Figure 3: Script Followed for Instruction on Biological Weapons Using the Question Exploration Routine
Today we will be discussing biological weapons. This is an important topic in the world today, where we must be concerned with forms of modern warfare. Please take notes on the Question Exploration Guide and be prepared to discuss the topic and add what you know about it.
First, a critical question today is, “Why are biological weapons such a great danger?”
Second, we need to ask, “What are key terms and explanations we need to answer this question?” To start our discussion, I have already written five words in the second section of your Guide. One key term is organism, a living thing. Another is a biological weapon, a harmful substance made from an organism or its poisons. We also need to know that an antibody is the body's own defense against an infection. An antibiotic is a man-made substance that can harm living things. A vaccineis a dead organism that gives protection, that is, provides immunity, when it given as a shot. However, it takes time for the body to build immunity after being given a vaccine.
Third, we will ask a series of smaller questions that will help us discover why biological weapons are such a great danger. The first smaller question is, “What are organisms used as biological weapons?” I have listed on your Guide four organisms that can be used as biological weapons. These are virus, bacterium, fungus, and toxin.
The other smaller questions we will ask about each organism are: “What are examples and effects of each?” and “What are treatments for each and problems with those treatments?” Let’s answer each of these questions about each organism in order.
A virus cannot even be seen with a normal microscope. An example of a virus is smallpox, a highly catching disease that can spread easily from person to person, causing fever and blisters. A vaccine could be given as a treatment, but the vaccine is no longer made since smallpox was thought to be wiped out several decades ago.
Another living organism that can be used as a biological weapon is a bacterium, a single-celled organism. An example of a bacterium is anthrax, which comes from livestock or farm animals. The effect of anthrax is to harm the lungs. Harm from a bacterium such as anthrax may be treated with vaccines and antibiotics, but there may not be enough. So although treatments exist for some biological weapons, problems are that supplies may be inadequate, meaning there are not enough of them.
An example of a fungus is a plant such as wilt. A fungus can cause harm in humans, but as a weapon, it is most likely used to kill crops to destroy the food supply and weaken a nation for years; so the effect is very long lasting.A fungus is treated by spraying with fungicides, a chemical that kills a fungus, but supplies of fungicides are inadequate to cover very large areas.
Another example of an organism used as a weapon is a toxin. A toxin is a poison given off by a living thing, but, unlike a bacterium or a virus, it is not a living thing itself. An example of a toxin is ricin, a poison from a castor bean plant that is very harmful, often causing death. Toxins such as ricin have no treatments, so humans must try to avoid them.
Fourth, we need use all this information to answer the critical question, “Why are biological weapons such a great danger?” Let’s discuss. (Elicit discussion to arrive at the main idea answer: “Biological weapons can harm people and crops, and treatments are inadequate.”)
Fifth, we ask, “How can we use the main idea?” We can ask about similarities and differences, such as the fact that wilt and ricin are similar in that they are both from plants; they are different in that wilt is an actual plant, but ricin is the poison from a plant.
Sixth, and finally, we ask, “Is there a real-world use for the main idea?” We can think about real-world problems to ask why vaccines are effective only if they are given before people are exposed to biological weapons to determine that it takes time to build immunity after receiving the vaccine.
So, let's review. We have talked about different organisms or their poisons that can be used as weapons such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, or toxin and examples of each, smallpox, anthrax, wilt, and ricin. We also asked a series of smaller questions to conclude, “Biological weapons can harm people and crops, and treatments are inadequate.” We also extended the idea to talk about similarities and differences between organisms or weapons, and to answer new questions.
Note: Items in boldface were printed on the student Question Exploration Guide provided for note-taking.