Biology · Science General

Disease Causative Agents

2,258 Questions

Disease causative agents questions test your understanding of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, along with their transmission methods. These are common topics in general science sections of SSC and railways exams. Practice these questions to accurately identify disease pathogens and symptoms.

Viral diseasesFoodborne illnessesDisease transmission methodsExtrinsic disease factorsCommon pathogens

Disease Causative Agents Questions

Multiple choice

What is a leading cause of communicable disease deaths annually?

  1. Malaria

  2. Viral hepatitis

  3. STDs

  4. Salmonellosis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Malaria is a leading cause of death among communicable diseases globally, particularly in tropical regions. While the other options are significant health concerns, they do not match the scale of annual mortality associated with malaria.

Multiple choice

Which disease is an airborne illness?

  1. Malaria

  2. Lyme Disease

  3. Measles

  4. Norovirus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through respiratory droplets in the air. Malaria is vector-borne, Lyme is tick-borne, and Norovirus is typically fecal-oral.

Multiple choice zoology health and diseases non-infectious diseases non infectious diseases categories of diseases

Transformation of $C$. one into oncogene is known as?

  1. Carcinogen

  2. Oncogenic transformation

  3. Neoplastic cell

  4. Cancer cell
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Transformation of C.one into oncogene is known as carcinogen. A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis, the formation of cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. 
So the correct option is 'Carcinogen'.
Multiple choice biology health and diseases non-infectious diseases non infectious diseases categories of diseases

'Philadelphia chromosome' is found in the patient suffering from

  1. Insomnia

  2. Leukaemia

  3. Hepatitis

  4. Albinism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Philadelphia chromosome' is found in the patient suffering from leukaemia. The main cause is a genetic abnormality in chromosome 22 of leukaemia cancer cells. The chromosome is short due to a reciprocal translocation between chromosome 9 and chromosome 22 and contains a fusion gene called BCR-ABL1 which is juxtaposed onto the BCR gene of chromosome 22, coding for a hybrid protein, a tyrosine kinase signalling protein which causes rapid multiplication of the cell.

So, the correct answer is 'Leukaemia'.

Multiple choice biology health and diseases non-infectious diseases non infectious diseases categories of diseases

Cancer is not a contagious disease instead, it is an error in cellular regulation.
Why is it that cancer can spread so quickly throughout a living organism?

  1. Some cancer cells can produce their own growth factor to pass cell cycle checkpoints.

  2. Cancer cells reproduce by going through the phases of the cell cycle in the wrong sequence.

  3. Cancer cells are developed by natural selection due to overuse of antibiotics.
  4. Cancer cells spend most of their time in the G$ _0$ phase of the cell cycle.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Cell cycles are regulated by cyclins and Cyclin dependent kinases (CDK). In cancer cells this regulatory mechanism is lost, thus the cells divide or proliferate in an uncontrolled manner after a certain stage, they produce growth factors and respond to them in an autocrine manner. Since, they are the body cells they are not destroyed by the immune system. They are capable of separating from the parent tumor and establishing else where in the body, a process called metastasis.

So, the correct answer is 'Some cancer cells can produce their own growth factor to pass cell cycle checkpoints'

Multiple choice biology health and diseases non-infectious diseases non infectious diseases categories of diseases

Use of artificial sweetener saccharin has been discontinued because it is

  1. Carcinogenic

  2. Liable to decompose in hot weather of tropics

  3. Bitter in the beginning

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Saccharin is a artificial sweetener. It is thermostable and remains inert at high temperature. It was discovered in 1879. It helps to control weight and its good for diabetes patients. It was used as sugar substitute in place of sucrose. It has been discontinued because it was considered a carcinogenic agent by FDA.

So, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice biology health and diseases non-infectious diseases non infectious diseases categories of diseases

Cervical cancer is caused by 

  1. Chlamydia

  2. Human Papillomavirus

  3. Herpes Simplex Virus

  4. Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Cervical cancer is cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. It is caused by Human Papillomavirus
  • Initially, no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, or pain during sexual intercourse.
  • Hence Cervical cancer is caused by Human Papillomavirus.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Human Papillomavirus'.
Multiple choice biology health and diseases non-infectious diseases non infectious diseases categories of diseases

Nuclear leakage is 

  1. Carcinogenic

  2. Immunosuppressent

  3. Autoimmunising

  4. Infectious
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In nuclear leakage, apart from the damage caused by fires and explosions, accidents also release radioactive materials which can cause radiation sickness. The radiation possesses carcinogenic potential. It will induce cancer in tissues of most species at all ages including the fetus. Nuclear waste is hazardous for tens of thousands of years.

So, the correct answer is 'Carcinogenic'.

Multiple choice

Subramaniya Siva affected by which disease?

  1. Leprosy

  2. None
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Subramaniya Siva was a dedicated freedom fighter who suffered from leprosy, which he contracted during his imprisonment by the British.

Multiple choice

Fumonsin and zearalenone are examples of:

  1. Vitamins

  2. Mycotoxins

  3. Minerals

  4. Carbohydrates
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Fumonisins and zearalenone are toxic compounds produced by certain molds (fungi) that can contaminate feedstuffs. These are classified as mycotoxins.

Multiple choice

Pathogenic bacteria come from;

  1. Raw food

  2. Water

  3. People

  4. All of the aboved
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Pathogenic bacteria can come from multiple sources: raw foods (especially meat, poultry, eggs), contaminated water, and infected people (poor hygiene, carriers). All listed sources are valid pathways for pathogen contamination.