Question

What is an antibiotic? Mention the name of the first antibiotic discovered. Name the mould used for the commercial production of the above antibiotic.

Answer 1

An antibiotic is a chemical substance which can kill as well as inhibit the growth of microorganisms (mostly bacteria).

• The first antibiotic Penicillin was discovered by the scientist Alexander Fleming, it was extracted from the mould $Penicilliumnotatum$.
• The mould used for the commercial production of Penicillin is $Penicilliumchrysogenum$.