Question

Which one of the following population interactions is widely used in medical science for the production of antibiotics ?

• A. Commensalism
• B. Parasitism
• C. Mutualism
• D. Amensalism

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

To answer the question about which population interaction is widely used in medical science for the production of antibiotics, we need to understand the different types of population interactions listed in the options. The options given are:

1. Commensalism: This is a type of interaction where one species benefits, and the other species is neither harmed nor benefited. An example is barnacles growing on a whale's skin.
2. Parasitism: In this interaction, one organism benefits (the parasite) at the expense of the other organism (the host), which is harmed. An example is tapeworms in the human intestine.
3. Mutualism: A type of interaction where both species involved benefit from the relationship. An example is bees pollinating flowers while getting nectar in return.
4. Amensalism: This interaction occurs when one species is inhibited or destroyed while the other remains unaffected. An example is the production of antibiotics by certain fungi or bacteria that kill neighboring bacterial species without any effect on themselves.

From these definitions, we can reason that Amensalism is the correct answer. In medical science, the most relevant example is the production of antibiotics by fungi like Penicillium and bacteria like Streptomyces, which inhibit or kill other microorganisms, an application widely used to control bacterial infections in humans.

Therefore, the correct answer is Amensalism.