4.1.9 development and use of drugs

Question 1

antibiotic

Answer 1

chemical which prevents growth of microorganisms
–> antibacterial or antifungal

Question 2

personalised medicine

Answer 2

development of designer medicines for individuals

Question 3

synthetic biology

Answer 3

re-engineering of biology
–> could be production of new molecules that mimic natural processes, or the use of natural molecules to produce new biological systems that don’t exist in nature

Question 4

why are new drugs needed

Answer 4

• new diseases are emerging
• there are many diseases with no effective treatments
• some antibiotic treatments are becoming less effective

Question 5

which antibiotic was accidentally discovered & who by

Answer 5

= penicillin by alexander fleming

Question 6

which 2 individuals purified penicillin

Answer 6

florey & chain

Question 7

where does morphine originate from

Answer 7

• origins in use of sap from unripe poppy see-heads
• as long ago as neolithic times
• these opiate drugs reduce nervous action in CNS

Question 8

where does willow-bark extract originate from

Answer 8

• used to relieve pain & fever
• way was found (1897) to reduce effect of stomach bleeding by adding acetyl group
• led to development of ibuprofen/aspirin

Question 9

examples of animals using plants for medicinal properties

Answer 9

• monkeys, bears etc. rub citrus oils on their coats as insecticides & antiseptics –> prevent insect bites/infection
• birds line nests with medicinal leaves to protect chicks from blood sucking mites

Question 10

what other research has been conducted

Answer 10

the way microorganisms cause disease

Question 11

an example of a way microorganisms cause disease & how research/new medicine production can stop this

Answer 11

• many microorganisms use the receptors on plasma membranes
• if the binding between the pathogen/receptor site can be blocked, the disease-causing pathogen cannot gain access to cell

Question 12

what 2 methods have huge potential for future medicines

Answer 12

• sequencing technology
• molecular modelling

Question 13

describe personalised medicine

Answer 13

(using certain technology) we may be able to sequence genes from an individual with a particular condition & develop specific drugs

Question 14

give an example of a form of synthetic biology

Answer 14

development of new molecules (esp. enzymes) that mimic biological systems