What does the term homeostasis refer to?

Homeostasis refers to the ability of an organism or a system to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions. This involves various physiological processes that regulate factors such as temperature, pH, hydration, and electrolyte balance. For example, when the external temperature rises, an organism may sweat to cool down and maintain its internal temperature. The concept of homeostasis is essential for the survival and functioning of living organisms, as it enables them to function optimally across different environments.

In contrast, the other options deal with unrelated biological concepts. The process of evolution and adaptation is concerned with how species change over generations due to natural selection. The function of mitochondria in energy production centers around cellular respiration and ATP generation, while the development of new species over time aligns with speciation and evolutionary biology, which are different themes from internal regulatory mechanisms like homeostasis.