Cr 7 - Pathogens and Immunity Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are the main investigation areas in Module 3?
Body system change and continuity in response to pathogens; Transmission and impact of infectious diseases; Factors affecting spread of disease at the population level; Inheritance patterns and population dynamics; Evolution by natural selection
What are the learning outcomes for Module 3?
Solve problems independently or collaboratively; Communicate data using scientific conventions; Discuss immune responses and disease spread; Explain genetic, cellular, and evolutionary processes
What are the six biological types of pathogens?
Prions, viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists, parasites
How are infectious diseases transmitted?
Direct contact; Body fluids; Contaminated food or water; Specific vectors (e.g., mosquitoes)
What adaptations help pathogens enter and transmit between hosts?
Surface proteins to bind to host cells; Resistance to host enzymes; Ability to survive harsh environments (e.g., spores)
What are the three lines of immune defence in vertebrates?
- First Line (Innate, Non-specific): Physical & chemical barriers (e.g., skin, mucous)
- Second Line (Innate, Non-specific): Inflammatory response, phagocytic cells
- Third Line (Adaptive, Specific): B and T lymphocytes
What is the role of phagocytic cells?
Engulf and destroy pathogens via phagocytosis; Present antigens to T cells (if antigen-presenting)
What’s the difference between humoral and cell-mediated immunity?
Humoral: B cells produce antibodies to target pathogens; Cell-mediated: T cells (e.g., cytotoxic) destroy infected cells
What are antigen-presenting cells (APCs)?
Cells like dendritic cells and macrophages that display antigens to helper T cells to initiate adaptive immunity
Name key immune cells and their functions.
Dendritic cells/macrophages: Antigen presentation; Mast cells: Inflammation, release histamine; Neutrophils: First responders, phagocytosis; B lymphocytes: Produce antibodies; Memory B cells: Long-term immunity; Helper T cells: Activate B/T cells; Cytotoxic T cells: Kill infected cells; Regulatory T cells: Suppress immune response; Memory T cells: Long-term immunity
What is the difference between active and passive immunity?
Active: Body’s immune system responds (e.g., vaccines, infection); Passive: Antibodies provided (e.g., via placenta, serum)
What is herd immunity?
When a large portion of a population is immune, reducing spread and protecting those who aren’t immune
Why do offspring resemble their parents?
Due to inheritance of genetic material (DNA) from parent cells or organisms
What is the purpose of predictive models in inheritance?
To describe and forecast inheritance patterns (e.g., Punnett squares, pedigree analysis)
What is gene pool diversity?
The variety of genetic material in a population’s gene pool
What is the genetic basis of natural selection?
Individuals with advantageous genetic traits survive and reproduce, passing on those traits
What processes drive speciation and population changes?
Mutation; Genetic drift; Gene flow; Natural selection; Reproductive isolation
