Antibiotics and other medicines

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What are antibiotics?
Chemicals that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Used to treat bacterial infections and they target bacterial cells without damaging human body cells.
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what was the first antibiotic to be isolated?
Penicillin (by Alexander Fleming in 1928)
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What are the risks of using antibiotics?
They can cause side effects and even severe allergic reactions. The biggest risk is from antibiotic resistance.
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How are some bacteria resistant to antibiotics?
Genetic mutations make some bacteria naturally resistant to an antibiotic. The antibiotic resistance is a big survival advantage to the bacteria so it lives longer and reproduces more than other bacteria so allele becomes more frequent in population.
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Give two examples of Antibiotic-Resistance bacteria
MRSA: causes serious wound infections and is resistant to several antibiotics including meticillin. Clostridium difficile: infects digestive system, antibiotic kills harmless bacteria present so C.difficile (which is resistant) can thrive.
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How can antibiotic resistance be reduced?
Doctors are encouraged to reduce use of antibiotics. e.g. not to perscribe to prevent infection or for minor infections. Patients are advised to take all antibiotics prescribed to make sure infection is fully cleared and all bacteria is killed
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what are many medical drugs produced from or could be produced from and why do we need to protect these resources?
using natural compounds found in plants, animals or microorganisms. possible sources of drugs need to be protected by maintaining the niodiversity on earth otherwise some species could die out before we study them.
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What are Personalised medicines?
They are medicines which are tailored to an individuals DNA. In theory if a doctor has your genetic info they can predcit how you will respond to different drugs and only prescribe the most effective. The hope is more effective drugs can be produced
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What is synthetic Biology?
Involves using technology to design and make things like artificial proteins,cells and microorganisms. could be useful to medicine. (engineer bacteria to destroy cancer cells but leave healthy body cells intact)
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Card 2

Front

what was the first antibiotic to be isolated?

Back

Penicillin (by Alexander Fleming in 1928)

Card 3

Front

What are the risks of using antibiotics?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How are some bacteria resistant to antibiotics?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Give two examples of Antibiotic-Resistance bacteria

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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