Alexander Fleming's penicillin mold
Alexander Fleming's penicillin mold
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- Description
- In September 1928, British bacteriologist Alexander Fleming found something unusual growing in his laboratory. Mold had contaminated a plate of Staphylococci, disease-causing bacteria. Where the mold had spread, the bacteria had disappeared.
- Further research revealed that the mold, Penicillium notatum, produced a substance harmful to microorganisms but relatively nontoxic to animals and humans. During World War II, British and American scientists expanded on Fleming's discovery to develop the powerful antibiotic penicillin.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- Penicillin Mold
- Date made
- 1928
- ca. 1940
- date made
- Mold produced in 1928, mounted ca 1940
- maker
- Fleming, Alexander
- Fleming, Alexander
- place made
- United Kingdom: England, London
- Measurements
- overall: 2 in x 2 in x 1/2 in x 2 in; 5.08 cm x 5.08 cm x 1.27 cm x 5.08 cm
- ID Number
- 1999.0273.1
- accession number
- 1999.0273
- catalog number
- 1999.0273.1
- Credit Line
- Pfizer, Inc.
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Medicine
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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