Question

2.8 mastery check
write a response explaining how antibiotics work.
you must use at least 3 sentences and include the words: bacteria, cell wall enzymes/protein, human cells.
some words:
bacteriostatic (stops bacteria from reproducing)
bactericidal (kills bacteria)
homeostasis (maintaining stable internal environment)

Explanation:

Antibiotics target bacteria. Some antibiotics, like penicillin, interfere with the formation of the bacterial cell wall. Bacteria have cell walls made of peptidoglycan, while human cells do not have this structure. Antibiotics can also act on bacterial enzymes/proteins. For example, some antibiotics inhibit enzymes involved in bacterial DNA replication. Bacteriostatic antibiotics stop bacteria from reproducing by interfering with processes like protein synthesis (which involves bacterial enzymes/proteins). Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria, perhaps by causing the cell wall to break down completely (since the cell wall is crucial for bacterial survival). This helps the body maintain homeostasis by getting rid of harmful bacteria without (in most cases) harming human cells, as the mechanisms targeted (cell - wall synthesis, specific bacterial enzymes) are different from those in human cells.

Answer:

Antibiotics work by targeting bacteria. They can act on the bacterial cell wall (which human cells lack). Some antibiotics inhibit bacterial enzymes/proteins. Bacteriostatic antibiotics stop bacterial reproduction by interfering with enzyme - mediated processes (like protein synthesis), and bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria, often by disrupting cell - wall - related enzymes. This helps the body maintain homeostasis as human cells are not targeted due to differences in cell - wall structure and enzyme composition.