Contemporary Issues in Biology- Exam #3- Sawey Questions and Answers

Contemporary Issues in Biology- Exam #3- Sawey Questions and Answers What caused the Bubonic Plague? - Answer- bacteria called Bacillus (rod-shaped) How much of the population was effected by this? - Answer- 25% of the population in Europe died in the mid-1300's How is the plague spread? - Answer- flea sucks blood from infected rat --> flea picks up bacteria that causes plague (Yersinia petis) --> flea feeds on human and spreads disease Malaria - Answer- one of the most deadly diseases in human history, caused by a parasitic protozoan found in mosquitos Where do mosquitos lay eggs? - Answer- standing bodies of waters with no predators Which mosquitos spread malaria? - Answer- female ones, they are the only ones that feed on blood Efforts to eradicate mosquitos? - Answer- draining swamps (causes damage to ecosystems), DDT (mosquitos have become resistant to pesticides) Plasmodium - Answer- protozoa that causes malaria and destroys red blood cells How does malaria stay in the body? - Answer- plasmodium produces asexually in the liver (mosquitos biting an infected person will pick up the disease to spread to other people) Sporozoite stage (1) - Answer- mosquito passes disease into host human Merozoites stage - Answer- reproduce asexually in liver/ invade red blood cells Gametophytes stage - Answer- when a mosquito feeds on a human, this is what they pick up Spororzoites stage (2) - Answer- gametophytes fuse to form zygotes Problems with malaria prevention treatments? - Answer- malaria parasites have become resistant What is a common prevention method used today? - Answer- medications from sweet worm wood, nets, spray DDT inside buildings Will there be more mosquitos in the future? - Answer- global warming is creating more places for mosquitos to live and mosquitos are becoming more resistant to preventative measures Which ticks feed on blood? - Answer- both male and female Which stage of the tick life cycle are they able to spread lyme disease? - Answer- nymph stage (spring) Bacteria that causes lyme disease? - Answer- Borrelia burgdorgferi Treatment of lyme disease? - Answer- antibiotics