SSCE VCE Biology Immunity and Disease Response: A scientist carried out a number

Question

A scientist carried out a number of immunity experiments with mice.

First experiment

The scientist took several newborn mice of the same strain A. Half of the mice received no treatment. The rest of the mice each received an injection of leucocytes from a strain B adult mouse. Four weeks later several pieces of skin were taken from strain B mice. A single piece of skin was grafted onto each of the strain A mice. Some time later, the grafts were examined.

The experiment and the results are outlined in the table below.

A newborn mouse                  4 weeks later                some time later
(no treatment)                 skin graft from strain B  graft rejected

A newborn mouse                  4 weeks later                some time later
(leucocytes from strain B injected) skin graft from strain B  graft accepted

Conclusion 1 and evidence

Conclusion 2 and evidence

Second experiment

Newborn mice of strain A were each injected with leucocytes from strain B mice. Several weeks later, each mouse was given skin grafts from both a strain B mouse and a strain C mouse.

b. Explain what you would expect to happen to the skin graft from strain C:

A chemical carcinogen was used to induce a cancerous growth (called a tumour) in a mouse.

c. In what way is apoptosis significant in the formation of a tumour?

A. 1 mark

d. It was suggested that tumour cells from one mouse could be used to vaccinate another mouse against developing the same type of tumour.

Living tumour cells were removed from an affected mouse. Some of the cells were killed and some were kept alive for several weeks for later use.

Outline an experiment you would perform to test the idea that vaccination against a specific kind of tumour is possible.

Antigens exist on cell surfaces.
The following diagrams show the different forms of antigens, and their relative distribution, found on the surfaces of different strains of Staphylococcus bacteria.

e. Which strain would you use to make the vaccine?

Against which of the strains would your vaccine be effective?

Students were asked to draw an antibody that would be most effective against strain P. The following diagrams were presented by three students.

f. Explain which student has drawn an antibody that would be most effective against strain P Staphylococcus shown above.

A scientist carried out a number of immunity experiments with mice - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2005 - Paper 1

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A scientist carried out a number of immunity experiments with mice - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2005 - Paper 1

Conclusion 1 and evidence

Conclusion 2 and evidence

b. Explain what you would expect to happen to the skin graft from strain C:

c. In what way is apoptosis significant in the formation of a tumour?

d. Outline an experiment you would perform to test the idea that vaccination against a specific kind of tumour is possible.

e. Which strain would you use to make the vaccine?

f. Against which of the strains would your vaccine be effective?

g. Explain which student has drawn an antibody that would be most effective against strain P Staphylococcus shown above.

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