the following among others.

Adaptive Response to Threat

This refers to the ability of a child to respond to the threats emanating from external exposure. The brain activates a set of adaptive response mechanisms, which will enable the child to survive in the face of the adversity. However, children react differently to the external threats facing them (Aliberti, 2012). For instance, some children may opt to fight back, an adaptive response referred to as hyper-arousal. These types of children are usually aggressive and quite resistant. They are rather easily misinterpreted as obstinate opposition. Some of the characteristics that are associated with this category entail increased heart rate, panic, anxiety and hyper-vigilance (Aliberti, 2012).

On the other hand, some children may opt for dissociative response. This involves tuning out the looming threat. This involves avoiding the urge to react to the threats and concentrating on the inner world. This implies that the affected children completely withdraw from the outside world. Nevertheless, their withdrawal varies with the intensity of the calamity facing them. Dissociative response is exemplified when the children are numb, detached or have a slow heart rate. This response is common to females and young children when they are in pain or when they are unable to escape from danger (Georing, 2012). However, the children may choose for a combination of the two types of responses in circumstances that are most dramatic.

Type One Reactions

This refers reactions that arise because of an introduction of a foreign object into the bodies of the organisms. Such foreign objects comprise of the venom from insect stings or bites, medication and foods. This reaction mostly affects people that are suffering from diseases for example allergic rhinitis, asthma attack and eczema (Muehlenbein, 2010).

Type Two Reactions

This refers to the binding of the antibodies that are produced by immune response to the cell surfaces of the patient. The antigens that the body is rendered to may be either intrinsic or extrinsic (Georing, 2012). Intrinsic antigens are innately part of the patient’s body whereas extrinsic antigens are absorbed into the body when it is exposed to an external threat. The body therefore generates mediators of severe inflation at the spot where a foreign object has been identified.

Type Three Reactions

These reactions occur in the body due to the inability of the innate immune cells to clear all the antigen-antibody complexes from the immune system. The continued accumulation of the antigens in the body of an organism may trigger an inflammatory attraction and response of the leukocytes. This is because the precipitation of the foreign antigens in the body may result in adverse damages to the body. The responses emanated by the body to such precipitations comprise immune complex disease reactions (Muehlenbein, 2010).

Type Four Reactions

This refers to the responses generated in response to exposure to the external threats by the body. Unlike the other types of reactions, which are mediated by the antibody, type four reactions are initiated by the cells (Hu & Rosenberger, 2006). This reaction is also known as delayed type hypersensitivity because it takes up to three days to respond to the new changes that the body is experiencing. The type of adaptive responses undertaken by the organisms may result in the generation of either negative or positive contrast effects. The effects are largely dependent on the choice of the changes taking place in the environment. The positive and negative effects occur due to the organisms’ response to unpredictability and instability of the environment. These responses occur because the organisms particularly the animals evaluate the universe in relative absolute terms.

In conclusion, adaptive response is an observable characteristic that is present in all the living organisms. Their ability to respond to the changes emanating from the external environment entails adaptive response. The degree of adaptive response largely depends on the magnitude of the exposure that the organisms encounter. The types of responses to such exposures have been categorized into type one reactions, type two reactions, type three reactions, type four reactions and adaptive response to external threats. The living organisms may opt for different types of responses to the external threats based on the adversity. For instance, a human person may choose to fight back, avoid the threat or use a combination of the two reactions in dramatic circumstances. However, the dissociative response is commonly associated with young children and female because of their inability to fight back or escape in case of a threat.