SENIOR BIOLOGY
THE SEARCH FOR BETTER HEALTH
NAME
SCHOOL / ORGANISATION
DATE
INTRODUCTORY NOTES
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DISEASE
Disease is any condition which impairs the normal functioning of the human body. There are many causes of
disease. The two main categories of disease are:
 Infectious diseases
 Non-Infectious diseases
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Infectious diseases are caused by disease causing agents called pathogens. There are six main types of
pathogens: prions, viruses, bacteria, protozoans, fungi and parasites. These pathogens vary greatly in size
and shape and also in the types of diseases they cause in their host.
Find information about each of these specimens or diseases and identify which type of pathogen they are caused by
(circle your selection).
DISEASE /
SPECIMEN NUMBER
HIV / AIDS
3035.7
DISEASE CAUSING PATHOGEN:
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Parasite
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Parasite
HYDATID
DISEASE
3000.14
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Parasite
TYPHOID
492.15
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Parasite
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Parasite
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Parasite
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Parasite
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Parasite
MALARIA
microscope
room
LUNG ASPERGILLOSIS
2130.14
SYPHILIS
display
CRYPTOCOCCOSIS
2190.9
VARIANT
CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB
DISEASE
display
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CHARACTERISTICS OF PATHOGENS:
Pathogens are different sizes and have a range of distinguishing characteristics.
Can you identify the pathogen type which best fits each of these characteristics? (circle your selection)
These pathogens are not made of cells and are
often considered not living even though they
contain nucleic acids. Vaccination may
protect us from some of the diseases they
cause.
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoa
Fungi
Parasite
These are the smallest of all pathogens. They
are made up of only protein and have no DNA
or cellular structures. They cause diseases like
mad cow disease.
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoa
Fungi
Parasite
These are the largest pathogens many of
which are visible to the naked eye like
tapeworms and ticks. They require a host as
part of their life cycle.
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoa
Fungi
Parasite
These are cellular pathogens but they do not
have any membranes around organelles
(prokaryotic). We treat the diseases they
cause with antibiotics.
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoa
Fungi
Parasite
These single celled pathogens are often found
in water or soil and cause diseases like
amoebic dysentery. Many of these pathogens
are spread by vectors like the mosquito or in
contaminated drinking water.
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoa
Fungi
Parasite
These pathogens can be microscopic or
macroscopic. They have DNA and membrane
bound organelles (eukaryotic). They are
responsible for diseases like athlete’s foot,
thrush and ringworm.
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoa
Fungi
Parasite
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Many diseases have modern names.
Can you identify the modern name for each of these “old” diseases? You will find the game and its answers on
the pillar near the front of the museum.
Consumption
Morphew
Podagra
(Hint: the scientific prefix for “foot” is “pod”)
Variola
(Hint: this name is still used as the Genus name for this viral disease)
Grippe
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CASE STUDY: AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Choose one disease from the following list of infectious diseases to examine in detail and complete the following
information (circle your selection)
HIV / AIDS 3035.7
Smallpox (poster)
Syphilis (poster)
Hydatid Disease 3000.14
Tuberculosis 924A.14
Typhoid 492.15
Cryptococcosis 2190.9
Lung- Aspergillosis 2130.14
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob
Disease (CJD) (poster)
DISEASE NAME
Pathogen
(circle the disease causing agent)
Prion
Virus
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Parasite
Cause and Transmission
Symptoms / Host response
Treatment, Prevention and Control
What is something interesting, surprising or useful you’ve discovered about this disease?
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Raising Disease Awareness
Can you identify the coloured ribbon used to raise awareness of
each of the different listed diseases? You will find the game and its
answers on the pillar near the front of the museum.
Page 4
CASE STUDY: MALARIA
Complete the following information about Malaria using the resources in the Microscope room.
Timeline of the History of Malaria
Look around the displays to identify 4 ways to control the spread of malaria or to prevent its occurrence.
Method of control / prevention
How it works in reducing malarial cases
Which parts of the human body are
affected by malaria?
What are the symptoms of malaria?
What are some interesting statistics
you have found about Malaria?
The map indicates current distribution
of indigenous malaria according to
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Page 5
CASE STUDY: DIPHTHERIA 299.15
Specimen name
Brief history
Causative pathogen
Symptoms and Treatment
Look at the “Effect of Vaccination on Diphtheria in Australia” Display.
When did vaccination for Diphtheria in Australia commence?
What is the recommended schedule of vaccinations for Diphtheria?
Why is diphtheria a notifiable disease in Australia?
Complete this graph by sketching in the line showing the number of diphtheria notifications since 1920.
What is the main trend shown in this graph?
Has Diphtheria been eradicated? Are there any current day risks of this disease?
(Read the May 2011 Article about the 22year old Brisbane woman to answer this question).
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NON- INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Non-Infectious diseases are not caused by pathogens. They are caused by various other factors and are
often the result of the interplay of genetics and lifestyle. Many of these diseases are closely related to
lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity and much can be done to decrease your risk through positive
lifestyle habits.
For each specimen number listed here, write in the name of the specimen under title and then identify links between
these diseases and their contributing factors. In most cases, multiple factors will combine to increase an individual’s
disease risk. (You may circle more than one for each disease/specimen)
TITLE:
598.6
Genetics
Smoking
Alcohol
Environment
Old age
Lack of
exercise
Poor diet
Genetics
Smoking
Alcohol
Environment
Old age
Lack of
exercise
Poor diet
Genetics
Smoking
Alcohol
Environment
Old age
Lack of
exercise
Poor diet
Genetics
Smoking
Alcohol
Environment
Old age
Lack of
exercise
Poor diet
Genetics
Smoking
Alcohol
Environment
Old age
Lack of
exercise
Poor diet
TITLE:
350.20
TITLE:
1133.10
TITLE:
1007.17
TITLE:
156.9
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Australia’s leading causes of death
What are Australia’s five leading causes of death? Can you place them into their correct order from highest to
lowest? You will find this game next to the smoking display.
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CASE STUDY: A NON-INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Choose one disease from the following list of non-infectious diseases to examine in detail and complete the following
information (circle your selection)
Rheumatoid arthritis
554.6
Cerebral infarction
485.12
Gangrene
1450.17
Breast Cancer
350.20
Myocardial infarction
1312.17
Prostate cancer
512.18
Lung Cancer 722.8
Asthma 1872.9
DISEASE NAME
Cause and Occurrence
Symptoms
Treatment and Management
What is something interesting, surprising or useful you’ve discovered about this disease?
INHERITED DISEASES
Inherited diseases are those caused by genetic factors like colour blindness, haemophilia and the three listed below.
They may be the result of a mutation in a single gene or a chromosomal abnormality.
Choose one of these diseases to complete the information. (circle your selection)
Cystic Fibrosis
(poster)
Down Syndrome
(poster)
Neurofibromatosis
(poster)
What is the cause of the disease? How many people does it affect?
Describe the main symptoms of the disease.
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NUTRITIONAL DISEASES
Nutritional diseases include nutritional deficiencies (like scurvy) as well as dietary disorders (like anorexia and obesity).
CASE STUDY: DIABETES 388.5
Specimen name
Brief history and
evidence of disease
Cause and Occurrence
Symptoms
Treatment, Prevention and Control
What is something interesting, surprising or useful you’ve discovered about this disease?
Look at the posters and displays on Diabetes.
What causes TYPE I Diabetes?
THE
SYSTEM (6.2)
What TRANSPORT
causes TYPE II Diabetes?
What are some of the effects of diabetes on the body?
How can risk factors for diabetes be reduced?
Look at the display of fats, sugars and salts in common foods.
Record some data about a food/ foods shown in the information in this display?
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ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES
Some environmental diseases are the result of lifestyle choices like a poor diet, lack of exercise and obesity may lead to
cardiovascular disease. Others may be from exposure to environmental pollutants like asbestosis and coal miner’s lung
or sun exposure and the risk of melanoma.
Choose one of these diseases to complete the information. (circle your selection)
Asbestosis 975A.8
Coal miner’s lung 1133.10
Melanoma 2995.5
What is the cause of the disease?
Describe the main symptoms of the disease.
CASE STUDY: EMPHYSEMA 156.9
What is the major risk factor associated with the cause of this disease?
Identify changes in the lung due to this disease.
Look at the “Effects of Smoking on the Body” display.
List four diseases that can be linked to smoking.
Identify how smoking can affect women and men.
Give three reasons why quitting is an advantage
Pulmonary emphysema Specimen 156.9
©1999 UNSW School of Pathology
Look at the “Smoking and Epidemiology of lung cancer” display.
An impressive amount of epidemiological data incriminates cigarette smoking with various diseases, such as
cardiovascular disease, emphysema and lung cancer. Statistically about 90% of lung cancers occur in active smokers
who stopped recently.
What is epidemiology?
How did epidemiology help identify the cause and effect relationship of smoking?
How is ‘lag’ seen in the smoking and lung cancer graph?
Page 10
MEDICAL AND HEALTH TERMINOLOGY
Use common names and words to describe the types of organs, tissues or diseases found
in each of these bays in the museum and in doing so understanding what each of the
following words mean. In doing so, you may need to wander around the museum, visit
each bay and read through some of the catalogues.
BAY 7:
HAEMATOLOGICAL
________________________________
BAY 8:
PULMONARY
________________________________
BAY 11:
CARDIAC
________________________________
BAY 12:
VASCULAR
________________________________
BAY 13:
CONGENITAL
________________________________
BAY 14:
INFLAMMATION
________________________________
BAY 18:
DEGENERATIVE
________________________________
BAY 19:
NEOPLASIA
________________________________
BAY 22:
ENDOCRINE
________________________________
BAY 24:
HEPATIC
________________________________
BAY 27:
NEUROLOGICAL
________________________________
BAY 30:
RENAL
________________________________
Did you know?
In and around 400 BC, Hippocrates
famously mentioned about exercise,
"If we could give every individual the
right amount of nourishment and
exercise, not too little and not too
much, we would have found the safest
way to health."
Did you know?
Exercise did not become
fashionable until the late
1800’s when people started
to lead increasingly
sedentary lifestyles due to
less work involving manual
labour.
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MUSEUM MAP
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