Alpha-gal is a disaccharide found in red meat.

Alpha-gal is made of two galactose molecules. Galactose has the chemical formula C6H12O6

Give the chemical formula for the disaccharide, alpha-gal, and describe how it is formed from two galactose molecules.

Formula

Description

Some people eat red meat for many years without having any reaction, then have an allergic reaction to the alpha-gal in red meat.

An allergic reaction is caused by an immune response.

Draw a labelled diagram of an antibody and identify the specific alpha-gal binding site.

A tick is a small animal that bites humans and feeds on their blood. This results in proteins from the tick saliva entering the human body.

Scientists have suggested one hypothesis for the allergic reaction to alpha-gal in red meat. They think that an earlier immune response to a tick bite can cause a person to have an allergic reaction to alpha-gal in red meat.

Suggest how one antibody can be specific to tick protein and to alpha-gal.

Scientists took blood samples from one man over several weeks and measured the concentration of antibody in the man's blood. During this time, the man had two tick bites and had an allergic reaction to alpha-gal in red meat.

The scientists' results are shown in Figure 7.

The scientists' hypothesis was that an earlier immune response to tick protein causes the allergic reaction.

Consider whether Figure 7 supports this hypothesis.