<h2>Modern Biotechnology</h2>
<p>In this lesson and the next few, we will examine some aspects of <a href="https://app.ulearngo.com/tutorials/introducing-genetics/biotechnology">biotechnology</a> that have been applied in modern medicine. Modern medicine is informed by medical research, and medical research is based on the scientific method. Therefore, these therapies are based on investigations that have results that are reproducible. We will examine five achievements of modern medicine and discuss the underlying ethical issues these new treatments and technologies present:</p>
<ol>
<li>Immunity and vaccines</li>
<li>Antibiotics</li>
<li>Blood transfusions</li>
<li>Cloning</li>
<li>Stem cell research</li>
</ol>
<h2>Immunity and Vaccines</h2>
<p>Immunity is the body's resistance to infection by bacteria, <a data-lesson="viruses" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="cell-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/cell-biology/viruses">viruses</a> and other pathogens. The body defends itself against infection through a variety of means, such as physical, chemical and cellular barriers to infection.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Physical barriers</strong> include the skin, saliva, tears and mucus. They also include hairs in the lining of the respiratory tract known as cilia.</li>
<li><strong>Chemical barriers</strong> include the various allergic responses that result in inflammation or swelling. These are caused by a chemical response system that results in the body releasing chemicals to attack any foreign objects entering the body. White <a data-lesson="blood-2" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="human-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/human-biology/blood-2">blood</a> <a data-lesson="prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-cells" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="cell-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/cell-biology/prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-cells">cells</a> known as eosinophils are normally responsible for the allergic response.</li>
<li><strong>Cellular mechanisms</strong> exist to fight bacterial infections. These include <em>neutrophils, macrophages and </em> which attack <a data-lesson="innate-immune-system" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="human-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/human-biology/innate-immune-system">pathogens</a> and "engulf" and eat them through a process of phagocytosis.</li>
</ul>
<p>The above defence mechanisms described are part of the <strong>innate</strong> immune system. The body also has an <strong>adaptive</strong> immune system which `remembers' each pathogen that invades the body based on the specific markers on the pathogen. These markers are known as antigens. When a foreign organism invades, the <a data-lesson="introducing-adaptive-immune-response" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="immune-system" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/immune-system/introducing-adaptive-immune-response">adaptive</a> immune system launches an antigen-specific response which destroys the infectious agent.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 585px"><img alt="" height="452" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/e28bb9ca-a7a5-4d76-8e2a-07ba3f0424b0" width="585"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Eosinophils are important in controlling the allergic reaction.<span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></p></div>
<p>Vaccination is the most effective method of eradicating infectious diseases. It has resulted in the eradication of smallpox throughout the world and has greatly reduced <a data-lesson="emerging-and-re-emerging-diseases" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="prokaryotes-bacteria-archaea" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/prokaryotes-bacteria-archaea/emerging-and-re-emerging-diseases">diseases</a> such as polio, measles and tetanus. Vaccination involves injecting components of the infectious agent in a non-toxic form in order to stimulate an individual's adaptive immune system. An immune response is produced against the vaccine, resulting in the production of T-lymphocyte <a data-lesson="immunological-memory" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="immune-system" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/immune-system/immunological-memory">memory</a> cells. When a repeat infection occurs, the body is able to mount an effective and rapid immune response due to the presence of memory cells.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 700px"><img alt="" height="459" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/b146187d-ec8f-467f-a81c-3842e937977b" width="700"/><p class="wp-caption-text">A vaccination campaign in the US.</p></div>
<h2>Video: The discovery of Vaccination</h2>
<p>You can watch the humorous video below about the history of vaccination.</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eMMwF3xiwik?rel=0&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;cc_lang_pref=en&amp;cc_load_policy=1" width="640"></iframe></p>

ad260561-7f24-4cf8-a3f2-b129f5e47c91

Immunity and Vaccines

Biology studies life and living organisms. Biology can be divided into different sections that cover the morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, and so on of living organisms.

Biology

Discover the characteristics and functions of different plant and animal tissues, such as meristematic and nervous tissue, as well as learn about traditional medicines and ethical issues in stem cell research in this tutorial.


Immunity and Vaccines

Track Your Learning Progress