Science Challenge #11 Question 1: He was born in 1881 in Scotland into a large farming family and is said to have had great intellect, charm, and modesty. He attended medical school in London qualifying as both physician and surgeon but chose instead to focus on microbiology. While studying the effects of mercuric chloride on staphylococcus he noticed that some greenish mold colonies growing on a culture with the colonies of staphylococcus appeared to be affecting them. What was this scientist's name? Answer: Alexander Fleming Correct response received from: Richard Yamagata, Sid Gospe, Urania, Jason Coffer What was the mold that had invaded the petridish of Staphylococcus? Answer: Penicillium notatum Correct response received from: Richard Yamagata, Sid Gospe, Urania, Jason Coffer What is the name of the antibacterial substance that can be extracted from this mold? Answer: Penicillin Correct response received from: Richard Yamagata, Kenneth Earl Cerbo, Sid Gospe, Urania, Jason Coffer Which of the following can this antibacterial substance be used to treat: chickenpox, the common cold, influenza, measles? Answer: None of them.These are all viral infections and are not appropriately treated with antibacterial penicillin. (Some secondary infections resulting from viral infections may however be bacterial and therefore treatable with penicillin.) Correct response received from: Richard Yamagata, Sid Gospe, Urania, Jason Coffer