In which of the following cases would bacteria be described as pathogens?
(A) Bacteria reducing lung function in mammals
(B) Bacteria in the human gut assisting digestion
(C) Bacteria producing insulin as a result of genetic engineering
(D) Bacteria in the mouth preventing growth of harmful bacteria - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2014 - Paper 1
Question 5
In which of the following cases would bacteria be described as pathogens?
(A) Bacteria reducing lung function in mammals
(B) Bacteria in the human gut assisting dig... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:In which of the following cases would bacteria be described as pathogens?
(A) Bacteria reducing lung function in mammals
(B) Bacteria in the human gut assisting digestion
(C) Bacteria producing insulin as a result of genetic engineering
(D) Bacteria in the mouth preventing growth of harmful bacteria - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2014 - Paper 1
Step 1
A) Bacteria reducing lung function in mammals
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Answer
In this case, the bacteria harm the host organism by impairing lung function. This harmful effect qualifies them as pathogens.
Step 2
B) Bacteria in the human gut assisting digestion
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Answer
These bacteria are beneficial and assist in digestion, thus they do not fit the definition of pathogens.
Step 3
C) Bacteria producing insulin as a result of genetic engineering
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Answer
While genetically engineered bacteria produce insulin for medical use, they are not classified as pathogens.
Step 4
D) Bacteria in the mouth preventing growth of harmful bacteria
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Answer
These bacteria serve a protective role by preventing harmful species from proliferating, thus they are not pathogens.
