Question

A scientist studying a form of marine bacteria growing in culture dishes, observed a mold called Penicillium also growing in some of the dishes. He noticed that a clear area formed around the mold where the bacteria died (this is now referred to as a zone of inhibition). In the culture dishes that had no mold, no zones of inhibition were present. The scientist hypothesized that the Penicillium mold must be producing a chemical that killed the bacteria. What conclusion could be made based on the results of this experiment?

A. The Penicillium mold has antibiotic properties on all types of marine bacteria.
B.The bacteria has antibiotic properties on all types of mold.
C.The bacteria has antibiotic properties on the Penicillium mold.
D. The Penicillium mold has antibiotic properties on this specific marine bacteria.

Answer 1

Answer is: D. The Penicillium mold has antibiotic properties on this specific marine bacteria.
Penicillin was discovered in 1928 and people began using it to treat infections in 1942, 10% of people report are allergic to penicillin. Many types of bacteria have developed resistance following extensive use.