Directorate: Curriculum FET

SUBJECT and Life Sciences Grade 11

GRADE
TERM 1 Week 3
TOPIC Biodiversity and classification of micro-organisms
AIMS OF At the end of this lesson you should be able to know the following:
LESSON • Symbiotic relationships of bacteria
• Effect and management of ONE disease from each of the 4 groups
• Immunity, effect of drugs, use of microorganisms and traditional technology
RESOURCES Paper based resources
Refer to:
Your textbook section on viruses, bacteria, Protista and fungi
INTRODUCTION • Various microorganisms live in symbiosis with other organisms.
• Most of these symbiotic relationships are mutualistic, where both organisms benefit from the
relationship
• Refer to the nitrogen cycle covered in Grade 10
CONCEPTS Role of microorganisms in symbiotic relationships: Know the meaning of instructional verbs in test and
AND SKILLS examination questions e.g.
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in plants:

• Nitrogen is needed by all organisms because Instructional verb Meaning

it forms part of proteins.
• Nitrogen in the atmosphere cannot be used Name Give the name of something
by most organisms. Differentiate Use differences to qualify
• Mutualistic nodule bacteria on the roots of between two or more
legumes (peas, beans) absorb nitrogen gas categories
from the air spaces between soil particles and Tabulate Draw a table and indicate
convert the nitrogen to nitrates that the plant the answers as direct pairs.
can absorb.
 • The legumes provide food and a secure Instructional verb Meaning
habitat for the bacteria.
Describe State in sentences the main
Bacteria in the human intestines: points of a process
Explain Give your answer in a cause-
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria lives in the effect or statement and reason
large intestines of humans sequence
• E. coli produce vitamin K which plays an Compare Give similarities and differences
important role in blood clotting in humans. between concepts
• In exchange, E. coli obtain nutrients from the
human intestine and the intestine Answer the following questions:
environment protects the bacteria.
Question 1:
Diseases caused by microorganisms: 1. Give the correct biological term for each of the
You are required to study the effect and following descriptions:
management of ONE disease of each of the four
groups listed below i.e. 1.1 A symbiotic relationship where both organisms
Virusses – rabies/HIV and AIDS/influenza benefit.
Bacteria – blight, cholera, tuberculosis, anthrax 1.2 An infectious biological agent or organism that
Protists – malaria causes disease.
Fungi – rusts, thrush, ringworm, athlete’s foot 1.3 A medicine e.g. penicillin which is developed from
living organisms e.g. bacteria or fungi and used to fight
Note: We are only going to cover ONE of the infections caused by either bacteria or fungi.
diseases of each of the groups in this lesson. Ask 1.4 A hormone produced in the pancreas and released
your teacher which FOUR diseases will be covered into the blood to help convert glucose into glycogen.
at your school. 1.5 The body’s response to the presence of disease-
causing organisms before it has a chance to cause an
HIV/AIDS as an example of a disease that is caused illness.
by VIRUSES: 1.6 An injection of a weakened pathogen that produces
immunity in the body.
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 1.7 A micro-organism used in the manufacturing of beer
(AIDS) is a sexually transmitted disease and bread.
 caused by the Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV)
• The virus infects and destroys cells of the
immune system which are known as the CD4
– cells. This weakens the body’s immune
system.
• The HI virus is spread mainly through the
transfer of body fluids such as semen and
blood from an infected person to another
person.
Effects of HIV/AIDS:
• A lack of symptoms during the first phase of
infection which can last years.
• Flu like symptoms which include headaches,
fever, tiredness, and the swelling of lymph
glands in the armpits, throat or groin can
occur.
• As the immune system weakens symptoms
such as repeated cold-sore infections,
prolonged fevers, night sweats, etc. occur.
Extreme weight loss can also occur.
• A weakened immune system allows
secondary or opportunistic infections to
occur. These include respiratory infections,
pneumonia, epilepsy, dementia, skin
cancers, lymph cancer and tuberculosis.
• In the final phase of HIV infection, the
disease is known as AIDS. Death can occur
in this phase due to secondary infections.
• HIV/AIDS affects families e.g. if both parents
are infected and die, their children become
orphans.
• The economy of a country is also affected
by HIV/AIDS.
1.8 The type of symbiotic relationship displayed by E. coli
living in the human intestines.
Question 2:
2. Study the extract about malaria below
Malaria is a parasitic disease which occurs mainly in
tropical and subtropical regions. It is transmitted in
humans through the bite of a female mosquito of the
Anopheles species, which is the vector for the parasite.
It is estimated that 1 to 3 million people die from
malaria every year and the majority are children from
Sub-Saharan Africa.
The most effective way of managing malaria is to
destroy its vector. An insecticide which has been
successful to date is DDT. The inner walls of the house
are sprayed with DDT so that the mosquitoes die if they
sit on or near them. However, the use of DDT has been
banned since 1972.
In South Africa the incidence of malaria has been less
than 10 000 cases per year. South Africa only stopped
its use of DDT in 1996. The number of infections
recorded since has increased to 64 000 in 2000. When
the use of DDT was re-introduced only for disease-
vector control, the reported cases in South Africa
decreased to 7 000 in 2005.
2.1 To which group of micro-organisms does the malaria
parasite belong?
2.2 State any TWO ways to avoid contracting malaria.
Management of HIV/AIDS: 2.3 Describe how the malaria parasite is passed from one
human to another.
• Testing for the virus in people who are at
2.4 Give ONE reason why a person with malaria cannot
high risk (e.g. health workers, prostitutes,
be treated by using an antibiotic.
drug users).
2.5 Explain how an increase in the number of malaria
• Counselling and treatment for infected
infections would affect the South African economy.
people with antiviral drugs.
2.6 Suggest ONE way in which the data about the
• Strengthening the immune system of
number of infections was collected.
infected persons.
2.7 Give ONE reason why the number of infections might
• Treatment of secondary infections.
have been more than 7 000 in the year 2005.
• Education and the prevention of infection
by not having sexual intercourse or using
protection such as a condom.
Question 3:
3. Different types of bacteria are used to make yoghurt
TUBERCULOSIS as an example of a disease that is from milk. The ideal temperature to produce yoghurt is 40
caused by BACTERIA: ºC. Two types of bacteria act together to cause milk to
thicken and go sour. The sourness is due to the conversion
• Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease
of sugar (lactose) in the milk to lactic acid. When the
caused by the bacterium, Mycobacterium
correct level of acidity, taste and consistency is reached,
tuberculosis.
the yoghurt is cooled. This slows down the bacterial
• TB mainly affects the lungs but can also
activity but does not kill the bacteria. The lactic acid and
affect other parts of the body such as the
low pH prevent the growth of other bacterial species.
kidneys, brain and spinal cord.
• TB is spread through the air when infected
In an investigation into the production of yoghurt, a
people cough or sneeze.
learner carried out the following procedure:
• A water bath was set at 40 ºC.
Effects of TB
• 200 cm3 of sterilised milk was placed in a sterile
• When TB bacteria is inhaled, they reproduce beaker and 5 cm3 active yoghurt was added to
and cause infection in the lungs the milk.
• Symptoms of TB include: • The mixture was stirred and placed in the water
➢ extreme tiredness and weakness bath.
➢ loss of appetite and weight • The temperature and pH were monitored, by two
➢ fever and sweating at night sensors over a 3-hour period.
➢ excessive coughing
➢ chest pains The results are shown in the graph below.
➢ coughing up blood
Management of TB:

• Identification of infections through X-rays,

skin tests or tissue cultures.
• Educating patients regarding the
completion of treatment. Treatment involves
an aggressive course of antibiotics over a
few months.

MALARIA as an example of a disease that is

caused by PROTISTS:

• Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by a

protist of the genus Plasmodium and is
spread by the female Anopheles mosquito.
• Blood is sucked up by the mosquito when it
bites an infected person.
• This blood contains malaria parasites and
they develop in the mosquito.
• When the mosquito bites a next person, the
parasites are injected into the bloodstream
of that person.
Effects of malaria:
• After infection, the parasites move in the
bloodstream to the liver of the infected
person where they multiply.
• New parasites enter the blood and multiply
in the red blood cells.
• The red blood cells may burst because of
the multiplication of the parasites and this
can lead to anaemia
3.1 What is the pH of the milk at the start of the
investigation?
3.2 Explain why the pH changed as shown in the graph.
3.3 Account for the change in temperature between 0
and 30 minutes.
3.4 Why is it important to use sterilised milk in the
investigation?
3.5 State ONE reason why yoghurt should be stored at a
low temperature rather than room temperature.
3.6 What control should be set up to validate the results
obtained?
3.7 Predict what results would be obtained if the
investigation was repeated with 10 cm3 of active yoghurt
added to 200 cm3 milk.
 • Other symptoms of malaria include: fever
and shivering, headache, joint pain,
vomiting.
• If left untreated, malaria may lead to the
infected person falling into a coma,
followed by death.
Management of malaria:
Question 4:
4. Synthetic insulin is used to treat diabetes and is
produced by genetic engineering technology. Genetic
engineering is the manipulation or transfer of genes from
one organism to another to make products that satisfy
human needs.
The diagram below represents the process.

• The best way to manage malaria is to avoid

being bitten by mosquitoes in areas where
malaria occurs.
• Anti-malarial drugs can be taken before
entering a malaria area.

THRUSH as an example of a disease that is caused

by FUNGI:

• Thrush is caused by a fungus called Candida

albicans.
• Thrush can grow on all surfaces of the
human body but favours moist areas such as
the mouth, vagina and upper parts of the
digestive tract.

Effects of thrush: 4.1 Describe the steps involved in producing the

recombinant DNA.
• Oral thrush (in the mouth) is characterised by 4.2 Explain why bacteria are most suitable for genetic
white sores on the tongue and in the mouth engineering.
• Symptoms include difficulty with eating and
an uncomfortable burning in the mouth.
Management of thrush:

• Improved hygiene
• Following a balanced diet
• Controlled stress levels

Immunity:

• Immunity refers to the way in which a plant or animal is able to fight an infection.
• By means of the immune system, the human body monitors the exposure to harmful elements and
provides defence.

Immune responses in plants:

• The first line of defence in plants includes the waxy cuticle, bark and the closely packed epidermal cells
which protects them from invading micro-organisms.
• If a plant is injured, it can produce sticky gums and resins in an attempt to seal the wound and prevent
infection.
• The second line of defence occurs when a plant becomes infected by a pathogen and its natural
immune response is activated.
• It releases chemical compounds such as salicylic acid which are transported in the phloem to cells
which are not affected.
• The unaffected cells respond by producing various chemical defences to protect themselves.

Immune responses in animals:

• Animals have two types of immunity i.e. natural immunity which is present at birth, and acquired
immunity which develops after exposure to pathogens.
• The human body’s first line of defence against pathogens is the external barrier (e.g. the skin) that
prevents harmful substances from entering the body.
• If pathogens penetrate the barriers and infiltrate the body, the first response is inflammation and fever
which prevent the multiplication and spread of pathogens.
• Pathogens that have penetrated the body tissues are actively destroyed and the body stores a memory
of the response.
 • The white blood cells (leucocytes) recognize the pathogens as foreign cells as soon as they enter the
bloodstream and they destroy the pathogens.
• The immune system involves two types of white blood cells i.e. lymphocytes and phagocytes.

Vaccinations:

• A vaccine consists of dead or weakened micro-organisms or their toxins, that will stimulate the
production of antibodies by the lymphocytes.
• Vaccinations or immunisation is the process of giving a vaccine either by injection or orally (by mouth) to
prevent disease.

The use of microorganisms to produce medicine:

Antibiotics:

• Antibiotics are chemical substances that fight infections caused by bacteria.

• Most antibiotics are obtained from fungi.
• The best-known antibiotic is penicillin which is produced by the fungus Penicillium.
• Antibiotics usually target a specific part of a bacterium e.g. they prevent cell walls from forming,
damage cell membranes and stop protein synthesis.

Production of insulin:
• Biotechnology refers to the use of micro-organisms to make substances which are useful to humans.
These include medicines such as antibiotics and insulin as well as foods such as bread, wine and cheese.
• Human insulin is produced by bacteria in the following way:
➢ a plasmid is removed from a bacterium
➢ the plasmid is cut open using an enzyme
➢ a piece of DNA containing the gene for making insulin is extracted from a chromosome taken from a
human pancreas cell
➢ the DNA is joined to the plasmid from the bacterium to form recombinant DNA
➢ the recombinant DNA is inserted into a bacterium
➢ the genetically engineered bacteria reproduce rapidly
➢ the insulin gene is replicated as the bacteria reproduces
 ➢ Large numbers of bacterial cells with the gene coding for insulin production is formed
➢ the insulin is then extracted from the bacteria and purified.

Traditional technology:
• Micro-organisms such as yeast can undergo alcoholic fermentation (respire in the absence of oxygen).
• During this process glucose is changed into alcohol, carbon dioxide and energy.
• This type of fermentation is used in the production of beer, wine and cheese.

Common errors made by learners in examinations:

• Unable to answer questions based on the topics covered in this lesson
• Unable to identify the correct biological term
ACTIVITIES/ • Complete the questions given in this lesson as well as questions in your prescribed textbook on this topic.
ASSESSMENT
CONSOLIDATION • Work through the questions on this topic that are covered in past examination papers
• Conduct research on the effects and management of the latest coronavirus
• Reflect on your learning and understanding of this topic and assess your progress
VALUES • By studying this section, you will develop scientific skills and ways of thinking scientifically. You will also
develop your knowledge of key biological concepts.