Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 6 - 2007 - Paper 1
Question 6
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints. RA typically appears between the ages of 30 and 40 years.
Autoimmune diseases suc... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 6 - 2007 - Paper 1
Step 1
A. B and T cell lymphocytes mistakenly attack 'self' tissue.
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Answer
This statement describes the mechanism behind autoimmune diseases, including RA. In autoimmune conditions, the immune system fails to distinguish between 'self' and 'non-self', leading to an attack on the body’s own tissues.
Step 2
B. B and T cell lymphocytes fail to recognise 'non-self' material.
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This statement indicates a failure of the immune system to identify foreign substances. While relevant, it doesn’t directly explain the mechanism of RA, which is more about mistakenly attacking 'self'.
Step 3
C. the immune system is unable to produce sufficient numbers of T lymphocytes.
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This statement is not specifically related to RA. While T lymphocytes are important in immune responses, the pathogenesis of RA involves an inappropriate response rather than a lack of T lymphocyte production.
Step 4
D. the immune system is unable to produce sufficient numbers of B lymphocytes.
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Like C, this statement does not accurately reflect the underlying issue in RA. Adequate B lymphocyte levels are typically present but misdirected in their attack.
