PLTW Medical Interventions Final Exam Prep –
Study Guide & Q&A | Latest Update 2026 |
Graded A+
What is a medical intervention? - correct answerAny measure whose purpose is to
improve health or alter the course of a disease
What are the main categories of interventions that function to maintain human health? -
correct answerTreatments, Diagnostics and Equipment
How do scientists gather evidence during the potential outbreak of an infectious
disease? - correct answer1. Record patient's symptoms and find similarities with other
patients
2. Isolate the bacteria in a lab
3. Go to affected areas and determine the origin of the disease
4. Identify the disease using DNA sequencing since pathogens alter certain DNA
sequences
What is bioinformatics? - correct answerThe collection, classification, storage, and
analysis of biochemical and biological information using computers. (Especially applied
in molecular genetics and genomics)
How can DNA sequences be used to identify disease pathogens? - correct answerYou
can observe mutations and abnormalities that disease pathogens have
What is an antibody? - correct answerA blood protein in the body produced by B-cells
(B-Lymphocytes) that fight against a foreign substance by recognizing a specific part of
it.
How do antibodies identify and inactivate antigens? - correct answer1. Shape
recognition
2. Proteins of the antigens are configured to specific antibodies, so the foreign antigens
bind to the specific antibodies that inactivate them
How can the ELISA assay be used to detect disease? - correct answer1. Primary
antibodies attach to specific antigen
2. Secondary antibody attaches to primary antibody
3. When enzyme substrate is added, color change occurs
Why is it important for doctors to know the concentration of the disease antigen present
in a patient's system? - correct answerHigher concentration = closer to patient zero
,Patient Zero - correct answerThe first person to be infected with a particular disease
What steps do scientists take to diagnose, treat, and prevent future spread of a disease
outbreak? - correct answer1. Record the symptoms
2. Locate the origin of the pathogen
3. Run tests to determine antibodies and antigens
4. Take preventative measures (quarantine, wash hands often, etc.)
How were the following used in managing the outbreak on Sue Smith's campus:
PCR, Bioinformatics/BLAST, and ELISA? - correct answerThese tests determine the
concentration of the disease, which lead to the source of the outbreak
Which part of the bacterial cell allows the bacteria to attach to specific surfaces? -
correct answerAdhesins, or cell-surface components/appendages of the bacteria that
facilitate attachment to other cells or surfaces
Which bacterial structure is involved with protein synthesis? - correct answerrRNA,
tRNA, and mRNA (Ribosomal, Transfer, Messenger)
What is an endotoxin? - correct answerA toxin that is inherently present inside a
bacterial cell
What is the structural difference between Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria? -
correct answerGram positive:
•Purple
•Thick cell wall
Gram negative:
•Pink
•Thin cell wall
How do antibiotics work to fight bacteria? - correct answer•Inhibit the cell wall
•Stop bacteria from reproducing/sharing resistant DNA
Penicillin - correct answerAn antibiotic that penetrates and destroys the cell wall of gram
negative bacteria
Tetracycline - correct answerAn antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis (reproduction)
of mostly gram positive, but some gram negative bacteria
Fluoroquinolones - correct answerAn antibiotic that inhibits the DNA gyrase of gram
negative bacteria
Sulfa Antibiotics - correct answerAn antibiotic that inhibits folic acid synthesis and
growth of gram positive and negative bacteria
,Folic Acid - correct answerVitamin that helps the organism produce and maintain
healthy cells
Efflux - correct answerTransport of a solute molecule from the inside to the outside of a
cell
Destruction/Inactivation - correct answerExchange enzymes that chemically degrade
the antibiotic (How some bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics)
Mutation - correct answerA change in a gene or chromosome.
Explain the difference between limited spectrum and broad spectrum antibiotics. -
correct answerLimited spectrum: only kills the cells that are infected.
Broad spectrum: kills all cells, even healthy cells.
What methods do bacteria use to share antibiotic resistant genes? Explain the
difference between conjugation, transformation, and transduction. - correct
answerConjugation - The one-way transfer of DNA between bacteria in cellular contact.
Transformation -The genetic modification of a bacterium by incorporation of free-floating
DNA from another ruptured bacterial cell.
Transduction - The transfer of genetic material from one organism (such as bacteria) to
another by a genetic vector.
What is the difference between the chromosomal DNA and plasmid DNA when thinking
about antibiotic resistance? - correct answerBacteria possess a single chromosome
composed of double‐stranded DNA in a loop. The genetic information of the plasmid is
usually not essential to survival of the host bacteria. Plasmids can be removed from the
host cell and the bacteria can still survive.
What is the best antibiotic to use when treating a Gram-positive bacterial disease? -
correct answerFlouroquinolones or Tetracyclines
How would you determine which strain of Streptococcus aureus had a plasmid for
resistance to streptomycin? - correct answerPerforming a Disc Diffusion test
What actions are humans taking that are contributing to bacteria becoming resistance to
commonly used antibiotics? - correct answer1. Preserving the potency of antibiotics
2. Taking the full dosage of antibiotics without missing one
What are the health impacts if you do not take your complete course of antibiotics that
have been prescribed for your illness? - correct answerThe disease will come back, and
for an even longer period of time
, Why are antibiotics ineffective against viral diseases? - correct answerAntibiotics are
designed for bacteria, not viruses
How do frequency and amplitude affect how humans interpret sound? - correct answerF
- pitch/tone
A - loudness/volume
What causes different types of hearing loss? - correct answer1. Sensorineural - Hearing
loss or impairment resulting from problems with the auditory nerves
2. Conductive - Hearing loss or impairment resulting from interference or blockage of
the transmission of sound waves to the cochlea.
How is hearing loss diagnosed? - correct answerPerforming an Audiogram
Describe the difference between sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing
loss. - correct answerCochlear vs. auditory nerves
If you listen to very loud music, non-treatable hearing loss may result. The damage
involves what structure of the ear? - correct answerCochlea hairs
What part of the ear converts stimuli from the outside environment into nerve impulses
for transmission to the brain? - correct answercochlea
What interventions are available for patients with hearing loss? - correct answer1.
Cochlear Implant
2. Hearing aid
What are the bioethical concerns related to the use of cochlear implant technology? -
correct answer1. Separating from the deaf community
2. Financial issues
3. Social life
4. Future life
Describe how a cochlear implant works. - correct answerEnables individuals with
sensorineural hearing loss and to recognize some sounds. Receives and converts
sound waves into electrical signals which are transmitted to one or more electrodes
implanted in the cochlea
What is vaccination? - correct answerAn antigen-specific stimulation of the host immune
response to prevent infectious disease
How does a vaccine activate the body's immune system? - correct answerA slightly
disabled sample of the bacteria is inside the vaccine which triggers the body's immune
response to fight it back
Study Guide & Q&A | Latest Update 2026 |
Graded A+
What is a medical intervention? - correct answerAny measure whose purpose is to
improve health or alter the course of a disease
What are the main categories of interventions that function to maintain human health? -
correct answerTreatments, Diagnostics and Equipment
How do scientists gather evidence during the potential outbreak of an infectious
disease? - correct answer1. Record patient's symptoms and find similarities with other
patients
2. Isolate the bacteria in a lab
3. Go to affected areas and determine the origin of the disease
4. Identify the disease using DNA sequencing since pathogens alter certain DNA
sequences
What is bioinformatics? - correct answerThe collection, classification, storage, and
analysis of biochemical and biological information using computers. (Especially applied
in molecular genetics and genomics)
How can DNA sequences be used to identify disease pathogens? - correct answerYou
can observe mutations and abnormalities that disease pathogens have
What is an antibody? - correct answerA blood protein in the body produced by B-cells
(B-Lymphocytes) that fight against a foreign substance by recognizing a specific part of
it.
How do antibodies identify and inactivate antigens? - correct answer1. Shape
recognition
2. Proteins of the antigens are configured to specific antibodies, so the foreign antigens
bind to the specific antibodies that inactivate them
How can the ELISA assay be used to detect disease? - correct answer1. Primary
antibodies attach to specific antigen
2. Secondary antibody attaches to primary antibody
3. When enzyme substrate is added, color change occurs
Why is it important for doctors to know the concentration of the disease antigen present
in a patient's system? - correct answerHigher concentration = closer to patient zero
,Patient Zero - correct answerThe first person to be infected with a particular disease
What steps do scientists take to diagnose, treat, and prevent future spread of a disease
outbreak? - correct answer1. Record the symptoms
2. Locate the origin of the pathogen
3. Run tests to determine antibodies and antigens
4. Take preventative measures (quarantine, wash hands often, etc.)
How were the following used in managing the outbreak on Sue Smith's campus:
PCR, Bioinformatics/BLAST, and ELISA? - correct answerThese tests determine the
concentration of the disease, which lead to the source of the outbreak
Which part of the bacterial cell allows the bacteria to attach to specific surfaces? -
correct answerAdhesins, or cell-surface components/appendages of the bacteria that
facilitate attachment to other cells or surfaces
Which bacterial structure is involved with protein synthesis? - correct answerrRNA,
tRNA, and mRNA (Ribosomal, Transfer, Messenger)
What is an endotoxin? - correct answerA toxin that is inherently present inside a
bacterial cell
What is the structural difference between Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria? -
correct answerGram positive:
•Purple
•Thick cell wall
Gram negative:
•Pink
•Thin cell wall
How do antibiotics work to fight bacteria? - correct answer•Inhibit the cell wall
•Stop bacteria from reproducing/sharing resistant DNA
Penicillin - correct answerAn antibiotic that penetrates and destroys the cell wall of gram
negative bacteria
Tetracycline - correct answerAn antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis (reproduction)
of mostly gram positive, but some gram negative bacteria
Fluoroquinolones - correct answerAn antibiotic that inhibits the DNA gyrase of gram
negative bacteria
Sulfa Antibiotics - correct answerAn antibiotic that inhibits folic acid synthesis and
growth of gram positive and negative bacteria
,Folic Acid - correct answerVitamin that helps the organism produce and maintain
healthy cells
Efflux - correct answerTransport of a solute molecule from the inside to the outside of a
cell
Destruction/Inactivation - correct answerExchange enzymes that chemically degrade
the antibiotic (How some bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics)
Mutation - correct answerA change in a gene or chromosome.
Explain the difference between limited spectrum and broad spectrum antibiotics. -
correct answerLimited spectrum: only kills the cells that are infected.
Broad spectrum: kills all cells, even healthy cells.
What methods do bacteria use to share antibiotic resistant genes? Explain the
difference between conjugation, transformation, and transduction. - correct
answerConjugation - The one-way transfer of DNA between bacteria in cellular contact.
Transformation -The genetic modification of a bacterium by incorporation of free-floating
DNA from another ruptured bacterial cell.
Transduction - The transfer of genetic material from one organism (such as bacteria) to
another by a genetic vector.
What is the difference between the chromosomal DNA and plasmid DNA when thinking
about antibiotic resistance? - correct answerBacteria possess a single chromosome
composed of double‐stranded DNA in a loop. The genetic information of the plasmid is
usually not essential to survival of the host bacteria. Plasmids can be removed from the
host cell and the bacteria can still survive.
What is the best antibiotic to use when treating a Gram-positive bacterial disease? -
correct answerFlouroquinolones or Tetracyclines
How would you determine which strain of Streptococcus aureus had a plasmid for
resistance to streptomycin? - correct answerPerforming a Disc Diffusion test
What actions are humans taking that are contributing to bacteria becoming resistance to
commonly used antibiotics? - correct answer1. Preserving the potency of antibiotics
2. Taking the full dosage of antibiotics without missing one
What are the health impacts if you do not take your complete course of antibiotics that
have been prescribed for your illness? - correct answerThe disease will come back, and
for an even longer period of time
, Why are antibiotics ineffective against viral diseases? - correct answerAntibiotics are
designed for bacteria, not viruses
How do frequency and amplitude affect how humans interpret sound? - correct answerF
- pitch/tone
A - loudness/volume
What causes different types of hearing loss? - correct answer1. Sensorineural - Hearing
loss or impairment resulting from problems with the auditory nerves
2. Conductive - Hearing loss or impairment resulting from interference or blockage of
the transmission of sound waves to the cochlea.
How is hearing loss diagnosed? - correct answerPerforming an Audiogram
Describe the difference between sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing
loss. - correct answerCochlear vs. auditory nerves
If you listen to very loud music, non-treatable hearing loss may result. The damage
involves what structure of the ear? - correct answerCochlea hairs
What part of the ear converts stimuli from the outside environment into nerve impulses
for transmission to the brain? - correct answercochlea
What interventions are available for patients with hearing loss? - correct answer1.
Cochlear Implant
2. Hearing aid
What are the bioethical concerns related to the use of cochlear implant technology? -
correct answer1. Separating from the deaf community
2. Financial issues
3. Social life
4. Future life
Describe how a cochlear implant works. - correct answerEnables individuals with
sensorineural hearing loss and to recognize some sounds. Receives and converts
sound waves into electrical signals which are transmitted to one or more electrodes
implanted in the cochlea
What is vaccination? - correct answerAn antigen-specific stimulation of the host immune
response to prevent infectious disease
How does a vaccine activate the body's immune system? - correct answerA slightly
disabled sample of the bacteria is inside the vaccine which triggers the body's immune
response to fight it back
