Case Study: The development of Penicillin and the role of Fleming, Florey and Chain

Question 1

What role did individuals play in the development of Penicillin?

Answer 1

Alexander Fleming: Discovered mould killed the germ, staphylococcus, in 1928.

Howard Florey and Ernst Chain: Took Fleming’s research and investigated further. They proved that penicillin could kill infections inside of the body. They managed to gain US support for mass production of the drug.

Question 2

What role did the government play in the development of Penicillin?

Answer 2

Provided funding for mass production. They’re funding allowed for pure penicillin to be produced on a scale that saved millions of lives in World War Two.

Question 3

What role did Science and Technology play in the development of Penicillin?

Answer 3

Science and technology allowed for the mass filtration process that was required for pure penicillin to be produced.