The accident that changed the world – Allison Ramsey and Mary Staicu


Learn how Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, and how the antibiotic has changed medicine and the treatment of infections.

In 1928, scientist Alexander Fleming returned to his lab and found something unexpected: a colony of mold growing on a Petri dish he’d forgotten to place in his incubator. And around this colony of mold was a zone completely and surprisingly clear of bacteria. What was this mysterious phenomenon? Allison Ramsey and Mary Staicu detail the discovery of penicillin and how it transformed medicine.

Lesson by Allison Ramsey and Mary Staicu, directed by WOW-HOW Studio.

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34 COMMENTS

  1. Ernest Duchesne (30 May 1874 – 12 April 1912) was a French physician who noted molds kill bacteria. He made this discovery 32 years before Alexander Fleming discovered the antibiotic properties of penicillin, but his research went unnoticed. then Flemming read his thesis 32 years after, and descovered penicillin

  2. The cell walls of bacteria are made up of a stitching of Pentaglycines and Tetrapeptides. Natural penicillins undo this stitching causing the cell wall to breakdown and fall apart like an old sweater– ultimately killing the whole cell. Well, over time, the enzymes of some bacteria learned to create Beta Lactamase– which acts as a penicillin inhibitor. Specifically, these BLs block the penicillin's ability to undo the cell wall's P/T stitching. But… we outsmarted them again! We developed drugs, known as beta-lactamase inhibitors, that attack and kill the enzymes that create Beta Lactamase– once again allowing the penicillin to do it's job, break down the wall stitching and kill the cell.

    The more you know…

  3. Quite possibly the single most important discovery in human history, whether we realize it or not. Throughout history, infection is said to have caused up to 75% of deaths in humans. A simple tooth infection was actually ranked somewhere around the 5th or 6th highest cause of death throughout the population. In the time span of just 100 years from about 1850-1950 the human lifespan DOUBLED. In large part due to this discovery. Infections that would've taken a person out prior to this discovery, now seem to come across as insignificant or mundane. My hat goes off to Mr Fleming, for having the wherewithal to notice the implications behind his accidental discovery.

  4. Imagine just having this defense mechanism so it's taken out of you and now it's become useless so you yourself are now defensless.

    In all reality tho, could we maybe create a mutant from this mold that could create a new type of bacteria killing drug if we force it to evolve alongside penicillin resitant bacteria?

  5. Brothers and Sisters, God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ for us to save us from our sins, and he bled and died on a cross for us to redeem us from death, and to gain life everlasting, for those who put their trust in him. And what's more, he has risen, and is willing to call you to repentance (correction) and as his witness, by his grace indeed. "For it is by grace you are saved, through faith". Jesus loves you, God cares for you!

  6. How the butterfly effect could in theory work if for some reason some janitor had not skipped that window and closed it , or the mold had a cap or the bacteria was just a few inches away and this might not have happened

  7. no accident. Does blue have benifits?……. lmao don't believe doctors, they have become the media and pharma. They betray the oath they have taken. Given time and awakening of people these doctors will pay. But meanwhile DO NOT ALLOW FEDERAL PAID DOCTORS TO TOUCH YOU, THEY ARE NOT THERE TO HELP

  8. Last comment "Hard to Imagine" YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. THE SAD TRUETH IS IT WAS STOLEN BY WHITE MAN TAKING ADVANTAGES OF MANY PAY-OFFS AND DEATHS OVER AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES LIKE ME FROM THE KIMBERLY NEAR BROOME, WHITE MEN PAYED OUR ANCESTORS NOW OF WHAT AT THE TIME THE ELDERS WITH ALCOHOL DEATHS AND PROMISES OBVIOUSLY AND THE TRUETH ALWAYS COMES OUT IN THE END LIKE TRINKLING WATER VEINS , THEY ALL END UP UNITED. WHITE MAN WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE BARK AND IN THE BARK WAS PENACILLIN A MOULD WE CALLED ON THE DARK SIDE OF THE BARK WHERE LESS SUN EXPOSURE AROUND A FRESH WATER HOLE. WE ALREADY KNOW THEY Manipulate THE HISTORY OF WHAT YOUR TOLD ESPECIALLY WHEN MONEY, ALCOHOL , PROMISES AND DEATHS COME ON BOTH FRONTS. WE KIMBERLY MOB KNOW THE TRUETH OF THE MATTER. FIX YOUR VISION PEOPLE AND COME TOGETHER, THE BIG QUESTION IS ARE THEY GOING TO SAY SORRY ABOUT THIS TOO OR IS THAT TOO HARD ASWELL. TOO HARD ,WAY TOO HARD FOR THE WHITE BROTHERHOOD COROERATE TO ADMIT IT. WE GET BURRA A FORESKIN CUT THE WE CHEW HARD ON THE MOULD AND AS LITTLE AS THREE DAYS WE WERE HEALED SO THIS AS RAW FORM AS IT COMES JUST HAD TO BE INVESTIGATED . In as little as three days. How this has saved so many digits, limbs and lives.
    I WANT MY MONEY FROM YOU WHITE MAN NOW! WE ALL CRY TOGETHER AND TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG.
    BROOME WESTERN AUSTRALIA !!!! STOP THESE LIES AND STOP HIDDING YOUR BAD WAYS AND DEAL WITH YOUR SELF WHITE MAN, CONTROL YOURSELF AND FRONT.
    ☮️ PEACE-OUT
    JOSH MARTIN….. I DARE YOU TO FIX YOUR FRACTURES BAD BAD WHITE BLOOD.
    BLOG THIS TRUETH OUT AND LIKE!

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