Students often assume all bacteria and microorganisms are pathogens. Remember that most microorganisms are harmless or even beneficial; only a small percentage cause disease.
When defining health for OCR B, always explicitly mention 'social well-being' alongside physical and mental well-being, as this is a specific mark scheme point.
In exam questions asking how viruses cause illness, you must explicitly state that they 'reproduce inside cells' and then 'damage or burst the cell' when they leave to secure full marks.
Be prepared to distinguish between correlation and causation in data interpretation questions. You must cite a specific causal mechanism to prove causation, rather than just pointing out a trend on a graph.
Health
A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Social well-being
A component of health referring to having social support and the ability to interact effectively with others.
Disease
A condition that stops any part of the body from functioning properly, causing physical or mental ill health.
Communicable disease
A disease caused by a pathogen that can be passed from one organism to another (transmissible).
Non-communicable disease
A disease that cannot be transmitted between individuals and is typically linked to genetics, lifestyle, or environmental factors.
Pathogen
A microorganism (such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, or protist) that causes disease.
Bacteria
A type of microorganism that can be pathogenic, causing disease by reproducing rapidly and producing toxins that damage tissues.
Toxins
Poisons produced by certain pathogens, such as bacteria, that damage host tissues.
Viruses
Pathogens that must enter host cells to survive and replicate, eventually causing the host cell to burst and die.
Transmissible
The ability of a disease or pathogen to be passed from one individual to another.
Vector
An organism that carries a pathogen from one host to another without being affected by the disease itself.
Risk factor
Any aspect of a person's lifestyle or environment that increases the probability of them developing a disease.
Causal mechanism
A proven scientific process that explains exactly how a risk factor results in a disease.
Correlation
A relationship or pattern between two variables, which does not necessarily prove that one causes the other.
Put your knowledge into practice — try past paper questions for Biology B
Health
A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Social well-being
A component of health referring to having social support and the ability to interact effectively with others.
Disease
A condition that stops any part of the body from functioning properly, causing physical or mental ill health.
Communicable disease
A disease caused by a pathogen that can be passed from one organism to another (transmissible).
Non-communicable disease
A disease that cannot be transmitted between individuals and is typically linked to genetics, lifestyle, or environmental factors.
Pathogen
A microorganism (such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, or protist) that causes disease.
Bacteria
A type of microorganism that can be pathogenic, causing disease by reproducing rapidly and producing toxins that damage tissues.
Toxins
Poisons produced by certain pathogens, such as bacteria, that damage host tissues.
Viruses
Pathogens that must enter host cells to survive and replicate, eventually causing the host cell to burst and die.
Transmissible
The ability of a disease or pathogen to be passed from one individual to another.
Vector
An organism that carries a pathogen from one host to another without being affected by the disease itself.
Risk factor
Any aspect of a person's lifestyle or environment that increases the probability of them developing a disease.
Causal mechanism
A proven scientific process that explains exactly how a risk factor results in a disease.
Correlation
A relationship or pattern between two variables, which does not necessarily prove that one causes the other.