Bacterial growth, plant medicines and drug testing: exam questions

8 questions, 29 marks. Write your answers on paper, then open each mark scheme.

Question 1

Unit 2 style

Which precaution during Core practical 9 helps to prevent contamination of a bacterial culture?

  1. Sealing the Petri dish completely with tape
  2. Flaming the neck of the culture bottle after opening it
  3. Incubating the dish at 37 °C
  4. Leaving the lid of the dish off while spreading the bacteria
[1 mark]
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Question 2

Unit 2 style

State three conditions that bacteria need for growth.

[3 marks]
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Question 3

Unit 2 style

Explain why aseptic technique is used when handling bacteria.

[4 marks]
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Question 4

Unit 3 style

A student wants to compare the antimicrobial effect of extracts from three plants on a non-pathogenic bacterium. Describe a method that the student could use, including the control variables and how the results should be processed.

[6 marks]
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Question 5

Unit 3 style

A student placed discs soaked in three plant extracts and one disc soaked in solvent only on a bacterial lawn, then measured the clear zone around each disc. The table shows the mean diameter of each zone. Calculate the area of the clear zone for extract B and state which extract was the most effective.

Mean diameter of the clear zone of inhibition
DiscMean diameter of clear zone (mm)
Extract A14
Extract B9
Extract C6
Solvent only0
[3 marks]
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Question 6

Unit 2 style

Suggest why chemicals from plants may be useful as new medicines.

[3 marks]
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Question 7

Unit 2 style

Explain the importance of using a placebo and a double-blind design in a drug trial.

[4 marks]
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Question 8

Unit 2 style

William Withering used a herbal mixture to treat dropsy in the 18th century. Compare and contrast his approach with modern drug testing.

[5 marks]
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