WJEC GCSE Biology (3400)
GCSE Biology
Answer sheet
Disease, defence and treatment
Separate mark scheme — do not issue with the student worksheet
Time guide: — · Questions: 32 · Total marks: 104
Written in WJEC style. Answer in full sentences unless a calculation is required.
Indicative marking points. Award marks for equivalent scientific or mathematical wording. Do not issue this sheet with the student worksheet.
1. State what is meant by a pathogen.
[1 mark]
- a microorganism that causes disease
2. State what is meant by a virus.
[1 mark]
- a pathogen that reproduces inside cells
3. State what is meant by a bacterium.
[1 mark]
- a prokaryotic pathogen that can produce toxins
4. State what is meant by a vaccine.
[1 mark]
- dead or inactive pathogen / antigen introduced to the body
5. State what is meant by herd immunity.
[1 mark]
- a large proportion of the population is immune so the pathogen cannot spread easily
6. State what is meant by an antibiotic.
[1 mark]
- a drug that kills bacteria or stops them growing
7. State what is meant by a white blood cell.
[1 mark]
- a cell that defends the body
8. State what is meant by phagocytosis.
[1 mark]
- engulfing and digesting a pathogen
9. State what is meant by the first line of defence.
[1 mark]
- barriers that stop pathogens entering
10. State what is meant by a clinical trial.
[1 mark]
- testing a drug for safety and effectiveness
11. Owain is asked about a pathogen in a WJEC Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
- bacteria, viruses, fungi, protists
(b) [3 marks]
- why viruses are not treated with antibiotics
12. Owain is asked about a virus in a WJEC Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
- much smaller than bacteria
(b) [3 marks]
- why viral diseases cause cell damage
13. Owain is asked about a bacterium in a WJEC Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
- reproduces by binary fission
(b) [3 marks]
- why some bacterial diseases make you feel ill
14. Owain is asked about a vaccine in a WJEC Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
- stimulates white blood cells to make antibodies and memory cells
(b) [3 marks]
- why a second exposure gives a faster response
15. Owain is asked about herd immunity in a WJEC Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
- protects people who cannot be vaccinated
(b) [3 marks]
- why vaccination programmes aim for high uptake
16. Owain is asked about an antibiotic in a WJEC Biology paper.
(b) [3 marks]
- why overuse of antibiotics is a problem
17. A bacterium divides every 20 minutes. Starting from 1 cell, how many after 2 hours?
[3 marks]
- 6 divisions
- Final answer: 64
18. A vaccine trial has 200 people. 6 have a serious side effect. Calculate the percentage.
[3 marks]
- 6/200 × 100
- Final answer: 3%
19. Antibody concentration rises from 2 units to 50 units. Calculate the percentage increase.
[3 marks]
- 48/2 × 100
- Final answer: 2400%
20. A Petri dish colony count is 120 in 0.1 cm³. Estimate colonies in 5 cm³.
21. An antibiotic zone of inhibition has diameter 26 mm. Calculate the area (π=3.14).
[3 marks]
- πr²
- Final answer: 530.7 mm²
22. A pathogen generation time is 30 minutes. How many generations in 5 hours?
23. Owain carries out growing bacteria on agar using aseptic technique. This is a typical WJEC required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
- Independent: antibiotic type / disinfectant concentration
- Dependent: zone of inhibition / colony number
(b) [2 marks]
- same incubation temperature and time
- so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
(c) [2 marks]
- contamination from unsterile loops
24. Owain carries out testing the effectiveness of disinfectants. This is a typical WJEC required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
- Independent: disinfectant
- Dependent: zone of inhibition
(b) [2 marks]
- same volume on each disc
- so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
25. Owain carries out investigating the effect of antibiotics on bacterial growth. This is a typical WJEC required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
- Independent: antibiotic
- Dependent: clear zone diameter
(b) [2 marks]
- same bacterial lawn
- so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
(c) [2 marks]
- measuring diameter inaccurately
26. Owain carries out handwashing comparison with agar plates. This is a typical WJEC required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
- Independent: washing method
- Dependent: number of colonies
(b) [2 marks]
- same incubation
- so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
(c) [2 marks]
- unequal contact time with the agar
27. Compare antibiotics with painkillers.
[4 marks]
- antibiotics kill bacteria
- painkillers treat symptoms only
28. Compare active immunity with passive immunity.
[4 marks]
- active: memory cells, long-term
- passive: antibodies given, short-term
29. Compare bacteria with viruses.
[4 marks]
- bacteria are cells and can be killed by antibiotics
- viruses are not cells and need living hosts
30. Compare preclinical testing with clinical testing.
[4 marks]
- preclinical: cells and animals
- clinical: human volunteers and patients
31. Apply your knowledge of a white blood cell to this situation: complementary shape to the antigen
[3 marks]
- complementary shape to the antigen
32. Apply your knowledge of phagocytosis to this situation: works against many pathogens
[3 marks]
- works against many pathogens