Free taster
5 of 6 sections open
Setting the Scene
📖 Setting the Scene
In 1928, Alexander Fleming returned from holiday to find mould growing on a petri dish he'd forgotten to clean. Instead of throwing it away, he noticed something remarkable: bacteria around the mould had died. He called the mould's active substance "penicillin" but couldn't purify enough to use. For 10 years, nothing happened. Then war came. Howard Florey and Ernst Chain in Oxford realised penicillin could save soldiers' lives — and with American industrial help, mass-produced the world's first antibiotic. The story shows how individuals, chance, war, and government all combined to create medical revolution.
What is an antibiotic?: A substance produced by a living organism (like the Penicillium mould) that kills bacteria. Penicillin was the first antibiotic — unlike magic bullets, it was natural, not synthetic.
History glossary
- What is an antibiotic?
- A substance produced by a living organism (like the Penicillium mould) that kills bacteria. Penicillin was the first antibiotic — unlike magic bullets, it was natural, not synthetic.
Earn the mark scheme marks
📝 Exam Technique: Factors Working Together
Penicillin is a perfect example for "factor analysis" essays:
🏫 Edexcel 1HI0/10 — Medicine in Britain (Paper 1, Option 1HI0/10): This topic is tested on Paper 1 alongside the Historic Environment (Western Front). Edexcel question types differ from AQA:
- "Describe two features of..." (4 marks) — Identify a feature (1 mark) + supporting detail (1 mark). Write two separate PEEL-style paragraphs. No evaluation needed.
- "Explain why..." (12 marks) — Explain two or three reasons with specific evidence. Level 3 (7–9 marks) requires explained reasons; Level 4 (10–12 marks) requires explanation showing how factors connect or reinforce each other.
- "How far do you agree that..." (16 marks + 4 SPaG) — Extended writing. Two sides: evidence FOR the statement, evidence AGAINST. Reach a supported judgement. Level 4 (13–16 marks) requires a consistently argued judgement. SPaG marks reward accurate spelling of key historical terms.
Now try it yourself
Quiz · Question 1 of 8
In which year did Alexander Fleming discover penicillin?
Tap an answer to check it