Who observed a mould growing in an unwashed culture plate while working on Staphylococci bacteria?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Alexander Fleming
Alexander Fleming was working on Staphylococci bacteria when he noticed, by chance, a mould in one of his unwashed culture plates. The bacteria could not grow around the mould. He found that the mould made a chemical, which he named penicillin after the mould Penicillium notatum. Ernest Chain and Howard Florey later established its full use as an antibiotic.
NCERT Extract:
Antibiotics – “… Alexander Fleming while working on Staphylococci bacteria, once observed a mould growing in one of his unwashed culture plates around which Staphylococci could not grow. He found out that it was due to a chemical produced by the mould and he named it Penicillin after the mould Penicillium notatum.”