Approximately 2 × 10⁹ people in the world are currently infected with the bacterial disease tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Early diagnosis is important so that treatment can begin. APOPO is a non-profit organisation that has trained African giant pouched rats, Cricetomys gambianus, to use their sense of smell to detect M. tuberculosis. They do this by sniffing a sample of thick mucus from the lungs of people who may have TB. The African giant pouched rats are able to detect the presence of M. tuberculosis with an accuracy of 87–93%. [Figure 8.1]

Q: What topic does this question test?

This question tests Infectious diseases in A-Level Biology (syllabus code 9700). It is worth 11 marks.

Q: Which exam paper is this question from?

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Biology Feb/Mar 2024 examination, Paper 4 Variant 2 (9700_m24_qp_42.pdf).

Question

Approximately 2 × 10⁹ people in the world are currently infected with the bacterial disease tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Early diagnosis is important so that treatment can begin. APOPO is a non-profit organisation that has trained African giant pouched rats, Cricetomys gambianus, to use their sense of smell to detect M. tuberculosis. They do this by sniffing a sample of thick mucus from the lungs of people who may have TB. The African giant pouched rats are able to detect the presence of M. tuberculosis with an accuracy of 87–93%. [Figure 8.1]

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