Question

Which is not a biological agent of disease?
A) Fungi
B) Mycoplasma
C) Pollen
D) Bacteria

Answer 1

Hint: As we know a disease-causing agent is a substance that causes any disease. A pathogen is any organism that can cause any disease. A pathogen can also be called an infectious agent, or even a germ. Examples of some disease-causing agents include biological pathogens, toxins, tobacco, radiation, and asbestos.

Complete answer:
Small animals like worms or insects, can cause or transmit any disease. Diseases in humans that are caused by infectious agents are called pathogenic diseases. Not all diseases are caused by pathogens, other causes are toxins, genetic disorders and the host's own immune system.

Let us look into the explanation of the given options:
A) Fungi is a biological agent of a disease. It is a eukaryote that is considered to be the common cause of diseases in crops, plants, humans and animals. It can cause infections which are called mycosis.
B) Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria that can cause diseases in humans like tuberculosis and plants. It is known for causing pneumonia. Hence it is also a biological agent of a disease.
C) Bacteria can also cause infectious diseases in human beings and animals. It can cause tuberculosis. Therefore, it is also considered a biological agent.
D) Pollen is a fine to coarse, powdery substance that contains pollen grains that are male microgametophytes of seed plants. It is not a biological agent of a disease.

Therefore, the correct answer is option ‘C’ i.e, pollen.

Note: However, pollen is one of the common triggers of seasonal allergies. In people with pollen allergies, the immune system mistakenly recognizes the harmless pollen as a dangerous intruder. It then begins to produce chemicals to fight against this pollen. This is known as an allergic reaction and the specific type of pollen that causes it is called an allergen.