Question

When Alexander Fleming discovered what was to become penicillin, he noticed that wherever mold was growing on plates of Staphylococus sp., there was a zone of inhibition of bacterial growth around the fungi. What type of symbiotic relationship does this describe?

Answer 1

Since, the options have not been given, the question is incomplete. The complete question is as follows.

When Alexander Fleming discovered what was to become penicillin, he noticed that wherever mold was growing on plates of Staphylococus sp., there was a zone of inhibition of bacterial growth around the fungi. What type of symbiotic relationship does this describe?

A) Amensalistic

B) Cooperative

C) Mutualistic

Answer: A) Amensalistic

Explanation:

Amensalism is a symbiotic relationship between organisms that belong to different species, in this one organism is destroyed or inhibited in terms of growth and distribution but the other organism remains unaffected.

The given situation is the result of amensalism this is because of the fact that penicillin contains a fungal formulation which is likely to destroy the bacterial cells of Staphylococus sp. by creating a zone of inhibiting. Here, the fungal species will remain unaffected but the bacterial species will be inhibited.