Why does penicillium produce penicillin?

Question

biological function please

Answer 1

Growing penicillium molds
Step 1: Take a piece of bread and gently wipe it against the kitchen floor or against a windowsill. Microbes will stick to the bread even though they are invisible to the naked eye.

Step 2: Sprinkle some water on the bread; an eyedropper or laundry sprinkler will work well. Microbes require moisture for growth.

Step 3: Place the bread in a jar of some sort and cover the jar with a lid. Plastic wrap, aluminum foil or anything similar can act as a substitute for a lid if it is missing. There is no need to puncture “air-holes” in the lid as the microbes will have enough oxygen for growth. Place the jar in a cupboard, or somewhere dark and warm.

Step 4: After a few days you can look at the bread. If you see bluish-green mold growing, it is probably Penicillium. If you do not see any mold colonies put the jar back and wait a few more days – some bread contains chemicals such as calcium propionate to slow the growth of mold.

Step 5: Pass a sharp knife through the bluish-green mold on the bread, and, using the same knife, make several deep cuts in the skin of an orange.

Step 6: Wash and dry the jar previously containing the moldy bread with plain water. Place a wet piece of cotton or tissue paper in the newly-cleaned jar along with the orange. Cover the jar and store in a dark, warm place.

Step 7: Examine the orange each day for any mold which may grow along the cuts. After a week or so you may notice tiny drops of liquid forming along the cuts. The liquid will be yellow or gold in color. Penicillin is manufactured from these chemicals.

Answer 2

Penicillium is used to produce penicillin - it is extracted from it.
http://nobelprize.org/medicine/educational/penicillin/readmore.html

Answer 3

penicillium is a fungus. it produces the antibiotic penicillin to ptrotect itself from infection by bacteria. simple as that.

Answer 4

Well as we know all good penicillium need protection, and they have to watch the penicillium they hang out with.. and ... um.. you know..um.Any way if the get well.. um .. you know, from the ..um you know.Well they need to cure it with..... um you know.so thats how they make...um... No thats how they make little ...I mean...um.Oh forget it.

Answer 5

I dunno...but I do know that I'm allergic to that crap...thanx for reminding me of the traumatizing experience I had as a child!!! : (