Urine and Diagnosis (homeostasis chapter 7)

Question 1

What substances does urine contain?

Answer 1

Water, urea, mineral salts, etc.

Question 2

What does the presence of glucose in urine show?

Answer 2

Type 1 and 2 diabetes

Question 3

What does the presence of creatinine in urine show?

Answer 3

Muscle damage

Question 4

hCG

Answer 4

The human embryo implants in the uterus, around 6 days after contraception. The site of the developing placenta then begins to produce a chemical called hCG. Some of this hormone is found in the blood and urine of the mother

Question 5

Making monoclonal antibodies

Answer 5

• These are antibodies from a single clone of cells that are produced to target particular cells or chemicals in the body
  1. A mouse is injected with hCG so it makes the appropriate antibody
  2. B-cells that make the required antibody are then removed from the spleen of the mouse and fused with a myeloma (type of cancer cell) which divides rapidly
  3. This new fused cell is known as a hybridoma. Each one reproduces rapidly, resulting in a clone of million of ‘living factories’ making the desired antibody

Question 6

Pregnancy test steps

Answer 6

1. Wick is soaked in the first urine passed in the morning - this is because it will have the highest levels of hCG
2. If the woman is pregnant, the hCG in her urine will bind to the monoclonal antibodies (that are bound to the small coloured beads) and forms a hCG/antibody complex
3. The urine carries on until it reaches a window on the test
4. The immobilised monoclonal antibodies arranged in a line or pattern such as a + sign that only bind to the hCG/antibody complex. If the woman is pregnant, a coloured line appears in the first window
5. The urine carries on again until it reaches a second window
6. A line of immobilised monoclonal antibodies bind to the mobile ones, regardless of whether they are bound to hCG or not - the line forms to show the test is working