PLTW - Biomedical Science - Medical Interventions 1.1 and 1.2 Unit Review Questions and Answers 100% Pass

PLTW - Biomedical Science - Medical Interventions 1.1 and 1.2 Unit Review Questions and Answers 100% Pass Medical Interventions - A medical intervention is any measure whose purpose is to improve health or alter the course of a disease. Pathogens - Pathogens are biological agents that cause disease (typically bacteria and viruses, but may also be fungi, protozoans, helminths, or prions). Bioinformatics - The collection, classification, storage, and analysis of biochemical and genetic information using computers (think "big data" in relation to genetic information) Outbreak - An outbreak is when cases of a disease occur in numbers greater than expected in a specific area or among a specific group of people. How can Bioinformatics be used to identify disease pathogens. - 1. **Genomic Sequencing**: Bioinformatics tools analyze the genetic material of pathogens. By 2Brittie Donald, All Rights Reserved © 2025 sequencing the DNA or RNA of a pathogen, researchers can identify its unique genetic markers. 2. **Comparative Genomics**: By comparing the genomic sequences of known pathogens with those of unknown samples, scientists can identify similarities that indicate the presence of a specific pathogen. 3. **Phylogenetic Analysis**: This involves constructing a phylogenetic tree to understand the evolutionary relationships between different pathogens. It helps in tracking the source and spread of infectious diseases. 4. **Protein Analysis**: Bioinformatics can also analyze proteins expressed by pathogens, helping to identify their function and potential vulnerabilities. 5. **Data Integration**: By integrating data from various sources, such as clinical records, environmental factors, and genetic information, bioinformatics provides a comprehensive view of disease outbreaks and pathogen characteristics. Overall, bioinformatics plays a crucial role in modern microbiology and epidemiology, enhancing our ability to detect and respond to infectious diseases. What is the purpose of PCR - PCR, or Polymerase Chain Reaction, used to amplify small segments of DNA. It allows scientists to make millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence, 3Brittie Donald, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1. **Denaturation**: The double-stranded DNA is heated to separate it into two single strands. 2. **Annealing**: Short DNA primers attach to the specific target sequences on the single-stranded DNA. 3. **Extension**: A DNA polymerase enzyme synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the primers, effectively doubling the amount of DNA. Primers - Short segments of DNA that are complimentary to the template strands of a copy so when they attach it provides a double stranded segment to which DNA Polymerase can attach and begin adding nucleotides. What region of DNA is used to identify primers that can be used to separate the pathogen's DNA from the patients? And why? - Ribosomes - Pathogens have ribosomes that are unique to every other organism. Reactants in PCR reaction - 1. Primers