B6.3 - Discovering Drugs (Finishedish)

Question 1

What tow main places to drugs come from?

Answer 1

Plants and microorganisms

Question 2

How was penicillin discovered?

Answer 2

Alexander Fleming noticed a petri dish containing bacteria had mould on it and no bacteria in an area around the mould. He found that the mould was producing a substance that killed the bacteria - penicillin

Question 3

How are new drugs made?

Answer 3

New drugs are synthesised by chemists in labs in the pharmaceutical industry but the process may start with a chemical extracted from a plant

Question 4

Why can drugs (to fight disease) be made from plants?

Answer 4

Plants produce a variety of chemicals to defend themselves against pests and pathogens, some of these can be used as drugs to treat human diseases

Question 5

What is aspirin? Where does it come from?

Answer 5

Aspirin is used as a painkiller to lower fever. It is developed from a chemical found in willow

Question 6

What is digitalis used for and where is it developed from?

Answer 6

Digitalis is used to treat heart conditions and is developed from a chemical found in foxgloves