ASSESSABLE TASKS

Question 1

MO2: What are the origins of the common drugs described (Aspirin, Penicillin, Insulin, Smallpox Vaccine, Oral Contraception)?

AND

What is the importance of the drugs described and what is their impact on society?

Answer 1

• Aspirin has a natural origin as it is originally derived from Salicin, a precursor to salicylic acid which is isolated from Willow Bark. This precursor contains a glucose group (a glycoside). First drug used for pain, it can reduce pain, fever, swelling and inflammation as well as preventing blood clots.
  
  • Insulin is an endogenous peptide hormone secreted by the pancreas that people with T1D lack. It regulates the uptake of glucose, increasing glucose uptake on the cell surface and assisting in the conversion of sugar to energy. First hormone to be isolated. It is used in replacement therapy and originally was derived from animals but later was made through scientific process and observation. It’s amino Acids can be changed to alter it’s properties as a drug to be faster or slower acting and to change animal insulin to one that is better accepted in humans.
  • Penicillin has a natural origin as it is a mold but it’s therapeutic properties were discovered through observation and serendipity. It was the first effective antibiotic treatment against bacterial infection that could kill bacteria.
  • Smallpox vaccine originated from scientific method and observation (1. make an observation, 2. Ask a question, 3. Form a hypothesis or testable explanation, 4. Make a prediction based on hypothesis, 5. Test prediction) when it was observed having similar infections gave you protection from smallpox. Important as it lead to the eradication of smallpox and led to vaccines for other communicable diseases.
  • Oral contraception is a synthetic steroid hormone that replaces naturally occuring hormones to mimic pregnancy and suppress ovulation. Reliable and reversible as well as having health benefits. Synthesised via scientific process and observation. Caused a social revolution as the sexual practice could be separated from contraception.

Question 2

MO3: What are the sources (origins) of drug leads? Hint: