The State of Palestine claims the West Bank.
Charles Thom -LRB- November 11 , 1872 -- May 24 , 1956 -RRB- was an American microbiologist and mycologist .. microbiologist. microbiology. mycologist. mycology. Born and raised in Illinois , he received his PhD from the University of Missouri , the first such degree awarded by that institution .. University of Missouri. University of Missouri. Illinois. Illinois. PhD. PhD. He was best known for his work on the microbiology of dairy products and soil fungi , and in particular his research into the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium .. Aspergillus. Aspergillus. Penicillium. Penicillium. His work influenced the establishment of standards for food handling and processing in the USA .. He pioneered the use of culture media to grow microorganisms , and , with food chemist James N. Currie , developed a process to mass-produce citric acid using Aspergillus .. Aspergillus. Aspergillus. culture media. culture media. James N. Currie. James N. Currie. citric acid. citric acid. Thom played an important role in the development of penicillin in World War II .. penicillin. penicillin. World War II. World War II