Question

1. Would an antibiotic that targets cell wall synthesis have more or less toxic side effects than one that targets the ribosome? Explain/Defend your answer. 2. (Bonus) Define "selective toxicity". How does this relate to the above question? 3. The bacterial cell wall is a rigid structure designed to protect the organism from changes in the t, especially osmotic changes. Would this structure be more effective in a hypertonic or a hypotonic environment -or would it be equally effective in either? Why?

Answer 1

1. An antibiotic that targets the ribosome would have more toxic side effects than that which targets the cell wall synthesis as ribosome are involved in protein synthesis which acts as enzymes and controls the biochemical reactions of the body, while cell wall is only present in bacterial cells and not human cells.

2. Thus due to Selective toxicity i.e. the ability of the antibiotic to targets the cell wall a structure that is present in the microorganism i.e. the bacteria; responsible for infection and not the host is able to protect the host from harmful side effects of the drug.

3. The bacterial cell wall would be more helpful in a hypotonic environment as it will support the cell membrane of the bacterial cell and protect the cell from bursting if put in a hypotonic surrounding.