Who discovered penicillin?

The discovery of penicillin is attributed to Alexander Fleming, who made this groundbreaking finding in 1928. While studying staphylococci bacteria, he noticed that a mold called Penicillium notatum was able to inhibit the growth of the bacteria in his petri dishes. This observation led to the realization that the mold produced a substance capable of killing bacteria, which he later named penicillin. Fleming's discovery marked the beginning of modern antibiotics and has had a profound impact on medicine, saving countless lives from bacterial infections.

Louis Pasteur, Joseph Lister, and Edward Jenner made significant contributions to medical science, but their work was focused on different areas. Pasteur is known for developing the germ theory of disease, Lister is associated with antiseptic surgical techniques, and Jenner is famous for the smallpox vaccination. Their contributions are important but are not related to the discovery of penicillin.