PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
PSC Miscellaneous Prelims 2018
Answer
Alexander Fleming
Explanation
Scottish physician and microbiologist Sir Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin, the world's first widely effective antibiotic, in 1928. He accidentally observed that a mold called 'Penicillium notatum' was releasing a substance that inhibited the growth of staphylococcus bacteria. This serendipitous discovery revolutionized modern medicine by providing a cure for life-threatening bacterial infections. Fleming shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 for this discovery.
Key Points
- > Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin in 1928.
- > Penicillin is the world's first true antibiotic.
- > It is derived from the fungus 'Penicillium notatum'.
- > Fleming was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945.
- > Edward Jenner discovered the smallpox vaccine (first ever vaccine).
- > Louis Pasteur invented the rabies vaccine and the process of pasteurization.
- > Robert Koch identified the specific causative agents of tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax.
Additional Information
Landmark Medical Discoveries
| Discovery/Invention | Discoverer | Year (Approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Penicillin (Antibiotic) | Alexander Fleming | 1928 |
| Smallpox Vaccine | Edward Jenner | 1796 |
| Rabies Vaccine | Louis Pasteur | 1885 |
| Polio Vaccine (Inactivated) | Jonas Salk | 1955 |
| X-Ray | Wilhelm Röntgen | 1895 |
Memory Tips
- Accidental Antibiotic: Associate Alexander Fleming with the 'lucky accident' of leaving his petri dish open, leading to the growth of the mold that produced Penicillin.