Topic 2
Aseptic Technique
What is it?
Aseptic technique is a technique in which the risks of contamination are lower as here are high safety regulations and step by step procedures in order to kill all dangerous bacteria
Why do we use it?
It's to assure that no other micro-organism than the one used in the experiment contaminates it or the results will be invalid
Why do we work close to the flame?
This is because of the updraft caused by the flame's heat, this will stop any bacteria settling on the equipment that could contaminate the experiment
Why do we shake our sample?
This is because it's the best way on ensuring the bacteria are properly mixed (as it could be a solution). Also helps with a lower bacteria contamination risk
Why do we not tape up the whole circumference of the agar plate?
This is because the bacteria inside need to breathe during incubation
Why do we put the plates in the incubators at 25 degrees Celsius and not higher?
It's the best average temperature for the bacteria to grow in and pathogens grow beyond 25 degrees Celsius
Cancer
Cancer is uncontrollable cell growth within an organism, it happen somewhere in the cell cycle where the cell division stage/check point is defied and therefore the cells begin to mutate and divide uncontrollably
Tumours
The Cell Cycle
Malignant Tumours
Secondary Tumours
Benign Tumours
What is a tumour?
A tumour is a collection/group of mutated cells however some AREN'T cancerous
This is NOT Cancer
This IS Cancer
These are formed when some malignant tumour cells break away and spread, which form tumours elsewhere
They usually grow quite slowly and don't spread to other parts of the body and have a covering made of normal cells
These tumours grow faster than benign tumours and can spread to other parts of the body and damage tissues which surround it. They could spread via the bloodstream (or the lymph) to form tumours secondary tumours
Spreading to other parts of the body is called metastatis
Cells need to divide to allow things such as the growth of an organism, repair of tissue or for asexual reproduction
In the cell cycle, cells divide to get bigger and do their jobs/carry out their functions
Cancer cells secrete their own growth hormones to get the nutrients they need
Immune system doesn't recognise them as they're your own cells so it doesn't destroy them