C - Fighting Disease - Drugs

Question 1

Give 2 examples of pain killers…

Answer 1

Aspirin, paracetamol, cold remedies

Question 2

What’s the difference between antibiotics and painkillers?

Answer 2

Painkillers just help to reduce the symptoms, whereas antibiotics kill or prevent the growth of the bacteria

Question 3

Can antibiotics destroy viruses? Why?

Answer 3

No, because viruses reproduce using good body cells which makes it very difficult to develop drugs which don’t kill the good cells too

Question 4

Bacteria can mutate which can cause them to be _______ to antibiotics

Answer 4

Resistant

Question 5

When bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics what problems does this cause? Try to explain some issues…

Answer 5

The resistant bacteria will survive and reproduce which can cause serious infections that can’t be treated even by very powerful antibiotics

Question 6

Why is it important that doctors don’t over-prescribe antibiotics?

Answer 6

So you don’t use them as much and so the resistant strain development will decrease and they can be used to treat more serious things than stuff like sore throats.

Question 7

How do scientists usually investigate antibiotics or disinfectants?

Answer 7

By growing microorganisms in Petri dishes and using different antibiotics to see how much bacteria is resistant

Question 8

Try to describe the experiment of investigating antibiotics…

Answer 8

• Hot agar jelly is poured into Petri dishes
• When it has cooled, metal loops are used to transfer microorganisms.
• The microorganisms multiply
• Paper discs are soaked in different types of antibiotics and placed on the jelly
• Put lid on
• Antibiotic-resistant bacteria will continue to grow around them but non-resistant strains will die

Question 9

In the investigation of antibiotics experiment, you must insure all equipment is _______ because ______

Answer 9

Sterilised so no unwanted microorganisms can GROW and AFFECT THE RESULT

Question 10

What does “culture medium” mean?

Answer 10

Usually agar jelly containing the conditions needed for microorganisms to grow. E.g. minerals, vitamins etc

Question 11

What happens when viruses mutate? Why does this make it difficult to develop vaccines?

Answer 11

Their DNA changes can lead to them having different antigens, meaning the virus may spread faster than companies can mass produce vaccines and antiviral drugs

Question 12

Where is insulin produced?

Answer 12

Pancreas