Question

1. what happens if a person is given a blood type that doesnt match their own?
2. explain why it is much less dangerous to have type 1 diabetes now versus before 1922.
3. describe how sir alexander fleming found penicillin.
4. why did organ transplants fail before 1954?
5. what are stem cells?
6. why is it difficult to \kill\ a virus?
7. an important medical breakthrough that did not make the list (but could have!) is ort, or oral rehydration therapy. in the 1960s, doctors found that drinking a mixture of salt, water, and sugar could save the lives of people, especially children, suffering from diarrhea. one study was conducted in a refugee camp that was experiencing a cholera outbreak, a disease that causes diarrhea. before ort, 30% of the people in the camp died from cholera. with ort, 1% died. ort has saved an estimated 70 million lives since its introduction in the 1960s.

a. listed here are the ingredients of gatorade, the popular sports drink: water, sugar, dextrose, citric acid, salt, sodium citrate, and monopotassium phosphate. do you think gatorade could be used for ort? why or why not?
b. could you make ort for yourself at home if you were sick? explain.

Explanation:

1. When a person is given a non - matching blood type, their immune system recognizes the foreign blood cells as invaders. Antibodies in the recipient's blood attack the transfused blood cells, causing a potentially life - threatening transfusion reaction such as hemolysis (rupturing of red blood cells), fever, and shock.
2. Before 1922, there was no effective treatment for Type 1 diabetes. After 1922, insulin was discovered and became available for treatment. Insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of life - threatening complications like diabetic ketoacidosis.
3. Sir Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin in 1928. He noticed that a mold (Penicillium notatum) had contaminated one of his staphylococcus bacteria cultures and was killing the bacteria around it.
4. Organ transplants failed before 1954 mainly due to the lack of understanding of the immune system's role in rejecting foreign organs. There were no effective immunosuppressive drugs to prevent the body from attacking the transplanted organ.
5. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to differentiate into various specialized cell types in the body. They can self - renew and are important for tissue repair and development.
6. It is difficult to "kill" a virus because viruses are not cells. They hijack the host cell's machinery to replicate. Antibiotics, which work on bacteria, are ineffective against viruses. Viruses also mutate rapidly, making it hard to develop drugs that target them effectively.

13a. Gatorade may not be an ideal substitute for ORT. While it contains sugar and salt like ORT, the precise ratios of ingredients in ORT are carefully formulated to optimize electrolyte and fluid absorption for rehydration in cases of diarrhea. Gatorade may have different concentrations and additional ingredients (like flavoring agents) that may not be suitable for treating severe dehydration from diarrhea.
13b. It is not recommended to make ORT at home without proper guidance. While the basic ingredients are salt, water, and sugar, getting the exact ratios correct is crucial. Incorrect ratios can be harmful, either not providing enough rehydration or causing electrolyte imbalances.

Answer:

1. The immune system attacks the transfused blood cells, causing a transfusion reaction.
2. Insulin was discovered after 1922 to regulate blood sugar.
3. A mold contaminated a bacteria culture and killed the bacteria around it.
4. Lack of understanding of immune rejection and no effective immunosuppressive drugs.
5. Undifferentiated cells with the ability to differentiate and self - renew.
6. Viruses are not cells, hijack host cells, and mutate rapidly.

13a. Probably not due to different ingredient ratios and additional components.
13b. No, as getting the ingredient ratios correct is crucial and difficult without proper guidance.