Edexcel GCSE Biology, topic 5
Health, disease and the development of medicines
This topic covers what health means, the pathogens that cause communicable disease and how they spread, and how the body defends itself and is helped by immunisation, antibiotics and new medicines. It also covers non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, and how lifestyle affects them. Triple only and Higher tier content is flagged.
Revision notes
Worksheet
FlashcardsSubtopics
Work through them in order. Each one has notes, exam questions and flashcards, and a PDF of each.
- 1Health and disease Spec 5.1–5.3What health means, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and why one disease can make you more likely to get another.NotesQuestions 4Flashcards 7
- 2Pathogens and infections Spec 5.4–5.8Types of pathogen, six named infections, how they spread and are controlled, the virus lifecycle and sexually transmitted infections.NotesQuestions 6Flashcards 19
- 3Plant defences and plant disease Triple onlySpec 5.9B–5.11BTriple only: how plants defend themselves with physical barriers and chemicals, and how plant diseases are detected and identified.NotesQuestions 3Flashcards 7
- 4Human defences and immunity Spec 5.12–5.15BBarriers and chemical defences, the specific immune response, how immunisation works, and the pros and cons of vaccination including herd immunity.NotesQuestions 4Flashcards 13
- 5Antibiotics, culturing microorganisms and new medicines Spec 5.16–5.22BHow antibiotics work, aseptic technique, the antimicrobial core practical, developing new medicines and monoclonal antibodies.NotesQuestions 7Flashcards 14
- 6Non-communicable diseases Spec 5.23–5.25Multiple causes of non-communicable disease, lifestyle effects at local, national and global level, BMI, and treating cardiovascular disease.NotesQuestions 4Flashcards 10
Whole topic
When you have done the subtopics: test yourself on everything, or print the lot.