In which year was the second magic bullet created?

Study for the WJEC GCSE History of Medicine Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question providing hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam effectively!

Multiple Choice

In which year was the second magic bullet created?

Explanation:
Magic bullets are drugs designed to seek out and destroy disease-causing organisms while sparing the rest of the body. After Ehrlich’s early work on targeted therapies, the next major breakthrough was Prontosil, discovered by Gerhard Domagk in 1932. This compound proved effective against bacterial infections in living animals and, crucially, later showed that it is converted in the body into the active sulfonamide sulfanilamide. That discovery in 1932 marks the birth of the second magic bullet, making 1932 the correct year. The other dates are outside this particular milestone: 1930 is before Prontosil's breakthrough, while 1940 and 1950 come after and relate more to the broader rise of antibiotics like penicillin than to the specific identification of the second magic bullet.

Magic bullets are drugs designed to seek out and destroy disease-causing organisms while sparing the rest of the body. After Ehrlich’s early work on targeted therapies, the next major breakthrough was Prontosil, discovered by Gerhard Domagk in 1932. This compound proved effective against bacterial infections in living animals and, crucially, later showed that it is converted in the body into the active sulfonamide sulfanilamide. That discovery in 1932 marks the birth of the second magic bullet, making 1932 the correct year. The other dates are outside this particular milestone: 1930 is before Prontosil's breakthrough, while 1940 and 1950 come after and relate more to the broader rise of antibiotics like penicillin than to the specific identification of the second magic bullet.

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