Date | November 2017 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 17N.3.HL.TZ0.1 |
Level | HL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | no time zone |
Command term | Define | Question number | 1 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Refer to the Paper 3 Case study: computer science in medicine, available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials.
Define bioinformatics and give an example of the data used in medical research.
Outline one feature of fuzzy logic which makes it suitable for medical diagnosis.
Markscheme
Bioinformatics is the analysis of biological data by computers;
For example: DNA / patient statistics / results from blood samples, etc.
Note: Accept any example related to medical research.
Award [1] for a feature of fuzzy logic and [1] for outlining its relevance to medical diagnosis, up to [2 max].
Fuzzy logic can put a measure on uncertainty (give an approximate/probabilistic value);
Can express relationships in a probabilistic manner;
Patterns can be found which are not easy to classify with traditional logic;
Work with multi-variable connections;
Can help to give probability of certain diagnoses;
Note: One symptom may be important only if there are some related ones;
vagueness and uncertainty of measurements e.g. borderline blood results etc.;