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OCR Biology A - 4.1.1 - Communicable Disease, Disease Prevention and the Immune System Part 7

Biology18 CardsCreated about 1 month ago

This deck covers key concepts from OCR Biology A, focusing on communicable diseases, disease prevention, and the immune system.

Why is it important to maintain biodiversity in terms of medicines?

To make sure we don't destroy a plant, animal or microorganisms which could give us a life-saving drug
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Key Terms

Term
Definition
Why is it important to maintain biodiversity in terms of medicines?
To make sure we don't destroy a plant, animal or microorganisms which could give us a life-saving drug
Personalised medicines
Once gene sequencing technology is fully developed it will be possible to sequence the genes from individuals with particular conditions and develop s...
Pharmacogenomics
The science of interweaving knowledge of drug actions with personal genetic material
Synthetic biology
We can genetically modify microorganisms or plants to contain a gene that produces a beneficial protein e.g. bacteria are modified to produce human in...
Antibiotics
Drugs that interfere with the metabolism of bacteria without the metabolism of human cells - selective toxicity
Polymixines
Makes holes in bacterium cell membrane --> altering permeability

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TermDefinition
Why is it important to maintain biodiversity in terms of medicines?
To make sure we don't destroy a plant, animal or microorganisms which could give us a life-saving drug
Personalised medicines
Once gene sequencing technology is fully developed it will be possible to sequence the genes from individuals with particular conditions and develop specific drugs for their condition
Pharmacogenomics
The science of interweaving knowledge of drug actions with personal genetic material
Synthetic biology
We can genetically modify microorganisms or plants to contain a gene that produces a beneficial protein e.g. bacteria are modified to produce human insulin
Antibiotics
Drugs that interfere with the metabolism of bacteria without the metabolism of human cells - selective toxicity
Polymixines
Makes holes in bacterium cell membrane --> altering permeability
Penicillin and cephalosporins
Weaken the peptidoglycan cell wall so bacterium can be more easily damaged by immune system
Why is antibiotic resistance growing?
Overusing antibiotics in both the health sector (prescribing when unnecessary) in meat industry
How does antibiotic resistance develop?
Random mutation Selection pressure (adding antibiotics) Those with mutations that allow resistance survive & reproduce, others die Next generation has more individuals with the characteristic (resistance)
Examples of resistance
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) | Clostridium difficile
What can we do about antibiotic resistance?
Promote good hygiene in hospitals, care homes and in general prevent spread of resistant strains Use new, innovative ways of developing antibiotics (computer modelling and/or looking for new sources of medicine in unusual places) Educate public and healthcare professionals to minimise use of antibiotics and ensure all courses of antibiotics are completed
Lymphocyte involved in cell mediated response
T cells
Lymphocytes involved in humoral response
B cells
What are interleukins used for?
Cell signalling in the specific immune response
Blood smear analysis
Most cells are RBC as they have no nucleus | Darker cells are neutrophils
Types of cytokines
Monokines - attract neutrophils | Interleukins - released by t helper cells and activate B cells
Why may some people experience discomfort in their armpits after an infection?
Excess tissue fluid drained to lymph nodes | Pathogens in tissue fluid enter lymph
B effector cells
B lymphocytes that divide to form plasma cell clones