Modern Mecidine Flashcards
How did technology help with development in understanding DNA
The electron microscope and improvements of x-ray machines using crystallography which uses radiation to take high-power x-ray photographs
What theory and when did Mendel develop
1900 developed a theory that genes come in pairs. Called this theory the fundamental laws of inheritance. However he couldn’t scientifically prove this
When and what did Watson and Crick discover
They were working on DNA in 1953 and they discovered the structure of DNA and proved it was in every human cell that it passed information from parent to children
What limitation came with Watson and Crick’s discovery
They could not identify which genes caused which disease
It was also a very expensive discovery
What limitation came with the human genome project
It took 15 years to complete
How did government help Watson and Crick make their discoveries
It was financed mainly by government grants giving them a large team, and the best equipment required
How did science and technology help Watson and Crick make their discoveries
-They had Maurice Wilkins who was an x-ray specialist
-And Rosalind Franklin who develop the technique to photograph a single strand of DNA
-Had the best equipment and worked with biochemistry specialists
How did science and technology help the human genome project
Because of the development of the internet data collected by teams from all around the world could be sent easily
When did the Human Genome Project start and what was its aim
In 1986 to identify the exact purpose of each gene in the human body
How many countries were involved in the Human Genome Project and give some examples
18 countries such as : USA, Britain Japan, France and Canada
How did the human genome project and the discovery help medicine
It allowed scientists to identify where there were mistakes in peoples genes and what disease this would lead to, opening up the opportunities for the development of new treatment and prevention techniques.
Give an example of a treatment that was able to be created due to DNA discovery
For example scientists are now able to identify the genes relating to breast cancer and can take preventative to reduce the risk of developing this. Angelina Jolie chose to have mastectomy because her mother had died of breast cancer.
How did lifestyle and health cause disease in the 20th century
How did smoking cause illness and disease in the 20th century
-The dangers of smoking were not identified until the 1950s due to there being an increase in lung cancer
-Smoking was eventually linked to a range of diseases including cancer, high blood pressure, gum disease, heart disease and tooth decay
How did diet cause illness and disease in the 20th century
-Too much fat and sugar was recognised to be dangerous for peoples health. As they can cause heart disease and diabetes type 2
-Continued from when the 4 humours theory was popular and people began to realise diet was important for good health
-Not getting enough food/nutrients can also be detrimental to a person’s health
What things other than diet and smoking caused illness in the 20th century
-Excess drinking of alcohol caused problems such as liver disease and kidney problems
-People sharing bodily fluids through syringes or unprotected sex could spread disease
-Too much UV light can cause skin cancer
How has technology developed preventative and diagnostic techniques in modern medicine (overview)
-The use of technology improves diagnosis as new computers and machines allow doctors to get a better understanding of patients’ symptoms. Doctors are now able to identify illness and disease at an early stage which they can prevent it from becoming life threatening
How have blood tests improved diagnosis and when were they developed
-Using blood samples to test for large number of conditions without the need for invasive diagnosis methods
-1930s
How have blood pressure monitors improved diagnosis and when were they developed
-Help diagnose high and low blood pressures
-In the 1880s
How have endoscopes improved diagnosis and when were they developed
-Camera on end of thin flexible tube to see inside of the human body and can investigate digestive symptoms and can carry surgical instruments to body
-1900s
How have blood sugar monitoring improved diagnosis and when were they developed
-Allow people who suffer from diabetes to check their blood sugar regularly to ensure they manage their condition
-1960s
How have X-rays improved diagnosis and when were they developed
-Helps to see inside the human body without cutting into it. Since start of 20th century help diagnose problems such as broken bones
-1890s
How have MRI scans improved diagnosis and when were they developed
-Use magnets and radio waves to create an internal image of the body and help diagnose soft tissue injuries and ligament damage.
-1970s
How have CT scans improved diagnosis and when were they developed
-More advanced form of x-rays can diagnose tumours and other growths in the body
-1970s
How have ultrasound scans improved diagnosis and when were they developed
-Use sound waves to build up picture of inside of the body. Can diagnose things like gall and kidney stones
-1940s
How has the government improved prevention and diagnosis (outline)
-By the end of the 19th century the government have a greater role in the prevention of disease within it’s population
-Laissez-faire attitudes of the 19th century were gone as scientists worked out what actually caused poor health
-They understood it’s actions could have a direct impact on health
How did mass vaccinations help develop preventative and diagnostic techniques
They introduced nationwide vaccine programmes such as;
Polio (1956), Tetanus (1961), German measles (1968), rubella (1970), HPV and covid-19
They are effective in preventing illness and disease
What is a limitation on mass vaccines
Some people are unsure about them and do not want the government enforcing them to get them,
How has legislation improved diagnosis and prevention
-Clean air acts introduced in 1956 and 1968
-Burning of coal fires was banned and smog is no longer a problem in the U.K.
-Smoking was banned in enclosed workplaces by the Health Act of 2006, and then banned indoors in 2007
How have lifestyle campaign improved diagnosis and prevention
-Government promoting healthy lifestyle campaigns saves money and improved people heskth
-E.g. anti-smoking, binge drinking and unprotected sex and drug use
-Change4life to promote healthy eating and couch to 5k to get more people active
Outline blood transfusions and how has it improved medical treatment
-1901 Karl Landsteiner discovered blood groups, making transitions possible if the donor was in the same place
-Not possible to store blood until WW1.
-During WW1 it was seen adding sodium citrate stopped blood from clotting
-Allowed people who have large injuries not to die from blood loss
Outline X-rays and how has it improved medical treatment
-1895 Röntgen discovered X-rays and within months they were being used on hospitals. -During WW1 they were used to locate shrapnel and bullets in soldiers
-Used to identify broken bones, foreign objects in hospitals today so people can be treated for them
Outline radiotherapy and chemotherapy and how has it improved medical treatment
-Mary and Pierre Curie researched the use of X-rays and discovered radium which now can be used to diagnose and treat cancer so they can have a better chance at living if their diagnose is recognised.
Outline Transplant surgery and how has it improved medical treatment
-In 1954 the first kidneys and in 1963 liver was transplanted. In 1967 the first heart transplant was completed by Dr Barnard. In 1982 the first heart and lung transplant took place.
-This means people have improved people’s chances of survival if they contract diseases that affect organs
Outline customised drugs and how they have improved medical treatment
-New drugs are being developed that take into account somebody’s DNA and can be made especially for them so more specific and less know illnesses can be killed
Outline gene therapy and how has it improved medical treatment
-Takes genes from a donor and places them in the DNA of a patient and using stem cells from embryos it will be possible to reverse some illnesses and there is a major ethical debate
-Allows doctors to reverse illness meaning more people can be cured and may result in further developments
Outline dialysis machines and how has it improved medical treatment
They act as kidneys for people, keeping them alive until they get a transplant so they keep people alive meaning they have the chance to get a transplant
