Question

Antibiotics

Question 5 options:
A)
are low molecular weight substances

B)
inhibit the growth of bacteria and some fungi

C)
inhibit the growth of archaea.

D)
are effective against viruses.

E)
A and B

I don't remember anything about molecular weight in my textbook but i'm guessing a is the correct answer because the other options seem to be incorrect. Does anyone here know for sure?

Answer 1

Antibiotics are chemical compounds used to eliminate or inhibit. A common property to all antibiotics is selective toxicity: the toxicity towards invasive organisms is a lot stronger than towards humans and animals

Answer 2

C and D are obviously false, considering B I'm not aware of any funghi which are treated with antibiotics (they are treated with antimycotica). So A must be right, although I can't be certain.

Answer 3

There are high molecular weight antibiotics though aren't there? And if only looking at the definition of antibiotic shouldn't that include the antimycotica?

Answer 4

I just went for it and put a which the test bank deemed correct but I think its a poorly written question.

Answer 5

Well, the definition of antibiotics (at least in German) contains only inhibiting the growth of bacteria or "killing them".. but sure, it is possible that the definition in English can include antimycotics as well.

Answer 6

heres what I pulled up on wikipedia
antibiotic was coined by Selman Waksman in 1942 to describe any substance produced by a microorganism that is antagonistic to the growth of other microorganisms

Answer 7

That would make answer B true :) It's a weird question considering the definitions in different languages..

Answer 8

I can imagine that would be difficult but I appreciate the help!

Answer 9

ans. is A as B is not true for all antibiotics if u considering with rtespect to fungi and bacteria then only u can say ohterwise u cant say.. as anti biotics itself means prevention of any harmful thing and this harmful thing can be anything