CHAPTER 10 THE MAINTENANCE OF BALANCE BY THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Reflect on Your Learning

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1. The proteins are passed from one animal to another in tissue that is consumed.
2. Infectious diseases have always been attributed to viruses and microorganisms. To identify a disease, scientists must now
consider very small proteins as being infectious as well.
3. All except (e), diabetes mellitus.
4. Students may be aware of some autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or rheumatoid arthritis.

Try This Activity: Examining Brain Tissue

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(a) Brain tissue infected with scrapies has large empty areas or vacuoles that appear in the cytoplasm of neurons. These
cavities give the neuron a spongy appearance, hence the name spongiform. The vacuoles do not appear in the neurons of
normal brain tissue.
(b) Students usually see the nucleus and some vacuoles.

10.1 THE BODY’S LINES OF DEFENCE

Try This Activity: Observing Phagocytosis
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In this activity, students will see pseudopods engulf an object or food.

(a) As the amoeba moves, the pseudopod extends and cytoplasm moves toward the pseudopod.
(b) Phagocytosis is the process by which something is engulfed by a cell. White blood cells engulf microbes that invade the
body.

Section 10.1 Questions

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Understanding Concepts
1. The immune system protects internal organs and tissues against invading microbes. When a person has an
immunodeficiency disease like AIDS, the disease prevents their immune system from protecting them. They are more
susceptible to infection; an infection like pneumonia could kill them.
2. Lysozymes are part of the body’s first line of defence. Skin and mucous membranes defend the body against viral and
bacterial invaders. Lysozymes are antimicrobial enzymes that are secreted in tears, saliva, mucous secretions, and
perspiration. Lysozymes destroy the cell walls of foreign bacteria, killing the invading organism.
3. The respiratory system has cilia that filter or a layer of mucus that traps invading microbes and foreign debris. Cilia move
in waves and sweep particles toward the entrance, where coughing can expel the particles. In the digestive system, there
are corrosive acids and protein-digesting enzymes that destroy microbes carried into the body with food.
4. Monocytes are blood-circulating leukocytes that migrate to an infection site and then turn into macrophages. The
macrophages then perform phagocytosis using pseudopods that attach to the surface of the invading microbe. The microbe
is engulfed by the macrophage and is then digested by enzymes within the macrophage.
5. Swelling is a sign of the inflammatory response, which brings blood to the infection site; the blood carries disease-
fighting cells like macrophages and other leukocytes. Pus is made up of protein fragments, dead white blood cells, and
digested microbes—its presence means that phagocytosis is occurring.

Applying Inquiry Skills

6. (a) Patient X. Indicators are reduced red and white blood cell counts.
(b) Patient Z. Indicators are higher body temperature and an elevated white blood cell count. The red blood cell count is
normal.
(c) Patient Y. Indicators are increased white blood cell count and reduced red blood cell count because white blood cell
growth in the bone marrow reduces the red blood cell count numbers.

202 Unit 3 Homeostasis Copyright © 2003 Nelson

7. A low white blood cell count might indicate that an autoimmune disease is at work, targeting the body’s leukocytes. A
high white blood cell count would more likely indicate that the body is in the process of fighting off an infection and is
preparing more leukocytes for attack.

Making Connections
8. Student answers will vary. Students will indicate that David Vetter was isolated from his parents and other children and
forced to live in a sterile environment, free of potentially harmful microbes. Their childhood would have been very
different; they had many friends that they played with, they would have had a lot of interaction with their families, they
could go outside and play without being worried that they could get sick at any time, and so on.

10.2 THE IMMUNE RESPONSE

Explore an Issue Take a Stand: The Future of Stem Cell Research
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Statement: Governments should redirect some funding from organ transplant research to autologous (i.e., originating from the
same individual) stem cell research.

Student answers will vary. This is a very controversial topic. Teachers should be careful to allow students to express their
opinions but ensure that the discussion does not offend students in the class. This debate will have to be carefully conducted.
Some sample answers to the question in the debate are presented below:

(i) If an alternative source for stem cells can be found, stem cells will no longer have to come from embryos. Successful
treatment will no longer rely on using a human embryo.
(ii) Students might answer that a “patent on life” is not advisable—companies should not be able to make money from
people’s lives. Or students might argue that patent protection is necessary for companies to invest the large amounts of
money that will be needed to conduct research.
(iii) Stem cell research represents for many people the major threat of the recent explosion in genetic research. We are moving
toward being able to alter the process of creation—this causes concern for many people, on religious and ethical grounds.
(iv) In the absence of regulation, companies would be able to pursue this technology however they like. If the research is to
continue, the government feels that it is the only party that will take into account the concerns and wishes of every citizen.

CBC Stem Cell Backgrounder

http://cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/stemcells.html

Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions

Department of Health and Human Services, June 2001
http://www.nih.gov/news/stemcell/scireport.htm

CIHR Releases Stem Cell Research Guidelines

http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/publications/about_cihr/president/archived_speeches/20020304speech_e.shtml

CNN.com In-Depth Special: The Stem Cell Debate

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/stemcell/

Stem-Cell Powers Challenged—Nature Magazine

http://www.nature.com/nsu/020311/020311-5.html

Should Stem Cell Research Be a Crime?

http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/expressnews/articles/ideas.cfm?p_ID=802

Section 10.2 Questions

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Understanding Concepts
1. An antigen is a substance, usually a protein that stimulates the formation of antibodies. An antibody is a protein formed
within the blood that inactivates or destroys antigens.

Copyright © 2003 Nelson Chapter 10 The Maintenance of Balance by the Immune System 203