Infection and response

Question 1

What is an antibiotic and what is it used for?

Answer 1

Kills bacteria inside the body without harming human cells.

Question 2

Which one of these statements is true?

Painkillers are used to treat the symptoms of a disease and kill the pathogens which cause it

Painkillers are used to kill the pathogens causing a disease

Painkillers are used to treat the symptoms of a disease but do not kill the pathogens.

Answer 2

Painkillers are used to treat the symptoms of a disease but do not kill the pathogens.

Question 3

Digitalis is a drug used for heart conditions.

It originates from?

Answer 3

Foxgloves.

Question 4

Aspirin is a drug used as a painkiller.

It originates from?

Answer 4

willow tree bark.

Question 5

Penicillin is an antibiotic drug.

It originates from?

Answer 5

mould

Question 6

Describe why nitrate ions are very important for plants.

Answer 6

Nitrate is crucial for protein synthesis and hence growth. Without sufficient nitrate ions, the plant would be stunted.

Question 7

What is chlorosis and how can it be prevented?

Answer 7

Chlorosis is the yellowing of the leaves. It can be prevented by providing the plant with magnesium.

Question 8

Why would a test kit containing monoclonal antibodies be useful to detect plant disease?

Answer 8

The monoclonal antibodies can be used to detect a particular chemical which is only present in one type of pathogen. This would then show whether the plant was infected with this disease or not.