Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. Antibiotics are effective in case of bacteria, but do not affect viruses. b. A drug can be effective for a group of microbes as well as their type of group. c. Antibiotic penicillin acts against bacteria by neutralising the bacteria.

  1. Only a

  2. Only b

  3. Only c

  4. Both b and c

  5. a, b and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as both statements b and c are incorrect. Members of a group of microbes have some traits, i.e. many biochemical processes inside their cells are similar. As a result, drugs that block one of these biochemical mechanisms in one member of the group will be effective against many other members of the group. The same drug will not be effective against a microbe belonging to a different group. Antibiotic penicillin acts against bacteria by blocking the biochemical pathways important for bacteria.

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