Multiple choice

The serendipitous discovery of penicillin can be attributed to

  1. E. coli

  2. Staphylococcus aureus

  3. Salmonella typhi

  4. Streptococcus pneumoniae
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The serendipitous discovery of penicillin can be attributed to Staphylococcus aureus. In 1928, Fleming noticed a petri dish containing Staphylococcus that had been mistakenly left open. It was contaminated by blue-green mould from an open window, which formed a visible growth and formed zones of inhibition. He isolated the mould and coined the term penicillin.

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