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Discovery of Penicillin by Fleming

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 by accident when studying staphylococci bacteria. He noticed a Penicillium mold growing on a spoiled culture dish that had dissolved the deadly bacteria in a clear zone around it. Penicillin proved life-saving for soldiers in World War II, though it was difficult to administer due to limited supply and rapid excretion from the body requiring frequent dosing. Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin through a spoiled experiment became one of the most important in medical history.

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Santosh Sum
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58 views1 page

Discovery of Penicillin by Fleming

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 by accident when studying staphylococci bacteria. He noticed a Penicillium mold growing on a spoiled culture dish that had dissolved the deadly bacteria in a clear zone around it. Penicillin proved life-saving for soldiers in World War II, though it was difficult to administer due to limited supply and rapid excretion from the body requiring frequent dosing. Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin through a spoiled experiment became one of the most important in medical history.

Uploaded by

Santosh Sum
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Discovered Penicillin

Alexander Fleming, a Scottish bacteriologist in London, discovered penicillin by mistake when he was trying to study staphylococci bacteria in 1928. He was running experiments with the bacteria in his laboratory at London's St. Mary's Hospital, and set a laboratory dish containing the bacteria near an open window. Instead of throwing away his spoiled experiment, Fleming looked closely at it under his microscope. Surprisingly, he saw not only the mold growing on the staphylococci bacteria, but a clear zone around the mold. The Penicillium mold, the precursor to penicillin, was dissolving the deadly staphylococci bacteria. The Penicillin saved the lives of many soldiers in World War II, but the supply was extremely limited, and the drug was rapidly excreted from the body, so the patients had to be dosed frequently. Finally, apparently Penicillin was discovered by mistake. One of the most important discoveries in medical history was a m-i-s-t-a-k-e. I mean, thats pretty funny when you think about it. Where would we be if that guy Fleming hadnt messed up and discovered the miracle drug?

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