Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
You can find all my A Level Biology videos fully indexed at freesciencelessons.co.uk/a-level-revision-videos/a-level-biology
In this video, we look at sources of medicines. First we look at antibiotics, including penicillin. Next we look at how medicines can be sourced from living organisms, including willow and foxgloves and why this means that it's important to preserve biodiversity. Finally we explore what is meant by pharmacogenomics and synthetic biology and why these will be important in the future.
Image credits:
Doxycycline
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doxycycline_100mg_capsules.jpg
Myself (Shorelander), CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Aspirin
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aspirin_(1).jpg
Intropin (Mark Oniffrey), CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Amoxycillin
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Medication_amoxycillin_capsule.JPG
Mk2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Digoxin
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Digoxin_0,125_mg_tbl.jpg
Tomino de WS, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Penicillium fungus
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penicillium_notatum.jpg
Crulina 98, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Alexander Fleming
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Synthetic_Production_of_Penicillin_TR1468.jpg
This work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain.
This is because it is one of the following:
It is a photograph taken prior to 1 June 1957; or
It was published prior to 1973; or
It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created prior to 1973.
Penicillin cures gonorrhea
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penicillin_cures_gonorrhea.jpg
Public domain
Antibiotic sensitivity plate
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antibiotic_sensitivity_and_resistance.jpg
Dr Graham Beards at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Willow
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Willow.jpg
Jdforrester, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Foxglove
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Digitalis_Purpurea_Vingerhoedskruid.jpg
Matthijs van den Berg, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rainforest
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taman_Negara,_Malaysia,_Tropical_rainforest.jpg
© Vyacheslav Argenberg / vascoplanet.com/, CC BY 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Woman
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Woman_1.jpg
Owlsmcgee, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
DNA
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C3%81cido_desoxirribonucleico_(DNA).png
Kadumago, CC BY 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bacillus cereus
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bacillus_cereus_SEM-cr.jpg
Mogana Das Murtey and Patchamuthu Ramasamy, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
You can find all my A Level Biology videos fully indexed at freesciencelessons.co.uk/a-level-revision-videos/a-level-biology
In this video, we look at sources of medicines. First we look at antibiotics, including penicillin. Next we look at how medicines can be sourced from living organisms, including willow and foxgloves and why this means that it's important to preserve biodiversity. Finally we explore what is meant by pharmacogenomics and synthetic biology and why these will be important in the future.
Image credits:
Doxycycline
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doxycycline_100mg_capsules.jpg
Myself (Shorelander), CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Aspirin
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aspirin_(1).jpg
Intropin (Mark Oniffrey), CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Amoxycillin
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Medication_amoxycillin_capsule.JPG
Mk2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Digoxin
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Digoxin_0,125_mg_tbl.jpg
Tomino de WS, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Penicillium fungus
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penicillium_notatum.jpg
Crulina 98, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Alexander Fleming
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Synthetic_Production_of_Penicillin_TR1468.jpg
This work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain.
This is because it is one of the following:
It is a photograph taken prior to 1 June 1957; or
It was published prior to 1973; or
It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created prior to 1973.
Penicillin cures gonorrhea
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penicillin_cures_gonorrhea.jpg
Public domain
Antibiotic sensitivity plate
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antibiotic_sensitivity_and_resistance.jpg
Dr Graham Beards at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Willow
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Willow.jpg
Jdforrester, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Foxglove
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Digitalis_Purpurea_Vingerhoedskruid.jpg
Matthijs van den Berg, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rainforest
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taman_Negara,_Malaysia,_Tropical_rainforest.jpg
© Vyacheslav Argenberg / vascoplanet.com/, CC BY 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Woman
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Woman_1.jpg
Owlsmcgee, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
DNA
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C3%81cido_desoxirribonucleico_(DNA).png
Kadumago, CC BY 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bacillus cereus
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bacillus_cereus_SEM-cr.jpg
Mogana Das Murtey and Patchamuthu Ramasamy, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
