Year 10 Biology: Cancer Non-communicable Diseases and Photosynthesis

Understanding Non-communicable Diseases

What are Non-communicable Diseases?

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are health problems that cannot be spread from person to person. They often develop over time due to a combination of lifestyle choices, genetics, and environmental factors. Some common examples of non-communicable diseases include:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Chronic respiratory diseases

Focus on Cancer

Cancer is one of the most well-known non-communicable diseases. It occurs when cells in the body grow uncontrollably. Normally, our body has a system to regulate cell growth, but sometimes this system fails.

Key Facts about Cancer:

• Types of Cancer: There are many types, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancer.
• Causes: Factors like smoking, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and exposure to harmful substances can increase the risk of developing cancer.
• Symptoms: Symptoms can vary but may include unusual lumps, fatigue, weight loss, or changes in skin.

Tips to Reduce Cancer Risk

1. Eat a balanced diet: Include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
2. Stay active: Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days.
3. Avoid tobacco: Smoking and even secondhand smoke can increase cancer risk.
4. Limit alcohol: Drinking less can help reduce risks.

Understanding Photosynthesis

What is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy. This process allows them to make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

How Does Photosynthesis Work?

1. Light Absorption: Plants have a green pigment called chlorophyll that captures sunlight.
2. Water and Carbon Dioxide: Plants take in water from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air.
3. Chemical Reaction: Using light energy, plants convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen.

The overall equation for photosynthesis can be written as:

$$

\text{6 CO}_2 + \text{6 H}_2\text{O} + \text{light energy} \rightarrow \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + \text{6 O}_2

$$

Importance of Photosynthesis

• Oxygen Production: Photosynthesis produces oxygen, which is essential for human and animal life.
• Food Source: It is the foundation of the food chain. Plants provide food for herbivores, which in turn provide food for carnivores.

Tips for Understanding Photosynthesis

1. Visualise the Process: Draw diagrams that show how sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide lead to glucose and oxygen.
2. Use Mnemonics: Remember the equation with a catchy phrase, like “Sunny Water Creates Grateful Oxygen.”

Questions

Easy Level (1-20)

1. What is a non-communicable disease?
2. Name one example of cancer.
3. Can you catch cancer from someone else? (Yes/No)
4. What pigment do plants use to absorb sunlight?
5. What do plants produce during photosynthesis?
6. Name a lifestyle choice that can reduce cancer risk.
7. How many carbon dioxide molecules are needed for photosynthesis?
8. What is the main food produced by plants?
9. Is heart disease a communicable disease? (Yes/No)
10. What is the role of chlorophyll?
11. Name a fruit that is good for a balanced diet.
12. What gas do plants take in during photosynthesis?
13. How many water molecules are used in the photosynthesis equation?
14. What type of energy do plants use to make food?
15. Name one symptom of cancer.
16. Can exercise help reduce cancer risk? (Yes/No)
17. What do plants give off as a byproduct of photosynthesis?
18. Name a type of cancer that affects the skin.
19. What part of the plant is responsible for taking in water?
20. Is diabetes a communicable disease? (Yes/No)

Medium Level (21-40)

21. Explain why cancer is considered a non-communicable disease.
22. Describe how sunlight affects photosynthesis.
23. What are the two main reactants in photosynthesis?
24. How does smoking increase the risk of cancer?
25. Why is it important for plants to undergo photosynthesis?
26. What role do herbivores play in the food chain?
27. Name three factors that can affect cancer risk.
28. What is the difference between a benign and malignant tumour?
29. How do plants store the glucose produced during photosynthesis?
30. What is one way to test if plants are undergoing photosynthesis?
31. Why do we say that photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth?
32. What lifestyle changes can help prevent diabetes?
33. How does carbon dioxide enter the plant?
34. What can happen when cancer cells grow uncontrollably?
35. What are the four stages of cancer?
36. How do environmental factors influence the risk of developing cancer?
37. What is the overall importance of oxygen produced in photosynthesis?
38. How do plants use glucose for energy?
39. Can cancer treatments affect healthy cells? Explain.
40. What is the connection between photosynthesis and the food chain?

Hard Level (41-60)

41. Discuss the relationship between diet and cancer risk.
42. Elaborate on the role of antioxidants in cancer prevention.
43. How does photosynthesis contribute to the carbon cycle?
44. What are the main types of cancer treatment?
45. Compare the efficiency of photosynthesis in different plants.
46. Explain how genetic factors can influence cancer risk.
47. What impact does urbanisation have on plant photosynthesis?
48. Discuss the role of sunlight in ecosystems beyond plants.
49. Explain how cancer can spread in the body.
50. How does the availability of water affect photosynthesis?
51. Describe how photosynthesis has changed over geological time.
52. What are the ethical considerations in cancer research?
53. Discuss the impact of climate change on photosynthesis.
54. How can public health initiatives help reduce cancer rates?
55. What is the significance of the “1 in 2” statistic regarding cancer?
56. How do different wavelengths of light affect photosynthesis?
57. What are some common misconceptions about cancer?
58. Explain the process of metastasis.
59. Discuss the role of diet in supporting photosynthesis in plants (e.g., soil nutrients).
60. How does photosynthesis impact global warming?

Answers

Easy Level Answers

1. Non-communicable diseases are diseases that cannot be spread from person to person.
2. Breast cancer.
3. No.
4. Chlorophyll.
5. Glucose.
6. Eating a balanced diet.
7. 6 carbon dioxide molecules.
8. Glucose.
9. No.
10. To absorb sunlight.
11. Banana.
12. Carbon dioxide.
13. 6 water molecules.
14. Light energy.
15. Unusual lumps.
16. Yes.
17. Oxygen.
18. Skin cancer.
19. Roots.
20. No.

Medium Level Answers

21. Cancer is caused by cell growth that is out of control, not by germs.
22. Sunlight provides energy for the process.
23. Water and carbon dioxide.
24. Smoking introduces harmful chemicals that can damage cells.
25. It produces oxygen and food for plants.
26. They eat plants and transfer energy to higher levels in the food chain.
27. Genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
28. Benign tumours do not spread; malignant tumours can.
29. Plants store glucose as starch.
30. You can place a plant in sunlight and observe oxygen bubbles in water.
31. It provides oxygen for animals and humans to breathe.
32. Eating healthy foods and exercising.
33. Through small pores called stomata.
34. They can form tumours and spread throughout the body.
35. Initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis.
36. Pollution and radiation can increase risk.
37. It sustains life and supports respiration.
38. Plants convert glucose into energy for growth.
39. Yes, some treatments target fast-growing cells, including healthy ones.
40. Photosynthesis produces food that supports all living creatures in the ecosystem.

Hard Level Answers

41. A healthy diet can lower the chances of developing cancer by providing nutrients and antioxidants.
42. Antioxidants protect cells from damage that can lead to cancer.
43. Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produces oxygen.
44. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
45. Some plants are more efficient in converting sunlight to energy.
46. Certain genes can increase susceptibility to cancer.
47. Urbanisation can reduce green spaces, affecting air quality and photosynthesis.
48. Sunlight is vital for energy flow through ecosystems, affecting all living things.
49. Cancer can spread via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
50. Without enough water, photosynthesis cannot occur effectively.
51. Photosynthesis has evolved, with plants adapting to different environmental conditions.
52. Ethical considerations include patient consent and the use of human subjects.
53. Climate change can affect plant growth and photosynthetic rates.
54. Education and screening programs can help reduce cancer rates.
55. It means that 1 in 2 people may be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
56. Different wavelengths affect the energy absorption by chlorophyll.
57. Many people think cancer is contagious or only affects older people.
58. Metastasis is the process of cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
59. Nutrients in the soil help plants grow and perform photosynthesis.
60. Photosynthesis helps absorb carbon dioxide, mitigating greenhouse gas effects.

Feel free to use these explanations and questions to enhance your understanding of these important biological concepts!