Q.65 P, Q, R and S are four types of dangerous microbes recently found in a human habitat. The area of each circle with its diameter printed in brackets represents the growth of a single microbe surviving human immunity system within 24 hours of entering the body. The danger to human beings varies proportionately with the toxicity, potency and growth attributed to a microbe shown in the figure below:
A pharmaceutical company is contemplating the development of a vaccine against the most dangerous microbe.
Which microbe should the company target in its first attempt?
Most Dangerous Microbe Based on Toxicity, Potency, and Growth
In data interpretation and logical reasoning questions, real-life scenarios are often combined with graphical data.
This problem involves identifying the most dangerous microbe based on three parameters:
toxicity, potency, and growth rate.
Key Concept
The danger posed by a microbe is directly proportional to:
Danger ∝ Toxicity × Potency × Growth
Since growth is represented by the area of the circle:
Growth ∝ (Diameter)2
Data from the Graph
| Microbe | Toxicity | Potency | Diameter (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | 800 | 0.4 | 50 |
| Q | 600 | 0.5 | 40 |
| R | 300 | 0.4 | 30 |
| S | 200 | 0.8 | 20 |
Step-by-Step Danger Calculation
Microbe P
Growth ∝ 502 = 2500
Danger ∝ 800 × 0.4 × 2500 = 800,000
Microbe Q
Growth ∝ 402 = 1600
Danger ∝ 600 × 0.5 × 1600 = 480,000
Microbe R
Growth ∝ 302 = 900
Danger ∝ 300 × 0.4 × 900 = 108,000
Microbe S
Growth ∝ 202 = 400
Danger ∝ 200 × 0.8 × 400 = 64,000
Comparison Summary
| Microbe | Danger Score |
|---|---|
| P | 800,000 (Highest) |
| Q | 480,000 |
| R | 108,000 |
| S | 64,000 |
Final Answer
Correct Option: (A) Microbe P
Conclusion
Although potency is important, the overall danger depends on the combined effect of toxicity, potency,
and growth. Microbe P has the highest toxicity and the largest growth rate, making it the most dangerous.
