1) The graph shows that viruses have a rapid increase in numbers after infecting an organism, while bacteria have a slower and more steady increase. This can be attributed to the reproductive differences between the two pathogens. Viruses cannot reproduce on their own and rely on infecting a host cell in order to replicate. Once inside the host cell, viruses hijack the cell's machinery to produce more virus particles rapidly. In contrast, bacteria can reproduce on their own through binary fission, where one bacterial cell divides into two identical daughter cells. This slower reproduction process results in a more gradual increase in bacterial numbers.
Viruses are not considered organisms because they lack the characteristics of living organisms, such as the ability to reproduce on their own and carry out metabolic processes. This graph supports the claim that viruses are not organisms because it shows the rapid increase in virus numbers once they infect a host cell, highlighting their dependence on a host for reproduction.
2) Antibiotics mainly target the cell wall of bacterial pathogens, disrupting their ability to maintain cell structure and leading to cell death. However, some pathogens may develop resistance to antibiotics, rendering them ineffective. The graph can explain why antibiotics can be ineffective against certain pathogens by showing that bacterial numbers may not always be significantly reduced after antibiotic treatment. This could be due to factors such as antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacteria, which allow them to survive and continue multiplying despite the presence of antibiotics. Additionally, some bacteria may form biofilms or enter a dormant state where they are less susceptible to antibiotic treatments, leading to treatment failure.
The following graph shows the trends in bacteria and viruses after they infect an organism.
B
Number of viruses
Time
Explain how reproductive differences between these two pathogens attribute to the differences shown in the graph. Identify whether viruses are organisms and describe how this graph supports your claim
Most antibiotics target the cell wall of a pathogen. Use the graph to explain why antibiotics can be ineffective against
some pathogens.
A
Time
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Number of bacteria-
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