Five-year-old Brittney is diagnosed with strep throat. She is given a prescription for penicillin and assured that she will feel better in a day or two. Just a century or two before, Brittney might not have recovered from this illness. How did scientists discover this important drug?

Question

(1 point)
Responses

They found an ancient papyrus explaining its use.

They found an ancient papyrus explaining its use.

They conducted experiments with different herbs until they found the right one.

They conducted experiments with different herbs until they found the right one.

They accidently realized that its ingredients would kill bacteria.

They accidently realized that its ingredients would kill bacteria.

They were able to dissect the body of a patient who had died from it, learning the cause.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

They accidentally realized that its ingredients would kill bacteria.

This refers to the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928, when he noticed that mold (Penicillium notatum) had contaminated his petri dishes and was killing the surrounding bacteria, leading to the development of penicillin as an antibiotic.