Plant adaptations to avoid disease Drug trials
Mechanical adaptations: 1. First tested on human cells/tissues
grown in a lab for toxicity and efficacy
Leaves which droop or curl when touched
2. Then tested on animals which behave
Thorns and hairs deter animals
more like humans
3. Then tested on healthy human
volunteers in very low doses
4. Further tests carried out to find the
optimum dose
5. Then tested on a small group of
patients
6. Then on a much larger group of
Physical defence response: patients
Tough waxy cuticle on leaves Placebo: a ‘dummy drug’ – looks the same as
the drug being trialled so the doctor and
patient don’t know whether they are taking
the real drug or the fake
Placebo effect: the idea that people can feel
better if they receive a treatment even if there
is no active drug in it
Layers of dead cells around stems which
fall off taking the pathogen with them Double blind trial: a drug trial where neither
(e.g. bark on trees) the patient or the doctor administering the
drug to them knows whether it is the real
Chemical response: drug or the placebo which avoids any bias in
Poisons that deter herbivores – they can reporting the results
cause death, vomiting and irritation
Antibacterial chemicals prevent many
pathogenic infections Recognising plant diseases
Mimicry: Rot
Malformed stems or leaves
Some plants disguise themselves from Spots on leaves
herbivores to prevent damage and being Discolouration
eaten Presence of pests
Growths
Stunted growth
Discovering drugs:
Most drugs come from plants
Digitalis comes from foxgloves
Morphine comes from the opium poppy
Aspirin comes from the bark of willow trees
Mechanical adaptations: 1. First tested on human cells/tissues
grown in a lab for toxicity and efficacy
Leaves which droop or curl when touched
2. Then tested on animals which behave
Thorns and hairs deter animals
more like humans
3. Then tested on healthy human
volunteers in very low doses
4. Further tests carried out to find the
optimum dose
5. Then tested on a small group of
patients
6. Then on a much larger group of
Physical defence response: patients
Tough waxy cuticle on leaves Placebo: a ‘dummy drug’ – looks the same as
the drug being trialled so the doctor and
patient don’t know whether they are taking
the real drug or the fake
Placebo effect: the idea that people can feel
better if they receive a treatment even if there
is no active drug in it
Layers of dead cells around stems which
fall off taking the pathogen with them Double blind trial: a drug trial where neither
(e.g. bark on trees) the patient or the doctor administering the
drug to them knows whether it is the real
Chemical response: drug or the placebo which avoids any bias in
Poisons that deter herbivores – they can reporting the results
cause death, vomiting and irritation
Antibacterial chemicals prevent many
pathogenic infections Recognising plant diseases
Mimicry: Rot
Malformed stems or leaves
Some plants disguise themselves from Spots on leaves
herbivores to prevent damage and being Discolouration
eaten Presence of pests
Growths
Stunted growth
Discovering drugs:
Most drugs come from plants
Digitalis comes from foxgloves
Morphine comes from the opium poppy
Aspirin comes from the bark of willow trees
