lecture 1 Flashcards
. What is pharmacology?
Answer: Pharmacology is the study of the effects of chemical substances on the function of living systems. It involves understanding how drugs, which are chemical substances of known structure (other than nutrients or essential dietary ingredients), produce biological effects when administered to a living organism.
What are some sources of drugs?
Answer: Drugs can be synthetic chemicals, chemicals obtained from plants or animals, or products of genetic engineering.
How does pharmacology relate to physiology?
Answer: Pharmacology shares a common ground with physiology, as chemical communication is integral to almost every physiological process. This communication often involves interactions between chemicals and proteins, such as receptors, which are a major focus in pharmacology research.
What are biopharmaceuticals?
Answer: Biopharmaceuticals are therapeutics made through genetic engineering rather than chemistry. They include antibodies, enzymes, and regulatory proteins such as hormones, growth factors, and cytokines.
How has biotechnology influenced modern pharmacology?
Answer: Biotechnology has significantly changed pharmacology by enabling the creation of many therapeutics through genetic engineering, including biopharmaceuticals like antibodies and regulatory proteins.
What is pharmacogenetics?
Answer: Pharmacogenetics is the study of genetic influences on responses to drugs, focusing on how variations in genes can affect individual reactions to specific medications.
What is pharmacogenomics?
Answer: Pharmacogenomics involves using an individual’s genetic information to guide the choice of drug therapy, allowing for personalized medical treatments based on their genetic profile.
What is pharmacoepidemiology?
Answer: Pharmacoepidemiology is the study of the effects of drugs at the population level, looking at how different populations respond to various drug treatments.
- What is pharmacoeconomics?
Answer: Pharmacoeconomics is a branch of health economics that seeks to quantify the cost and benefit of drugs used therapeutically, helping assess their economic impact and value.
What role do receptors play in pharmacology?
Answer: Receptors are proteins that interact with drugs to produce a biological effect. They are essential in the study of pharmacology, as understanding receptor mechanisms is key to understanding how drugs affect the body.
