Question:medium

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

Show Hint

Amensalism is often described as \((0,-)\): one organism is unaffected while the other is harmed. Antibiotic production by fungi and bacteria is a classic example.
Updated On: Apr 23, 2026
  • Commensalism
  • Mutualism
  • Parasitism
  • Amensalism
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify which ecological interaction between two species is exploited by medicine to produce drugs that kill or inhibit bacteria.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Amensalism is an interaction where one species is harmed, while the other is neither significantly benefited nor harmed (represented as $-, 0$).
In the microbial world, certain molds or bacteria produce chemicals called antibiotics as metabolic byproducts.
These chemicals inhibit the growth of or kill other competing microorganisms in their vicinity.
For example, the fungus Penicillium produces penicillin which kills bacteria. The fungus isn't affected, but the bacteria are destroyed.
Medical science harnesses this natural amensalistic behavior to manufacture antibiotics for treating infections.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The interaction used is Amensalism.
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