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NSWBiologyQuick questions
Module 8: Non-infectious Disease and Disorders
Quick questions on Disease management: pharmaceuticals, gene therapy, lifestyle: HSC Biology Module 8
15short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is pharmaceutical intervention?Show answer
Pharmaceuticals modify physiology by targeting receptors, enzymes, transporters or ion channels. They are the workhorse of chronic disease management.
What is gene therapy?Show answer
Gene therapy modifies the patient's DNA to correct a genetic defect. Two main approaches:
What is lifestyle change?Show answer
Lifestyle interventions modify behavioural risk factors and often work on multiple diseases at once.
What is comparing the three approaches?Show answer
In practice these are layered: a person with type 2 diabetes might use metformin (pharmaceutical), Mediterranean diet and exercise (lifestyle), and, in the future, possibly gene editing of metabolic regulators (gene therapy).
What is cancer chemotherapy?Show answer
Cytotoxic agents (cisplatin, doxorubicin, paclitaxel) damage rapidly dividing cells; selective for cancer but with collateral toxicity to bone marrow, gut and hair follicles.
What is gene addition?Show answer
A functional gene is delivered to the patient's cells, usually by a viral vector (adeno-associated virus, lentivirus).
What is gene editing?Show answer
Cas9 nuclease guided by a short RNA precisely cuts a chosen DNA sequence, which the cell repairs through homology-directed repair (introducing a correct sequence) or non-homologous end joining (disabling a gene).
What is strengths?Show answer
Potentially curative; targets root cause; one-time treatment.
What is limitations?Show answer
Cost (Casgevy approximately 3 million Australian dollars per patient); access (specialist centres only); off-target editing risk; ethical concerns around germline editing.
What is physical activity?Show answer
150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity plus 2 sessions of resistance training per week reduces cardiovascular mortality by approximately 30 percent, improves insulin sensitivity, and reduces depression and dementia risk.
What is smoking cessation?Show answer
Halves the excess cardiovascular risk within 1 year; lung cancer risk approaches non-smoker rates after 15 to 20 years.
What is alcohol reduction?Show answer
Australian guidelines recommend no more than 10 standard drinks per week. Reduction reduces hypertension, atrial fibrillation, liver disease and several cancers.
What is sleep and stress?Show answer
Chronic sleep deprivation and unmanaged stress contribute to hypertension, insulin resistance and depression. Cognitive behavioural therapy is effective for both.
What is outcome?Show answer
A pragmatic combination targets multiple disease processes at once. Lifestyle is the foundation; pharmaceuticals provide reliable, measurable risk reduction; gene therapy is not yet applicable but may be in future for high-risk genetic subtypes.
What is saying pharmaceuticals "cure" chronic disease?Show answer
Most pharmaceuticals manage disease; they need to be taken indefinitely.