In 1928, British Bacteriologist Alexander Fleming Made an Accidental Discovery

question 159

Multiple Choice

In 1928, British bacteriologist Alexander Fleming made an accidental discovery.He noticed that a fungus had contaminated one of the agar plates he had streaked with a bacterial species to be studied.The fungus prevented the bacteria from growing in the immediate area surrounding the fungus.Upon further investigation, Fleming found that the fungus produced a substance that was the agent responsible for killing the bacteria.He called this substance penicillin.Given this information, which statement best explains why Fleming's discovery is relevant to the general public today?

• A) Fleming's work revealed the ability of bacteria to mutate, which necessitates the constant search for new antibiotics.
• B) Fleming's discovery enabled the development of chemical substances as antibiotics to treat deadly bacterial infections.
• C) Fleming's research spawned new questions about the ecological interactions between fungi and bacteria.
• D) Fleming's attention to detail diverted his efforts to investigate bacteria and likely robbed humanity of important discoveries that he would have otherwise made.
• E) Fleming's sloppiness in the lab serves as a reminder to all researchers that sterile technique is critical to preventing unwanted fungal growth on bacterial plates.

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