Eight sick animals were found to be suffering from the same symptoms - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 15 - 2001 - Paper 1
Question 15
Eight sick animals were found to be suffering from the same symptoms. Blood tests showed that they were infected with the same type of bacterium.
Which of the follo... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Eight sick animals were found to be suffering from the same symptoms - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 15 - 2001 - Paper 1
Step 1
Find other animals with the same symptoms. Attempt to isolate the same type of bacterium from their blood.
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Answer
This method may help identify the bacterium, but it does not establish causation.
Step 2
Inject blood from animals with the symptoms into suitable host individuals. If they develop the same symptoms, this proves that this type of bacterium caused the disease.
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Answer
While this shows correlation, it does not definitively confirm causation as it depends on the specific conditions of the host individuals.
Step 3
Use bacteria cultured from the blood of the animals with these symptoms to infect suitable host individuals. If they develop the disease, attempt to isolate the same type of bacterium from their blood.
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Answer
This strategy allows for the direct testing of causality, as the cultured bacteria directly link to the symptoms.
Step 4
Treat all eight animals with an antibiotic known to kill this type of bacterium. They will recover if this type of bacterium is the cause of the disease.
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Answer
This approach does not conclusively determine causation; recovery could occur for various reasons.
