CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN BIOLOGY
FINAL EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Describe the history of the first vaccine (Smallpox). - ANS -Smallpox vaccine: Injection of live
Vaccinia viruses that cause antibodies and memory cells that work against smallpox viruses
-The World Health Organization (WHO) began a vaccination campaign against smallpox in the
1960's
-Areas afflicted with smallpox declined during the 60s and 70s
-Smallpox was eradicated in the wild by 1977
-Smallpox still stored in two government labs in Russia and the US
-antibodies that defeated cowpox will also bind to and defeat smallpox
Describe how an aggressive vaccination campaign resulted in the worldwide eradication of
smallpox. - ANS The World Health Organization (WHO) began a vaccination campaign against
smallpox in the 1960s --> Decline in Number of Countries Reporting Smallpox Cases -->Areas
afflicted with smallpox declined during the 60s and 70s --> Smallpox was eradicated in the wild
by 1977
Describe the general concept of vaccination and how it results in immunity from a particular
disease - ANS Most vaccines use a form of the pathogen that has been altered so that it is
not capable of causing disease (symptoms) in the vaccine recipient, but the vaccine still results
in the formation of antibodies and memory cells protecting you from the disease. Vaccines
provide a mechanism for the recipient to produce memory cells and antibodies without having
to first go through the initial stages of the immune response to a potentially deadly disease
such as smallpox.
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, booster shots - ANS A repeat application of a vaccine necessary for long-lasting or full
immunity to a particular pathogen.
when should adults receive tetanus vaccine booster - ANS once every 10 years
when should adults receive pertussis vaccine booster - ANS 1 dose (repeat for every
pregnancy)
when should adults receive influenza vaccine booster - ANS 1 dose annually
Explain the effect of vaccination on a person's antibody concentration and number of memory
cells. - ANS formation of antibodies and memory cells protecting you from the disease.
Vaccines provide a mechanism for the recipient to produce memory cells and antibodies
without having to first go through the initial stages of the immune response to a potentially
deadly disease
Explain what happens in a population when there is a decrease in the percentage of people
getting vaccinations for a disease - ANS if there is a decrease of people receiving the vaccine
for a disease, they can contract that disease and bring it back into the community
the disease can then grow immune to its own vaccine
Describe the current vaccinations rates for children in the U.S - ANS 77% of children are fully
vaccinated, the rest are only missing a few shots
Describe the cause, symptoms, and potential long-term consequences of polio. - ANS cause:
virus that in some people attacks the nervous system and prevents nerve impulses being sent
to the muscles
symptoms: muscles weaken and a person can become crippled or die
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, long term consequences: paralysis or muscle weakness remains for life
Sabin vaccine - ANS -for polio
-introduced in 1961
-made of live but weakened polio viruses
-take orally
-protects against polio and against carrying polio
-in rare instances, person can get polio from the vaccine
-made by Dr. Albert Sabin
Salk vaccine - ANS -for polio
-introduced in 1955
-made of killed polio viruses
-protects against polio but a person can carry it
-made by Dr. Jonas Salk
Describe the reasons why some people mistakenly thought there might be a connection
between vaccines and autism - ANS -Some parents of children with autism say the first
noticed signs of autism a few days, weeks or months after receiving the MMR vaccine (normally
given at 12 to 15 months of age). They assume this shows cause and effect.
-An article was published in the Lancet by Andrew Wakefield concluding that autism may be
caused by the MMR vaccine
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. - ANS true
Polio can cause paralysis of humans - ANS true
Polio has no cure. - ANS true
3|P a g e C o p y r i g h t © 2 0 2 5 T H E B R I G H T A L L R I G H T S R E S E R V E D
FINAL EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Describe the history of the first vaccine (Smallpox). - ANS -Smallpox vaccine: Injection of live
Vaccinia viruses that cause antibodies and memory cells that work against smallpox viruses
-The World Health Organization (WHO) began a vaccination campaign against smallpox in the
1960's
-Areas afflicted with smallpox declined during the 60s and 70s
-Smallpox was eradicated in the wild by 1977
-Smallpox still stored in two government labs in Russia and the US
-antibodies that defeated cowpox will also bind to and defeat smallpox
Describe how an aggressive vaccination campaign resulted in the worldwide eradication of
smallpox. - ANS The World Health Organization (WHO) began a vaccination campaign against
smallpox in the 1960s --> Decline in Number of Countries Reporting Smallpox Cases -->Areas
afflicted with smallpox declined during the 60s and 70s --> Smallpox was eradicated in the wild
by 1977
Describe the general concept of vaccination and how it results in immunity from a particular
disease - ANS Most vaccines use a form of the pathogen that has been altered so that it is
not capable of causing disease (symptoms) in the vaccine recipient, but the vaccine still results
in the formation of antibodies and memory cells protecting you from the disease. Vaccines
provide a mechanism for the recipient to produce memory cells and antibodies without having
to first go through the initial stages of the immune response to a potentially deadly disease
such as smallpox.
1|P a g e C o p y r i g h t © 2 0 2 5 T H E B R I G H T A L L R I G H T S R E S E R V E D
, booster shots - ANS A repeat application of a vaccine necessary for long-lasting or full
immunity to a particular pathogen.
when should adults receive tetanus vaccine booster - ANS once every 10 years
when should adults receive pertussis vaccine booster - ANS 1 dose (repeat for every
pregnancy)
when should adults receive influenza vaccine booster - ANS 1 dose annually
Explain the effect of vaccination on a person's antibody concentration and number of memory
cells. - ANS formation of antibodies and memory cells protecting you from the disease.
Vaccines provide a mechanism for the recipient to produce memory cells and antibodies
without having to first go through the initial stages of the immune response to a potentially
deadly disease
Explain what happens in a population when there is a decrease in the percentage of people
getting vaccinations for a disease - ANS if there is a decrease of people receiving the vaccine
for a disease, they can contract that disease and bring it back into the community
the disease can then grow immune to its own vaccine
Describe the current vaccinations rates for children in the U.S - ANS 77% of children are fully
vaccinated, the rest are only missing a few shots
Describe the cause, symptoms, and potential long-term consequences of polio. - ANS cause:
virus that in some people attacks the nervous system and prevents nerve impulses being sent
to the muscles
symptoms: muscles weaken and a person can become crippled or die
2|P a g e C o p y r i g h t © 2 0 2 5 T H E B R I G H T A L L R I G H T S R E S E R V E D
, long term consequences: paralysis or muscle weakness remains for life
Sabin vaccine - ANS -for polio
-introduced in 1961
-made of live but weakened polio viruses
-take orally
-protects against polio and against carrying polio
-in rare instances, person can get polio from the vaccine
-made by Dr. Albert Sabin
Salk vaccine - ANS -for polio
-introduced in 1955
-made of killed polio viruses
-protects against polio but a person can carry it
-made by Dr. Jonas Salk
Describe the reasons why some people mistakenly thought there might be a connection
between vaccines and autism - ANS -Some parents of children with autism say the first
noticed signs of autism a few days, weeks or months after receiving the MMR vaccine (normally
given at 12 to 15 months of age). They assume this shows cause and effect.
-An article was published in the Lancet by Andrew Wakefield concluding that autism may be
caused by the MMR vaccine
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. - ANS true
Polio can cause paralysis of humans - ANS true
Polio has no cure. - ANS true
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