Evolution and Diseases

Question 1

Why would using standard deviation error bars increase the confidence in any conclusion made

Answer 1

• Standard deviation shows the spread of data compared to the mean
• Reduces the effect of an anomaly (in a data point at the extreme of a range)

Question 2

Why over time has more people become resistant to antibiotics

Answer 2

1) Greater use of antibiotics
2) Not competing the full course of the prescription
3) Use of antibiotics in farming
4) Natural Selection of the bacterium
5) Large % increase of the bacteria over a short time due to rapid regeneration time

Question 3

What feature of a bacterium may the antibiotic attack

Answer 3

• Cell wall
• The reproduction of the bacterium

Question 4

Personalised medicine

Answer 4

The development of designer medicines for individuals

Question 5

Synthetic biology

Answer 5

The re- engineering of biology
- Could be the production of new molecules that mimic natural processes
- Could be the use if natural molecules to produce new biological systems that do not exist in nature

Question 6

What is pencillin an example of

Answer 6

• A scientist making an observation and carrying out an experiment
• Other scientists purifying the sample after shows scientists working together

Question 7

Examples of medicinal properties of plants

Answer 7

• Opium from poppies is used as an anaesthetic
• Willow bark is used t relieve pain and fever which later by adding an acetyl group led to the development of both aspirin and ibuprofen

Question 8

Examples of medicinal properties observed in wildlife

Answer 8

• monkeys rub citrus oil into their furs to use an insecticide and an antiseptic
• Birds line their nests with medicinal leaves in order to protect their young from blood sucking mites