Science

What is innate immunity?

The body's first line of defense against pathogens that can quickly sense and eliminate them.

What are the limitations of innate immunity?

Innate immunity can only detect a small number of pathogen patterns.

How do pathogens evade innate immunity?

Many pathogens can change quickly, helping them escape detection by the innate immune system.

What is adaptive immunity?

Adaptive immunity is a specialized immune response that can accurately distinguish between the body’s own cells and foreign pathogens.

Which cells play a crucial role in adaptive immunity?

Lymphocytes, specifically T and B cells.

What do T lymphocytes (T Cells) do?

T cells are essential for cell-mediated immunity, helping to fight off infections that occur inside cells.

What is the primary role of B lymphocytes (B Cells)?

B cells are responsible for humoral immunity, producing antibodies to neutralize pathogens.

What is the significance of lymphoid organs?

Lymphoid organs are specialized structures where lymphocytes develop, mature, and activate.

What is VDJ recombination?

The process that creates receptor diversity in B and T cells, enabling recognition of a wide range of antigens.

What is the difference between CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells?

CD4+ T Cells are helper cells that assist other immune cells, while CD8+ T Cells are cytotoxic cells that destroy infected and cancerous cells.

What is the structure of antibodies?

Antibodies consist of four protein chains: two heavy chains and two light chains, connected by disulfide bonds.

What is the function of the constant region (Fc) of an antibody?

The constant region remains the same across different types of antibodies and is not involved in binding to antigens.

What is the role of the immune memory?

Immune memory allows the body to recognize and respond more effectively to previously encountered pathogens.

What are metabolic pathways?

Interconnected biochemical reactions converting substrate molecules into products.

What is an anabolic pathway?

An anabolic pathway requires energy input to synthesize complex molecules from simpler ones.

What is a catabolic pathway?

A catabolic pathway breaks down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

What is ATP?

Adenosine Triphosphate, the primary energy currency of cells.

How do enzymes function as biological catalysts?

Enzymes lower activation energy, speeding up reactions without altering the overall energy change (ΔG).

What is allosteric regulation of enzyme activity?

Allosteric regulation occurs when molecules bind to an enzyme at a location other than the active site, inducing conformational changes that affect enzyme activity.

What are superbugs?

Bacteria or germs that have adapted to treatments, making them hard to kill.

What is antibiotic resistance?

When bacteria change so that antibiotic medicines can’t kill them or stop their growth.

What is the role of epidemiologists?

Scientists who study health and disease in populations, tracking diseases and their categories.

Define binary fission in prokaryotes.

Binary fission is the process bacteria use for reproduction, involving the splitting of one cell into two.

What are the three primary roles of a cell wall?

Protects the cell, provides structural support, and gives shape to the cell.

Define endosymbiosis.

A mutually beneficial relationship where one organism lives inside another, explaining the origin of organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Identify components of the endomembrane system.

Includes nuclear envelope, lysosomes, vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus, and plasma membrane.

What is the significance of the human microbiome?

It consists of trillions of microbes that play essential roles in digestion, metabolism, immune function, and skin health.

How do vaccines help the immune system?

Vaccines simulate the presence of pathogens, prompting the production of antibodies and aiding in long-term immunity.