Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
C1900–present: Medicine in modern Britain - 1 Ideas about the cause of…
Full specification wording
Option 11: c1900–present: Medicine in modern Britain - 1 Ideas about the cause of disease and illness: Advances in understanding the causes of illness and disease: the influence of genetic and lifestyle factors on health.
In the twentieth century, medical understanding expanded beyond infectious diseases to include genetic and lifestyle factors.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 2
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
In the twentieth century, medical understanding expanded beyond infectious diseases to include genetic and lifestyle factors. The discovery of DNA's structure by Watson and Crick in 1953 allowed scientists to identify genetic causes of conditions like cystic fibrosis, shifting focus towards hereditary diseases. Simultaneously, the impact of lifestyle choices on health became undeniable. The 1950s studies by Doll and Hill proved the link between smoking and lung cancer, while later research highlighted how diet, alcohol, and lack of exercise contribute to heart disease. These advances fundamentally changed public health campaigns, focusing on prevention through lifestyle changes and genetic screening rather than just treating symptoms.
What earns the marks
- Explain how the discovery of DNA's structure enabled the identification of genetic causes for hereditary diseases.
- Describe the role of lifestyle factors, such as smoking and diet, in causing modern non-communicable diseases.
- Analyse the impact of Doll and Hill's research in establishing the link between smoking and lung cancer.
- Evaluate how understanding genetic and lifestyle factors shifted medical focus towards prevention and screening.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming that Watson and Crick discovered DNA itself.
Put it right by stating they discovered the double-helix structure of DNA.
Assuming that genetic diseases were completely curable once DNA was understood.
Put it right by explaining that understanding the cause allowed for screening and management, but cures remain elusive for many.
Stating that lifestyle factors were only recognised in the 21st century.
Put it right by referencing mid-20th-century studies like Doll and Hill's work on smoking.
Exam tips
- Provide specific examples of lifestyle factors, such as smoking causing lung cancer or poor diet leading to type 2 diabetes.
- Connect the discovery of DNA's structure to the ability to screen for genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis.
- Discuss how the government uses knowledge of lifestyle factors to create public health campaigns.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option 11: c1900–present: Medicine in modern Britain - 1 Ideas about the cause of disease and illness: Advances in understanding the causes of illness and disease: the influence of genetic and lifestyle factors on health. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which lifestyle factor was definitively linked to lung cancer by medical researchers in the 1950s?
Listen
In the twentieth century, medical understanding expanded beyond infectious diseases to include genetic and lifestyle factors. The discovery of DNA's structure by Watson and Crick in 1953 allowed scientists to identify genetic causes of conditions like cystic fibrosis, shifting focus towards hereditary diseases. Simultaneously, the impact of lifestyle choices on health became undeniable. The 1950s studies by Doll and Hill proved the link between smoking and lung cancer, while later research highlighted how diet, alcohol, and lack of exercise contribute to heart disease. These advances fundamentally changed public health campaigns, focusing on prevention through lifestyle changes and genetic screening rather than just treating symptoms. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain how the discovery of DNA's structure enabled the identification of genetic causes for hereditary diseases. Describe the role of lifestyle factors, such as smoking and diet, in causing modern non-communicable diseases. Analyse the impact of Doll and Hill's research in establishing the link between smoking and lung cancer. Evaluate how understanding genetic and lifestyle factors shifted medical focus towards prevention and screening. A common slip: Claiming that Watson and Crick discovered DNA itself. Instead, stating they discovered the double-helix structure of DNA. Exam tip: Provide specific examples of lifestyle factors, such as smoking causing lung cancer or poor diet leading to type 2 diabetes.
Key words
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genetic factors
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lifestyle factors
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public health campaigns
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genetic screening
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See every definition
- genetic factors
- Influences on health that can be identified through understanding the structure of DNA, shifting focus towards hereditary diseases.
- lifestyle factors
- Choices such as smoking, diet, alcohol and lack of exercise that contribute to conditions like lung cancer and heart disease.
- public health campaigns
- Efforts focusing on prevention through lifestyle changes and genetic screening rather than just treating symptoms.
- genetic screening
- A form of prevention that became a focus of public health campaigns alongside lifestyle changes.
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