B6 Flashcards
(108 cards)
what is genetic engineering?
moving genes for desirable characteristics from one organism to another
what is a vector used for?
inserting DNA into another organism
what are antibiotic resistance markers used for?
selecting cells with the new DNA
what is a healthy organism?
an organism having complete physical and mental well-being
what is a disease?
a condition that impairs the normal functioning of an organism
what are three causes of diseases?
-pathogens
-mutations in genes
-environmental conditions- poor diet, lack of exercise
what is a pathogen?
a type of microorganism that causes disease
what are the four types of pathogen?
-fungi
-protists
-bacteria
-viruses
what is a communicable disease?
a disease that can spread between organisms- that you can catch and is caused by a pathogen
what is a non-communicable disease?
diseases that develop and cannot be passed from person to person
what is bacteria?
very small cells which reproduce rapidly and make you feel ill by producing toxins that damage your cells and tissues
what is a virus?
not a cell, but replicates inside the affected organisms cells and the cells burst and release viruses
what are protists?
eukaryotic, single celled organisms that cause disease
what is fungi?
single celled cell and has thread like structures (hyphae) which can grow and penetrate human skin and surface of plants which causes disease.
how do pathogens spread in water?
pathogens can be picked up by drinking dirty water.
how do pathogens spread in the air?
they are carried by the air and people can breath them in
how do pathogens spread through contact?
pathogens can be picked up by touching contaminated surfaces
how do pathogens spread through body fluids?
pathogens can be spread through body fluids e.g blood by sharing needles, through sex, or breast feeding
how do pathogens spread through animal vectors?
animal that spread diseases are called vectors as they carry them. e.g malaria is caused by the animal vector mosquito which carries the pathogen
how do pathogens spread through soil?
pathogens can live in soil so plants in the contaminated soil may be infected
how do pathogens spread through food?
some pathogens can be picked up by eating contaminated food
how are communicable diseases affected by social and economic factors?
-crowded areas means communicable diseases are transferred more easily
-poor diet increases the risk of infection because the immune system is weak and there is not enough nutrients
-limited access to healthcare and health education means people are not educated or treated
what are four ways that the spread of disease can be reduced in humans?
-being hygenic
-destroying vectors which carry pathogens and spread disease- can be killed using insecticides or by destroying their habitat
-isolating infected individuals
-vaccination which means they wont develop the infection and pass it on
what are five ways that the spread of disease can be reduced in plants?
- making sure the infected plant doesn’t come in contact with a healthy plant
-destroying infected plants
-changing crop rotation- stops pathogens being established in that area
-chemical control- killing or preventing pathogens
-biological control- dipping roots into similar bacterium before they are planted in infected soils- produces an anitbiotic