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, bacteria that reduce lung function can directly harm the host's respiratory systems, leading to disease. Such bacteria would be classified as pathogens.
Step 2
B) Bacteria in the human gut assisting digestion
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Answer
Bacteria that assist digestion are typically beneficial and promote health. They are not described as pathogens.
Step 3
C) Bacteria producing insulin as a result of genetic engineering
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Answer
Bacteria engineered to produce insulin serve a medical purpose and do not cause disease. Thus, they are not considered pathogens.
Step 4
D) Bacteria in the mouth preventing growth of harmful bacteria
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Answer
Bacteria that prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth are beneficial and contribute to health; therefore, they are not pathogens.
