Development of Medicines (Edexcel GCSE Combined Science: Biology): Exam Questions

Scientists at a drug company are working to develop a new pain relief drug.

Figure 1 shows the procedure that the scientists must work through before the new drug can be accepted and distributed to patients world wide.

Figure 1

(i) Outline what is involved in the preclinical tests of the drug.

(2)

(ii) Give the range for the number of volunteers needed to complete all the clinical trials for the new drug.

(1)

(iii) Describe how the clinical trials should be carried out.

(6)

Figure 2 shows the effect of penicillin on the structure of a bacterium.

Figure 2

Explain how the mechanism shown in Figure 2 helps to protect an individual from the harmful effects of the pathogen.

Obesity increases the risk of a person developing cardiovascular disease.

Losing weight can reduce the risk of this disease occurring.

Explain why exercise can cause weight loss.

Figure 1 shows a gastric band fitted to a stomach.

Figure 1

Explain how a gastric band helps a person to lose weight.

BMI and waist : hip ratio can be used to find out if a person is obese.

Figure 2 shows some data for two males.

Figure 2

BMI is calculated using the equation:

               BMI = 

(i) Male B has a mass of 72 kg and a height of 1.81 m.

Calculate the BMI of male B.

Give the answer to 3 significant figures.

(3)

(ii) Figure 3 shows the interpretation of BMI values.

           Figure 3

Males with a waist : hip ratio above 0.90 are defined as abdominally obese.

Explain what the BMI and waist : hip ratio for male A shows about his weight distribution.

(2)

LDL cholesterol is a type of cholesterol which increases the risk of heart disease.

Statins are drugs used to reduce LDL cholesterol levels.

Figure 1 shows the cholesterol levels in the blood of a man.

He started taking statins at the beginning of February and stopped taking them four months later.

Figure 1

(i) Describe the effect of statins on LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.

Use data from the graph to support your answer.

(2)

(ii) Use evidence from the graph to explain why statins are usually prescribed as life-long medication.

(2)

Which data can be used to calculate the man’s BMI?

☐ A waist circumference and height

☐ B waist circumference and hip circumference

☐ C mass and height

☐ D mass and hip circumference

Figure 1 shows how alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing liver cancer.

Someone who does not drink alcohol has a 1.0 risk of developing liver cancer.

Figure 1

(i) One unit of alcohol contains 8 grams of alcohol.

Calculate the risk of developing liver cancer for someone who consumes 4 units of alcohol a day.

(2)

(ii) Describe how cancer develops in the liver.

(2)

Some crop plants have been genetically engineered to produce toxic chemicals in their leaves.

Explain one advantage of producing these genetically modified crop plants.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a major cause of death worldwide.

Describe how CHD develops and the main causes.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is classed as a non-communicable disease.

Suggest what is meant by a non-communicable disease.

Two types of cholesterol in the blood can have a profound impact on a patient’s health; LDL and HDL.

• High levels of LDL are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD).

• High levels of HDL in the blood can reduce levels of LDL.

There are a number of drugs which can be prescribed to increase an individual’s HDL level to reduce their risk of developing CHD.

Scientists monitored the effect of five of these drugs on one person over 10 years, the results are shown in Figure 1 below.

The labelled arrows show when each new treatment was started.

Figure 1

Compare the effectiveness of the treatments in reducing the risk of CHD.

(4)

Statins are a commonly prescribed drug which can reduce an individual’s risk of developing Coronary Heart Disease (CHD).

Discuss the use of statins to prevent CHD.

Having a high proportion of body fat can lead to a person becoming obese. People with a BMI over 30 are considered to be obese.

Suggest why BMI is not always an accurate indication of health and body fat levels.

(i) Figure 1 shows the incidence rate of different heart-related health issues compared to their BMI classification.

Figure 1

Use the figures to calculate how many times more likely you would be to have heart failure when severely obese compared to being healthy weight.

Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

(2)

(ii) Explain why someone who is severely obese is more likely to have heart failure than someone who is a healthy weight.

(4)

(iii) There are other risk factors that can contribute to a person developing cardiovascular disease.

Suggest and explain another how one other risk factor can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.

(3)

The information in Table 1 below shows some information about two types of treatment for cardiovascular disease.

Table 1

Explain why a patient might opt for a stent rather than bypass surgery to treat cardiovascular disease.

Use information in the table above and your own knowledge in your answer.

Before medication can be manufactured and sold on a large scale, the drugs go through a rigorous trial process.

(i) Explain why the drugs need to go through a clinical trial process before being given to patients.

(2)

Table 1 below shows the number of drugs that pass through each stage of the clinical trials.

Table 1

(ii) Calculate the percentage decrease of the number of drugs passing through Phase 1 to Phase 2 and those that are approved.

Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

(2)

As with other drugs, antibiotics must go through a multi-step clinical trial process. 

Some researchers are trying to create alternative antibiotics to those currently being mass-produced. One possible source of antibiotics can be found in natural substances that have antimicrobial properties.

The graph in Figure 1 shows the effectiveness of two different types of herbs when used to kill bacteria: coriander and garlic. Also included in the graph is a control substance and a combination of both herbs together.

Figure 1

Describe the effectiveness of using different types of herbs as an antimicrobial substance.

Use figures from the graph in your answer.

The use of natural antimicrobial substances to destroy unwanted bacteria has increased in recent years. Some bacteria have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics, and therefore alternatives such as herbs are being explored. 

Use your knowledge of natural selection to explain why some bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics.