biology B6.3

Antibiotic 

Antibiotic 

A type of medication that helps cure the bacterial disease by killing infective bacteria inside the body 

Antibiotic resistance 

The ability of bacteria to become resistant to the treatment that is being used to kill it i.e. antibiotics. This provides evidence for evolution. 

Antibiotic resistant markers 

An antibiotic resistant gene that produces a protein which enables a cell to become resistant to antibiotics. 

Antigen 

A protein found on the surface of the pathogen that induces an immune response 

Antiseptic 

A type of medication that helps kill microorganisms that cause disease. 

Antiviral 

A type of medication that helps cure viral diseases by killing infective viruses inside the body. 

Aseptic techniques 

A range of techniques used to culture microorganisms under sterile conditions in order to minimise contamination. 

Autoclaving 

A method used to sterilise glassware and growth media in a strongly heated container/oven. 

Barley powdery mildew 

A disease caused by fungus in plants which causes white fluffy growth on leaves, eventually leading to plant death. 

Bacteria 

A type of pathogen which is single-celled and prokaryotic (note: not all bacteria are pathogenic) 

Benign tumour 

A tumour that is non-cancerous so cannot spread around the body. 

Blood 

A tissue that contains red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets. 

Cancer 

The result of changes in cells that lead to uncontrolled growth and division. 

Carcinogens 

Chemical or agents that are cancer causing. 

Cardiovascular diseases 

A non-communicable disease that affect the heart or blood vessels. 

Cilia 

Hair like structures that waft substances away 

Communicable disease 

A disease that is caused by a pathogen which can be spread between individuals. It is not inherited or caused by environmental factors. 

Crown gall disease 

A disease caused by a bacterium (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) in plants which infects the stem and roots causing tumours.  

Disease 

An illness that affects animal or plant health. 

Flaming 

A method used to sterilise equipment (usually bottlenecks) to prevent contamination. 

Fungi 

A type of pathogen which is eukaryotic and can be single-celled or multicellular e.g. yeast and mushrooms 

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 

A hormone present in the urine of pregnant women. 

Immune system 

The body’s defence mechanism against foreign bodies. 

Immunosuppressant drugs 

Medication that supresses the immune system and must be taken after transplant to prevent rejection. 

Lymphocyte 

A type of white blood cell made by the body to protect against disease and infection. 

Malaria 

A disease caused by a protist spread by mosquitoes. It causes recurring fever which can be fatal. 

Malignant tumour 

A cancerous tumour that grows rapidly and can spread around the body. 

Monoclonal antibodies 

Antibodies produced from a single clone of cells that are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen 

Non-communicable diseases 

A disease that cannot be transmitted as it is caused by environmental factors or is inherited. It is not pathogenic. 

Non-specific defence system 

The defence system that protects against a variety of pathogens 

Pathogen 

A bacterium, virus or any other microorganism that can cause disease. 

Placebo 

An inactive version of a drug. It is indistinguishable from the real drug but has no effect on the recipient. 

Platelets 

Cell fragments involved in the clotting of blood. 

Protist 

A type of pathogen which is eukaryotic and single celled. It is from the kingdom Protista. 

Statins 

A type of drug used to lower cholesterol levels. It is used in the treatment of some cardiovascular diseases. 

Stent 

A wire mesh used in the treatment of coronary heart disease. It widens the artery to maintain the hearts oxygen supply. 

Stroke 

A form of brain damage in which the blood supply to a region of the brain is cut off. This may be due to a blocked artery or bleeding in the blood vessels of the brain. 

Tissue transplant 

An operation to replace damaged tissue with healthy tissue from a healthy donor. 

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) 

A disease caused by a virus in plants which affects chloroplasts and produces a mosaic pattern on the leaves. This prevents efficient photosynthesis, limiting plant growth. 

Transplant rejection 

The rejection of the transplant tissue by the immune system of the recipients’ body. 

Tuberculosis  (TB) 

A communicable bacterial disease which damages and destroys lung tissue, supressing the immune system. 

Tumour 

A mass of cells formed due to uncontrolled cell division. 

Vaccination 

A method of introducing small quantities of inactive or dead forms of pathogen to stimulate antibody production by white blood cells. 

Virus 

A type of pathogen that can infect any living organism. They are only able to reproduce inside a living host.