Medicine In Modern Britain (c.1900-present)

Question 1

Define Hereditary diseases

Answer 1

Passed on from parents to children

Question 2

Define Genome

Answer 2

Complete set of DNA - more than 3 billion DAN pairs!

Question 3

Define Antibiotic

Answer 3

Any treatment that limits the growth of bacteria in the body

Question 4

What is the human genome project?

Answer 4

It was launched in 199 with the aim to decode and map the human genome. Even though hundred of scientists were involved, it was the year 2000 before anything was published!

Question 5

Why is mapping the human genome useful for advancements in medicine?

Answer 5

Scientists could then start looking for mistakes in the DNA of people suffering from hereditary diseases

Question 6

Describe how advancements in science and technology has helped the mapping of DNA

Answer 6

1) Advanced microscopes and high-powered images were developed in 1931 and allow for powerful magnification of up to 10,000,000 times!!!
2) The Human Genome Project was part of ‘big science’ - where scientists from all over the world collaborate and all of the data was made public

Question 7

State 5 new causes of disease in the modern era

Answer 7

1) Smoking
2) Bad diet
3) Drinking too much alcohol
4) Unprotected sex and sharing needles
5) Tanning

Question 8

State 9 ways that diagnosis of diseases and illnesses has improved

Answer 8

1) Blood tests
2) Blood-sugar/glucose monitoring
3) X-Rays
4) MRI Scans
5) Blood-Pressure Monitors
6) Endoscopes
7) ECG’s
8) CT scans
9) Ultrasound scans

Question 9

What are endoscopes?

Answer 9

They have a camera on the end of a tube and can see inside the human body. They are usually used to investigate abdominal problems but can also be used during surgery

Question 10

What are ECG’s?

Answer 10

ECG’s = Electro cardiograms

They use electrical pulses to check heart-beats

Question 11

Describe the difference between MRI and CT scans

Answer 11

CT scans = a more advanced form of X-Rays, used to diagnose tumours and growths

MRI scans = Developed in the 1970’s; use magnetic and radio waves to diagnose soft-tissue injuries

Question 12

Define Antibiotics

Answer 12

Substances that kill bacteria or stop their growth. They do not work against viruses: it is difficult to develop drugs that kill viruses without also damaging the body’s tissues

Question 13

Define “magic bullet(s)”

Answer 13

A chemical cure that would attack the microbes in the body, leaving the rest of the body unharmed.
Designed to target specific diseases

Question 14

Give an example of a ‘magic bullet’

Answer 14

Salvarsan 606 (for syphilis)

Question 15

How was Prontosil discovered and by who?

Answer 15

Scientist Gerard Domagk discovered a bright-red dye called prontosil which killed bacterial infections

Question 16

What was Prontosil used for?

Answer 16

It was used to cut maternity deaths at a hospital in London and reduced them from 20% to less than 5%
It was also discovered that it prevents bacteria from multiplying

Question 17

What was the first, true, antibiotic?

Answer 17

Penicillin

Question 18

Describe the story of Thalidomide

Answer 18

It was a drug prescribed to pregnant women in the 1960’s and caused multiple, significant birth defects