Part 3

Question 1

Why is the temperature of 37°C chosen for experiments?

Answer 1

It is equivalent to body temperature

Question 2

What is the use of control plates?

Answer 2

They make sure there is nothing contaminating the agar plates

Question 3

Where are micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi found?

Answer 3

Everywhere

Question 4

What are some factors which have contributed to the decline of deaths from micro-organism infection?

Answer 4

Antibiotics, physical distancing, disinfectants and education

Question 5

How does refrigeration and freezing reduce the spoiling of food by micro-organisms?

Answer 5

It lowers the temperature which slows down bacterial growth and reproduction

Question 6

Why is it important to maintain sterile conditions inside an operating room?

Answer 6

So that air does not get re-circulated and micro-organisms do not spread

Question 7

Why should the inoculating loop be flamed and the Peter dishes sealed?

Answer 7

To sterilise and minimise the risk of contamination

Question 8

Why is the Petri dish inverted before being placed in the incubator?

Answer 8

To prevent a build-up of contamination

Question 9

What is symbiosis?

Answer 9

When two organisms of different species live together and function in close proximity

Question 10

What are the 3 forms of symbiosis?

Answer 10

Commensalism, mutualism and parasitism

Question 11

What are two organisms in symbiosis known as?

Answer 11

The larger organism is the host and the smaller organism is the symbiont

Question 12

What is found in the large intestine?

Answer 12

Many foreign cells, including 1KG of bacteria

Question 13

What certain foods are not entirely digested when they get to the large intestine?

Answer 13

Flour, dairy products and beans

Question 14

What do these foods contain?

Answer 14

Complex sugars, which cannot be entirely absorbed by your body alone

Question 15

What does bacteria in the large intestine do?

Answer 15

It breaks down complex sugars

Question 16

What does bacteria produce as a by-product?

Answer 16

Gas, which is released as flatulence

Question 17

What is the role of friendly bacteria?

Answer 17

To clean waste minerals from your intestinal wall and produce essential vitamins

Question 18

What does bacteria in your large intestine create?

Answer 18

Vitamin K and Vitamin B7

Question 19

What are these vitamins important for?

Answer 19

Vitamin K is important for blood clotting, Vitamin B7 is important for fat metabolism

Question 20

What is the relationship between the friendly bacteria and a human host called?

Answer 20

Mutualism

Question 21

What is mutualism?

Answer 21

An association between organisms of two different species in which both members benefit

Question 22

What is commensalism?

Answer 22

An association between organisms of two different species in which one derives benefit whilst the other is unaffected

Question 23

What is parasitism?

Answer 23

An association between organisms of two différents species in which one derives benefit at the expense of the other

Question 24

What fungus do 80% of humans have?

Answer 24

Candida albicans, which lives in the gastrointestinal tract

Question 25

What do antibiotics do?

Answer 25

They kill bacteria, but do not harm either a fungus or virus

Question 26

What happens when you take an antibiotic?

Answer 26

It kills the bacteria that causes the infection, but also kills the friendly bacteria in your intestine

Question 27

What is candidiasis?

Answer 27

A fungus infection which travels through the bloodstream to all parts of your body and can cause constipation, diarrhoea, cramps and bladder infection

Question 28

What is candidiasis like in terms of infection and gender?

Answer 28

Women are struck more than men, and infections are treatable and result in minimal complications such as redness, itching or discomfort

Question 29

What is the relationship between parasites and pathogens?

Answer 29

All parasites are pathogens, but not all pathogens are parasites

Question 30

Why do parasites fit into the category of pathogens?

Answer 30

Because they gain benefit at your expense and cause you disease

Question 31

What is a prion?

Answer 31

An infectious protein, which was the cause of Mad Cow disease

Question 32

What was the bubonic plague, or black death?

Answer 32

When an offending bacterial pathogen was carried by fleas that were parasitic to rats

Question 33

What happened to infected rats?

Answer 33

They died in huge numbers and fleas would jump to a human host

Question 34

What was the most famous symptom of bubonic plague?

Answer 34

Swollen lymph glands, called buboes

Question 35

What were other symptoms of the bubonic plague?

Answer 35

Black spots on the skin, blood vomiting, aching limbs, coughing and terrible pain

Question 36

When was the bubonic plague last detected and what can it be treated by?

Answer 36

It was last detected in Los Angeles, 2006, and can be treated with antibiotics