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To you, wasps, snakes, and spiders may be fascinating or freaky. But to a chemist, such creatures may be the source of powerful medicines.
Chemists study substances that bacteria, plants, and animals use for self-defense. They look to see if these same chemicals can be used to treat disease in human beings. Penicillin, the first antibiotic, is an example. Penicillin is based on a mold that kills certain bacteria. Thanks to a skilled chemist, it has become a life-saving medicine.