NEETZoologyMicrobes in Human Welfare
What is penicillin used for?
Options
- ATreating wounds
- BProducing alcohol
- CKilling or retarding the growth of disease-causing microbes
- DGrowing mould
Correct answer
C. Killing or retarding the growth of disease-causing microbes
Step-by-step solution
Antibiotics produced by microbes are regarded as one of the most significant discoveries of the twentieth century and have greatly contributed towards the welfare of the human society. Anti is a Greek word that means ‘against’, and bio means ‘life’, together they mean ‘against life’ (in the context of disease causing organisms); whereas with reference to human beings, they are ‘pro life’ and not against. Antibiotics are chemical substances, which are produced by some microbes and can kill or retard the growth of ot