Question

in 1928, bacteriologist alexander fleming was studying staphylococcus, a type of bacteria that can cause serious infections. he grew the bacteria in small containers called petri dishes. one day he noticed that mold had accidentally been introduced into one of the petri dishes and was startled to see that there were no bacteria around the moldy area. fleming correctly deduced that the mold had had an antibacterial effect; somehow it had prevented the bacteria from growing. fleming identified the mold as the strain penicillium notatum and called its antibacterial ingredient - which he was unable to successfully extract - penicillin. flemings discovery of penicillins unique effect led to the eventual finding that it could be used to treat infections. several years after his initial observation, scientists built on his work by extracting penicillin from mold and demonstrating its effectiveness as a treatment. what is the main, or central, idea of the passage? fleming noticed that when a strain of mold inadvertently came into contact with a petri dish, the mold prevented bacterial growth. fleming came up with the name for penicillin, the bacteria - fighting ingredient in the penicillium notatum mold. flemings chance observation of the antibacterial properties of mold led to the discovery of penicillin as a treatment.

Explanation:

The passage details Fleming's accidental observation of mold inhibiting bacterial growth in petri - dishes, identifying the mold as Penicillium notatum, naming the antibacterial ingredient penicillin, and how this led to its use as a treatment. The main idea should capture the overall discovery process.

Answer:

Fleming's chance observation of the antibacterial properties of mold led to the discovery of penicillin as a treatment.