Modern Period Science and Technology

1921

Banting and Best

Insulin developed for those with diabetes to alleviate symtpoms

Now, similar hormone treatments have lead to correcting thyroid problems, helping children grow, and shrinking cancers.

1932

Domagk

Prontosil kills bacteria of one type only - a magic bullet

Other similar products, sulphonamides, can cure pneumonia, menigitis, acne

1928

Fleming

Penicillin accidentally discovered as an antibiotic

WW2

Florey and Chain

Penicillin can be mass-produced and is used in the war

Many infectious diseases can be cured

However misuse led to drug-resistant strains of disease like MRSA developing

1950s

Medawar

Immuno-depressants developed

This lead to the development of antihistamine that prevents allergic reactions

1950s

Contraceptions developed to prevent unwanted pregancy and slow down the birth rate

Early contraceptions had sideaffects like migraines

1970s

IVF invented so that childless women can have children

2005

66-yea-old Romanian woman gave birth to twins

1950s

Thalidomide used to treat mornig sickness for pregnant women

Thalidomide causes severe deformities in babies

Testing of new drugs increased and the process is made safer

Thalidomide now used for treating leprosy and AIDS, as well as some cancers