Exercise, medical technology and ethicsEdexcel A-Level Biology A: Mind map

Exam questions on Exercise, medical technology and ethics

1. A cohort study followed 20 000 adults aged 40 to 60 for ten years. Of the participants who took more than 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, 5.0 % developed type 2 diabetes. Participants who took less than 60 minutes per week were 2.4 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The less active group also had a higher average body mass index and ate more processed food.
   Explain why this study cannot prove that a lack of exercise causes type 2 diabetes.2 marks
2. A 24-year-old footballer tears the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. His surgeon repairs it using keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery rather than open surgery. A teammate who had a lower leg amputated after a road accident now competes in running events using a carbon-fibre prosthetic blade.
   Explain how keyhole surgery can allow an injured athlete to return to sport sooner.2 marks
3. A study compared 500 marathon runners with 500 non-running volunteers matched for age. In the two weeks after the marathon, 30 % of the runners reported symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection (a cold or sore throat). In the control group, 12 % reported these symptoms over the same two weeks.
   Calculate how many times greater the number of runners with symptoms was than the number of control volunteers with symptoms.3 marks