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Science Term 2 2025 Flashcards

The Immune System, Disease, Ecology, and Data Processing (75 cards)

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1
Q

Physical Barriers in the First Line of Defence (SMC) :

A

Skin:
1. Provides an external barrier
2. Physically blocks the entry of microbial pathogens.
3. Regularly sheds outer layers, thus removing cells and pathogens.
4. Tough outer layer of closely packed cells
5. Main physical barrier against infection

Mucous Membrane:
1. Line the digestive, respiratory, reproductive and urinary tracts.
2. Prevent microbe entering tissues
3. Mucus they produce trap microbes and other particles

Cilia:
1. Tiny hair-like structures
2. Sweep mucus and trapped pathogens aong the tract to be coughed out, sneezed out, or swallowed.

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2
Q

What is a Phagocyte?

A
  1. A type of white blood cell
  2. Protects the body by engulfing and digesting harmful particles
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3
Q

What is a Macroparasite?

A
  1. Multicellular
  2. Eukaryotic
  3. Parasitic
  4. Can be seen with the naked eye
  5. Cause disease by competing for nutrients from the host
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4
Q

Temperature in terms of an Abiotic Factor:

A

Each species has a specific optimum temperature at which it survives best
1. Ectotherms:
Organisms that cannot control their internal temperature. Enzymes will slow down if it is too cold, or denature if it is too hot. Thus, cells are unable to perform reactions they need to in order to survive.
2. Endotherms:
Organisms that can control their internal temperature. However, they must expend energy to keep the temperature constant. Thus, there is less energy available for growth and reproduction.

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5
Q

What is Histamine?

A
  1. A chemical released by damaged tissues or immune cells
  2. Causes capillaries to dilate and become more permeable, triggering inflammation.
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6
Q

What is the Immune Response?

A

The response triggered when a pathogen invades the body

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7
Q

What causes Population Loss?

A
  1. Death of Individuals
  2. Emigration
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8
Q

What are Endotherms?

A

Animals that can regulate and maintain a constant internal body temperature, usually through internal heat (e.g. mammals and birds).

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9
Q

What is the Importance of Interdependence?

A
  1. Stable, self-supporting ecosystems (No interactions causing a species to rapidly rise or die out)
  2. Means that the removal of one species affects the whole community within an ecosystem
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10
Q

What is the Immune System?

A
  1. The body’s defence system against disease
  2. Kills or removes unwanted pathogens
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11
Q

What is the Second Line of Defence?

A
  1. General responses to infection
  2. An infection occurs when pathogens make it past the first line of defence and enter the body.
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12
Q

What is are Protists?

A
  1. Unicellular
  2. Eukaryotic
  3. Some are pathogens
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13
Q

List the Factors affecting Population Growth

A
  1. Food supply
  2. Predation
  3. Disease
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14
Q

What is Biomass?

A

The total mass of all living organisms in a given area or ecosystem.

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15
Q

How does a vaccine work?

A
  1. Introduces a dead or weakened pathogen (which cannot multiply or cause disease)
  2. Allows the immune system to identify the pathogen and develop weapons to fight it
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16
Q

What is Competition in terms of Biotic Interaction?

A

Competition always exists when more than one individual wants the same limited resource. If two organisms want to use the same resource they must compete for it and the better-suited organism wins.

Plants will compete for light, space, and minerals.
Animals will compete for food, mates, and territory.

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17
Q

What is Non-Specific Defence (Innate Immunity)

A
  1. Physical and chemical barriers and responses
  2. Repel all pathogens equally
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18
Q

Chemical Barriers in the First Line of Defence (TP) :

A

Tears:
1. These liquid secretions help flush particles or microbes out of the eye
2. They contain chemicals that help to kill microbes.
(Is also a physical barrier)

pH (acidity)
1. The acidity in the stomach and slightly alkaline conditions in the intestines kill many microbes.
2. The skin’s acidity prevents the growth of many types of microbes.

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19
Q

What is Phagocytosis?

A

The process by which phagocytes engulf and digest foreign particles

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20
Q

What are Fungi?

A
  1. Unicellular or Multicellular
  2. Eukaryotic
  3. Can cause disease
  4. Non-photosynthetic
  5. Includes moulds, yeasts, and mushrooms
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21
Q

What causes Population Growth?

A
  1. Birth of new individuals
  2. Immigration
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22
Q

What is Symbiosis?

A

A close relationship between two different species, which can benefit one or both organisms.

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23
Q

What is Penicillin?

A
  1. The first discovered antibiotic
  2. Made from mould
  3. Used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia
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24
Q

What are the two main types of White Blood cells?

A

Phagocytes - Protect the body by ingesting unwanted material

Lymphocytes - Specialised for adaptive immune responses.

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25
What are Antibodies?
1. Proteins made by B-cells 2. Bind specifically to antigens to neutralise or help destroy pathogens.
26
How does the Third Line of Defence work? (EIFI)
1. Encountering the pathogen: 2. Identifying pathogens: B cells travel the bloodstream on the lookout for pathogens. Each B cell produces special proteins called antibodies which bind onto markers on pathogens to identify them. 3. Fighting pathogens: Once an antibody binds to a pathogen, the B cell releases millions of matching antibodies into the blood to fight the pathogen, and clones itself to form an army. 4. Becoming Immune: After the infection has been defeated, some of the B cells remain in the blood along with any leftover antibodies to form the immune system’s memory of the pathogen. Thus, if you’re infected by the same pathogen again, the third line of defence will respond faster and stronger than it did the first time.
27
What is the First Line of Defence?
1. Barriers to prevent infection 2. Physically block pathogens from entering the body.
28
What does Eukaryotic mean?
Describes cells that have a nucleus and membane-bouind organelles
29
Area Size in terms of an Abiotic Factor:
The amount of biomass a population has to feed on affects its population size.
30
What are B-cells?
1. A type of white blood cell 2. Makes antibodies specific to antigens 3. Plays a key role in acquired immunity.
31
What is Mutualism?
A type of symbiosis where both species benefit from the relationship (e.g. bees and flowers).
32
Water and Humidity in terms of Abiotic Factors:
The carrying capacity of a species is affected by water availability and humidity Humidity affects the transpiration of water in plants: Humid Conditions = Less evaporation + Less transpiration
33
What is a Macrophage?
1. A type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests pathogens and cellular debris 2. Helps activate other immune cells by presenting antigens. 3. It is a type of phagocyte.
34
What are the Biotic Factors? (FPDC)
1. Food availability High food availability = Large population size 2. Predation Arrival of new predator = Reduce population of prey 3. Disease Reduces population size of affected species 4. Competition Compete for resources: Better competitor will have the larger population size
35
How do Fungi cause Damage?
Damage caused by fungi mostly arises from the enzymes they produce. 1. Fungi secrete digestive enzymes and chemicals into their surroundings in order to break down organic matter. 2. They then absorb the simple nutrients. 3. This is fine until the organic matter being broken down is still alive, and this is where disease comes in.
36
What is a Community?
All different populations of organisms: 1. Living together 2. Interacting with each other
37
What does Pathogenic mean?
Describes an organism (or agent) tht can cause disease
38
What does Prokaryotic mean?
Describes simpler cells without a nucleus, like bacteria
39
What does Biotic mean?
Living parts of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.
40
Light in terms of Abiotic Factors:
Light intensity can affect plant growth, while different animals may require different light intensities to function effectively 1. As light intensity increases, rate of photosynthesis increases 2. Growth and maturity rate increases 3. Carry capacity of plants increases 4. Carrying capacity of feeding animals increased
41
What is a Prion?
1. An infectious protein 2. Causes degenerative brain diseases 3. Have no DNA or RNA 4. Not an organism
42
What is Interdependence?
How living things in an ecosystem rely on each other for survival, such as for food, shelter, or reproduction.
43
What is a Disease?
1. A condition that affects how the body or mind functions 2. Causes symptoms and interferes with normal health
44
What happens when a vaccine introduces a new pathogen?
1. B-cells with matching antibodies bind to unique markers on the surface of the pathogen. 2. After binding, the B cells produce antibodies and memory cells. These remain in the body as a "memory" of the pathogen.
45
List the types of Symbiotic Relationships:
1. Mutualism 2. Parasitism 3. Commensalism
46
What is an Antigen?
1. A substance (usually a protein on the surface of a pathogen) that is recognised as foreign by the immune system 2. Triggers an immune response.
47
What are Enzymes?
Proteins in living things that speed up chemical reactions, such as breaking down food in digestion.
48
What are the Trophic Levels?
1. Producer: Photosynthesising Organism 2. Primary Consumer: Gains energy from producer 3. Secondary Consumer 4. Tertiary Consumer 5. Apex Predator: Carnivores with no predators All energy is eventually transferred to the environment through dead and waste matter, or as heat. Energy transfer in an ecosystem is one-way.
49
What is Ecology?
The study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment.
50
What is a Pandemic?
An epidemic that spreads across multiple countries or continents, affecting a large number of people
51
What are Bacteria?
1. Unicellular 2. Prokaryotic 3. Some are harmless or helpful, others are pathogenic and cause disease
52
What is a Virus?
1. A tiny infectious agent 2. Not considered a living organism 3. It needs a host cell to reproduce
53
What is Acquired Immunity?
1. Immunity developed after exposure to a specific pathogen; the body “remembers” the pathogen and can respond more effectively upon future exposure.
54
What is the Importance of competition?
Competition within the same species: 1. Limits the population size 2. Decreases density of species Competition between different species: 1. Initially limits populaiton size of both species (depends on better competitor) 2. Competing species will be found in different locations
55
What happens in the Inflammatory Response? (HHCNPMHPB) 1. Histamine 2. Heat 3. Capillaries 4. Nerve endings 5. Phagocytes 6. Macrophages 7. Hypothalamus 8. Pus 8. Blood clotting
1. The damage triggers the release of histamine, which causes the blood capillaries in the area to dilate so more blood can get to the injury – the area goes red. 2. Blood carries heat, so more blood makes the inflamed area hot. 3. The capillaries become more permeable, causing an increase in tissue fluid and the area swells. 4. Nerve endings become more sensitive, and the area is painful to touch. 5. Phagocytes are attracted to the area to engulf pathogens. 6. Macrophages engulf the foreign material. 7. Phagocytes release chemicals which are detected by the hypothalamus, which responds by increasing body temperature with a fever. 8. Pus containing dead white cells that have engulfed many bacteria begins to accumulate. 9. Blood clotting begins to seal the area.
56
What are the responses of the Second Line of Defence (FIP)?
Fever: 1. A rise in body temperature that occurs in response to infection 2. The higher temperature inhibits the growth of many pathogens, and enhances the efficiency of white blood cells 3. Reduces the availability of iron, which sme bacteria need to grow Inflammation: 1. Body’s response to injury or infection 2. Characterised by redness, swelling, heat, pain, and sometimes loss of function 3. Increases blood flow to the infected area, allowing more immune cells and nutrients to reach the site Phagocytosis: 1. Phagocytes engulf and digest harmful microbes. 2. After digesting the pathogens, phagocytes send out signals to other immune cells to help fight the infection.
57
What is a Vaccination?
A vaccination is a way to protect your body from disease by training your immune system to recognise and fight specific pathogens
58
What is an Endemic?
A disease that is consistently present in a particular geographic area or population
59
What are Pathogens?
Microorganisms that cause disease, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protists, and prions.
60
What is Parasitism?
A type of symbiosis where one organism (the parasite) benefits while the other (the host) is harmed (e.g. ticks on dogs).
61
What is an Infectious Disease?
1. A disease caused by pathogens 2. Can be spread from person to person
62
What is Specific Defence (Adaptive Immunity)?
1. Adaptive immune response 2. Targets specific pathogens
63
What is the Third Line of Defence?
1. Identifies and destroys specific pathogens 2. Builds long-lasting immunity against the pathogens in case they infect the body again
64
What does Abiotic mean?
Non-living parts of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, water, temperature, and soil.
65
List the Abiotic Factors (TLPWA)
1. Temperature 2. Light 3. pH 4. Water + Humidity 5. Area Size
66
What is a Non-Infectious Disease?
1. Disease not caused by pathogens 2. Not spread between people
67
What is an Outbreak?
A small-scale, localised occurence of a disease that happens suddenly and unexpectedly
68
What is Commensalism?
A type of symbiosis where one organism benefits and the other is not affected (e.g. barnacles on whales).
69
What is an Ecosystem?
A system made up of a community of living things (biotic) and the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment, interacting together.
70
What is the Hypothalamus?
1. A region in the brain that regulates body temperature, hunger, and other functions 2. It detects signals from immune cells 3. Can trigger a fever in response to infection.
71
What is an Antibiotic?
1. A medicine used to kill bacteria causing disease 2. Slows the growth of bacteria, giving the immune system a greater chance of being able to remove them 2. Not effective against viruses
72
pH in terms of an Abiotic Factor:
A measure of how acidic the environment is: The closer the environment is to the optimum pH, the faster the catalysis of metabolic reactions and the greater the carrying capacity
73
What is an Epidemic?
A sudden increase in the number of disease cases in a specific area or population
74
What are Ectotherms?
Animals that rely on external sources (like the sun) to regulate their body temperature (e.g. reptiles and amphibians).
75
What are Capillaries?
1. The smallest blood vessels in the body 2. Where exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste occurs

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