B8: Defending Ourselves Against Disease

Question 1

What causes an infectious disease?

Answer 1

A microorganism entering and attacking the body.

Question 2

How do bacteria make you ill?

Answer 2

> Binary fission
Toxins
Directly damage cells

Question 3

How do viruses cause disease?

Answer 3

They take over body cells, damaging and destroying them.

Question 4

3 ways to stop infection in hospitals

Answer 4

> Hand washing
Disinfectants
Better cleaning

Question 5

4 ways that diseases are spread

Answer 5

> Droplet infection
Direct Contact
Contaminated food and drink
Breaks in the skin

Question 6

What are the body’s natural defences against disease?

Answer 6

> Skin
Blood clotting
Mucus
Stomach acid

Question 7

3 roles of White Blood Cells

Answer 7

> To ingest microorganisms
To produce antibodies
To produce antitoxins

Question 8

3 viruses to be immunised against

Answer 8

> Polio
Measles
Whooping Cough

Question 9

3 bacterial infections to be immunised against

Answer 9

> TB
Tetanus
Diphtheria

Question 10

Why do antibiotics have no effect on viruses?

Answer 10

Because viruses reproduce inside cells.

Question 11

Do antibiotics work on bacteria or viruses?

Answer 11

Bacteria

Question 12

1 example of antibiotic resistant bacteria

Answer 12

MRSA

Question 13

How does a vaccine work?

Answer 13

1. Small amounts of dead/inactive pathogen are put into the body.
2. White Blood Cells produce antibodies and quickly fight off the weakened pathogen.
3. In the future, if the pathogen enters the body again, the White Blood Cells can quickly reproduce the antibodies.

Question 14

Agar

Answer 14

The nutrient jelly on which many microorganisms are cultured.

Question 15

Why do we sterilise lab equipment?

Answer 15

To kill bacteria already on them so that they don’t grow and contaminate cultures.

Question 16

Why is the maximum temperature for growing cultures in schools 25 degrees?

Answer 16

To reduce the likelihood of harmful pathogens growing.