Homeostasis articles from across Nature Portfolio

In metabolic studies using rodents, body weight and food intake measurements seem easy to obtain, but several potential pitfalls can lead to erroneous data generation and interpretation. This Comment raises awareness of key conceptual and technical aspects that can increase the quality and reproducibility of this type of data.

Control loop designs are widely present in biology but can undergo errors, which can be fixed using generic strategies. Loop designs in response to organismal stress exhibit distinct features and are under ongoing investigations. Understanding control theory as an organizing principle in biology creates a broader perspective on endocrine and non-endocrine systems.

Core body temperature and metabolic rate have both been proposed to regulate longevity, but their relative contribution had not been determined. Zhao et al. separated the effects of these two parameters in mice and hamsters, revealing that core body temperature is a more important determinant of longevity than metabolic rate.