Biology Flashcards
(38 cards)
What is a pathogen
A pathogen is a microorganism which cause disease common pathogens are bacteria and viruses
How do pathogens get spread
By air, by direct contact, by food or water
How do pathogens get spread by air
When you are infected you will expel droplets full of pathogens when breathing and others breath it in
How does direct contact spread pathogens
Bodily fluids, sexual contact, touch, cuts, scratches
How does food or water spread pathogens
Untreated water, raw meat, contamination in food, via digestive system
What factors do bacteria have
Can multiply on non living organisms, single celled living organisms, smaller than animal and plant cells, split in two and produce toxins which affect your body, some are harmless and really useful to have
What factors do viruses have
Can cause disease in a range of organisms from people to bacterial, take over your cells to reproduce then pop them, very small and have a regular shape
What are the four types of blood cells
Red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, platlets
What do white blood cells do
White blood cells are activated to destroy and neutralise the pathogen before they attack our body
What is the first phase of the immune response
Phagocytes engulf pathogens killing them
What is the effect of lymphocytes
They release anti toxins which cancel the pathogens dangerous toxins
What is binary fision
Multiplying bacteria that split into two
What are the conditions for binary fission
It has to be wet and moist with nutrients otherwise they can’t multiply
What is cancers definition
A disease where the cells in your body multiply in an abnormal way
What are the two types of tumour
Benign and maligna
What is a benign tumour
Unlike cancer tumours, a benign tumour divides slowly and is unable to spread throughout the body
What does malignant mean
It’s Latin for “badly born”
What Malignant tumour is a
This tumour multiplies uncontrollably to metastasise (spread) to different parts of the body and invade surrounding tissue
What increases your risk of getting cancer
Smoking, diet, family history, pollution, smoking, pathogens, lack of exercise, occupational exposure
What is a vaccination
A vaccine is a produce which produces antibodies
What is a vaccine made of
Weak, dying bacteria which can’t harm you but your white body makes anti bodies to attack them so when the pathogen returns our body can fight back
What is herd immunity
It’s when an amount of the population is immune to the pathogens meaning that people without the vaccine are protected
Do antibiotics kill all bacteria
No, some bacteria can be left behind due to natural selection and can mutate
How can you stop the mutated bacteria
By taking the course of antibiotics prescribed or doctors not over prescribing antibiotics readily
