Ideas About the Cause of Disease in Modern Britain (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note
Exam code: 1HI0
Modern ideas about the causes of disease - Timeline & Summary
Pasteur's Germ Theory still forms the foundation of modern medicine
However, some people could be born with their illness
In 1953, Crick and Watson published their discovery of the double helix structure of DNA
Scientists now understand that lifestyle also play a major role in disease
Regimen Sanitatis highlighted the importance of healthy living in medieval times
Habits like smoking or eating excess sugar can result in conditions such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes
Technology has transformed how we diagnose diseases, such as:
X-ray
CT scans
ECGs
Understanding the causes of disease is still developing
Many cancers are too complex for modern medicine
Epidemic diseases continue to affect society such as COVID-19 in 2020
Examiner Tips and Tricks
As the name of the topic is Medicine in Britain, c.1250-present, there is no end time limit.
COVID-19 is a fantastic piece of evidence in a modern medicine exam answer about the cause of disease, treatment and prevention.
DNA & the influence of genetics on disease
Crick, Watson and the double helix
In 1953, scientists Francis Crick (an English scientist) and James Watson (an American scientist) discovered that DNA has a double-helix structure
Their discovery built on the X-ray work of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins in 1951
DNA explained how genetic disease like haemophilia could pass from parent to child
They published their paper in April 1953
The Human Genome Project
Watson launched the Human Genome Project in 1990
18 teams of scientists across the world worked together to plot the human genome
They did not complete their first draft until 2000
Scientists now understood what genes caused hereditary disease
The BRCA gene is linked to a higher change of breast cancer
The actress Angelina Jolie had a mastectomy after discovering she had the BRCA gene
Factors that helped the development of genetics
Technology
The creation of electron microscopes in 1931 allowed scientists to study DNA in detail
Science
The collaboration of scientists sped up the mapping of the human genome
The limitation of DNA
Treatments using DNA are in the very early stages of development
Genetic therapy is a rapidly advancing area of science which researches using DNA to create treatments
Worked Example
Describe one feature of the Human Genome Project
2 marks
Answers:
The Human Genome Project was started by James Watson (1). It aimed to expand the understanding of DNA after his discovery of the double-helix structure in 1953 (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was worth four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
Ensure you make your detail as specific as possible to access all 2 marks. The details of this example include the structure of DNA and the date.
The influence of lifestyle on disease
By the 1950s, scientists began to understand how a person's lifestyle could affect their health
Smoking
It was fashionable to smoke in the 1920s
In 1950, a study proved that smoking linked to lung cancer
Smoking increases the risk of developing:
High blood pressure
Lung, throat and mouth cancers
Heart disease
Tooth decay and gum disease
Studies in the late 1990s/early 2000s discovered the risk of second-hand smoking
Second-hand smokers breathe in tobacco smoke from another person smoking
Second-hand smokers are more likely to develop asthma and lung cancers
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You can mention vaping in answers. Early research suggests it may cause addiction and lung conditions, but long-term risks are still being studied.
Diet
People have always known food affects health
Regimen Sanitatis in medieval times noted this
Scientists now understand that:
Too much sugar may cause Type 2 diabetes
Food high in saturated fats may lead to heart disease
People may develop vitamin or mineral deficiencies, for example iron deficiency anaemia
Other lifestyle factors
Drinking too much alcohol may lead to liver and kidney problems
Unprotected sex or using infected needles may increase the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV
Using tanning beds or overexposure to the sun may lead to skin cancers
Medical scans & blood tests
Technology has greatly progressed since 1900 which helps with the diagnosis of diseases:
Technology | Date | How does it help with diagnosis? |
|---|---|---|
Blood tests | 1930s | Doctors can use a sample of blood to diagnose a range of conditions without the use of surgery |
Blood pressure monitors | 1880s | It indicates high or low blood pressure, allowing doctors to treat with the correct medications |
Blood sugar monitoring | 1960s | A person's blood sugar can be checked to see if they suffer from diabetes and regulate their insulin levels |
X-rays | 1890s | Doctors can use x-rays to diagnose broken bones without cutting into the body |
MRI scans | 1970s | MRI scans can diagnose soft tissue damage by using magnets and radio waves to create an image |
CT scans | 1970s | A more advanced version than an x-ray. PET-CT scans are even more accurate and can be used to distinguish between cancerous and benign tumours |
Ultrasound scans | 1940s | Ultrasounds use sound waves to show the inside of the body. Doctors use these to diagnose gallstones |
ECGs | 1900s | This stands for Electro Cardiograms. The machine can monitor heart activity and check for irregular heartbeats |
Endoscopes | 1900s | A camera on a flexible tube which can be fed through the body. Doctors use them to investigate stomach or swallowing issues |
Worked Example
Explain one way in which methods of diagnosis in the Renaissance were different to methods of diagnosis in the 20th century
4 marks
Answers:
One way in which methods of diagnosis were different from the Renaissance to the Modern period was the use of technology (1). In the Renaissance, physicians relied upon observing a patient's symptoms before diagnosing their illness (1). Whereas, in the 20th century, doctors have a wide range of technology to help them diagnose a patient. For example, CT scans help diagnose if a patient has a tumour (1)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In this style of question, you must either identify a similarity or a difference between the two time periods. To answer this question well, make sure that you:
Identify a clear similarity or difference
Give a clear example from both time periods
Use words like 'similarly' or 'whereas' to compare the two time periods
Self monitoring of health
Modern technology lets people manage their own health:
Blood sugar tests and insulin pumps allows patients to manage diabetes
Fitness trackers monitor heart rate and steps
Antibacterial hand gel, masks and gloves allowed people to protect themselves against COVID-19
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