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

They found an ancient papyrus explaining its use.
They conducted experiments
• with different herbs until they found the right one.
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 answer is: They accidentally realized that its ingredients would kill bacteria.

Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 when he noticed that a mold called Penicillium notatum was preventing the growth of bacteria in his petri dishes. This accidental observation led to further research and the development of penicillin as an antibiotic, which has saved countless lives since its introduction.