Question

Assertion (A): While working on Staphylococci, Alexander Fleming observed that Penicillium notatum inhibits the growth of bacteria.
Reason (R): The inhibiting chemical was commercially extracted and its full potential was established by Alexander Fleming.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Hint:

Fleming discovered penicillin, but Florey and Chain were key in its commercial production and application, earning them a shared Nobel Prize with Fleming in 1945.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Alexander Fleming, while working on Staphylococci, observed that a mold, Penicillium notatum, inhibited bacterial growth, leading to the discovery of penicillin. Assertion (A) is true.
Step 2: However, Fleming did not commercially extract penicillin or establish its full potential. This was done later by Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, who developed penicillin into a usable drug. Reason (R) is false.
Step 3: Since (A) is true and (R) is false, the correct option is (C).
Thus, the correct answer is (C).