In 1928, British Bacteriologist Alexander Fleming Made an Accidental Discovery

Multiple Choice

In 1928, British bacteriologist Alexander Fleming made an accidental discovery.He noticed that a fungus had contaminated one of the agar plates he had streaked with a bacterial species to be studied.The fungus prevented the bacteria from growing in the immediate area surrounding the fungus.Upon further investigation, Fleming found that the fungus produced a substance that was the agent responsible for killing the bacteria.He called this substance penicillin.Given this information, which statement best explains why Fleming's discovery is relevant to the general public today?

A) Fleming's work revealed the ability of bacteria to mutate, which necessitates the constant search for new antibiotics.
B) Fleming's discovery enabled the development of chemical substances as antibiotics to treat deadly bacterial infections.
C) Fleming's research spawned new questions about the ecological interactions between fungi and bacteria.
D) Fleming's attention to detail diverted his efforts to investigate bacteria and likely robbed humanity of important discoveries that he would have otherwise made.
E) Fleming's sloppiness in the lab serves as a reminder to all researchers that sterile technique is critical to preventing unwanted fungal growth on bacterial plates.