The Development of Penicillin
Part of Penicillin · GCSE GCSE History revision
This key facts covers The Development of Penicillin within Penicillin for GCSE History. Revise Penicillin in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 2 of 14 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 2 of 14
Practice
8 questions
Recall
15 flashcards
📊 The Development of Penicillin
| Person/Factor | Date | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Fleming | 1928 | Discovered mould killed bacteria. Named it penicillin. Published findings but couldn't purify it. |
| Florey & Chain (Oxford) | 1939-40 | Purified penicillin. Tested on mice (cured infection). First human test 1941. |
| War | 1941-44 | Soldiers dying from infected wounds. Massive demand for any cure. Government priority. |
| US Government | 1941-44 | Funded mass production. By D-Day (1944), enough for all Allied casualties. |
| Technology | 1940s | Deep fermentation method allowed industrial-scale production. |
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Penicillin. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
Practice Questions for Penicillin
In which year did Alexander Fleming discover penicillin?
Which two scientists purified penicillin and made it usable as a medicine?
Quick Recall Flashcards
8 questions on Penicillin — practise free
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