PLTW - Biomedical Science - Medical
Interventions 1.1 and 1.2 Unit Review
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Medical Interventions - CORRECT ANSWER - A medical intervention is any measure
whose purpose is to improve health or alter the course of a disease.
Pathogens - CORRECT ANSWER - Pathogens are biological agents that cause disease
(typically bacteria and viruses, but may also be fungi, protozoans, helminths, or prions).
Bioinformatics - CORRECT ANSWER - The collection, classification, storage, and
analysis of biochemical and genetic information using computers
(think "big data" in relation to genetic information)
Outbreak - CORRECT ANSWER - 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. - CORRECT ANSWER -
1. **Genomic Sequencing**: Bioinformatics tools analyze the genetic material of pathogens. By
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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,
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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? - CORRECT ANSWER - Ribosomes - Pathogens have
ribosomes that are unique to every other organism.
Reactants in PCR reaction - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Primers
2. DNA Polymerase
3. Nucleotides (dNTPs)
4. Fluorescently labeled ddNTPs
How are ddNTPs different from dNTPs? - CORRECT ANSWER - Deoxyribose (Sugar) is
missing an oxygen, and each base has a different colored fluorescent tag added.
What happens when ddNTP is added to a DNA strand during replication? Why is this Useful? -
CORRECT ANSWER - It stops the replication because the ddNTP is missing an oxygen
therefore it cannot complete Dehydration synthesis.
Interventions 1.1 and 1.2 Unit Review
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Medical Interventions - CORRECT ANSWER - A medical intervention is any measure
whose purpose is to improve health or alter the course of a disease.
Pathogens - CORRECT ANSWER - Pathogens are biological agents that cause disease
(typically bacteria and viruses, but may also be fungi, protozoans, helminths, or prions).
Bioinformatics - CORRECT ANSWER - The collection, classification, storage, and
analysis of biochemical and genetic information using computers
(think "big data" in relation to genetic information)
Outbreak - CORRECT ANSWER - 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. - CORRECT ANSWER -
1. **Genomic Sequencing**: Bioinformatics tools analyze the genetic material of pathogens. By
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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,
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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? - CORRECT ANSWER - Ribosomes - Pathogens have
ribosomes that are unique to every other organism.
Reactants in PCR reaction - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Primers
2. DNA Polymerase
3. Nucleotides (dNTPs)
4. Fluorescently labeled ddNTPs
How are ddNTPs different from dNTPs? - CORRECT ANSWER - Deoxyribose (Sugar) is
missing an oxygen, and each base has a different colored fluorescent tag added.
What happens when ddNTP is added to a DNA strand during replication? Why is this Useful? -
CORRECT ANSWER - It stops the replication because the ddNTP is missing an oxygen
therefore it cannot complete Dehydration synthesis.
