Antibiotics and other medicines Flashcards
What are antibiotics?
Chemicals that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria
How does antibiotic resistance occur?
Genetic mutations in the bacteria
How does antibiotic resistance spread?
Bacteria with resistance will live for longer and reproduce more. This leads to the allele for the resistance being passed on to lots of offspring. An example of natural selection.
What is MRSA?
An antibiotic resistant bacteria that causes wound infections. It is resistant to meticillin.
How does Clostridium difficile infect the digestive system?
Harmless bacteria in the digestive system are killed by previous antibiotics. This bacteria was resistant to Clostridium difficile. Without this bacteria the Clostridium difficile flourishes and causes fever and cramps.
Where can new medicines be found? How to save this?
undiscovered plants, animals and microorganisms. Maintain biodiversity.
What is the future of medicine?
Personalised medicine and synthetic biology.
