CAIE IGCSE Biology 15.1.4 Antibiotics, Bacteria & Viruses
Practise explaining why antibiotics can kill bacteria but do not affect viruses or treat viral infections.
- Syllabus
- 2026–2028
- Course
- Biology 0610
Exam points
- state that antibiotics kill bacteria but do not affect viruses
- explain that viruses lack bacterial targets such as cell walls, ribosomes or metabolism
- classify a viral infection as unsuitable for antibiotic treatment
15.1.4—Antibiotics kill bacteria but do not question 1
Penicillin is an antibiotic produced by the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum.
Fig. 5.1 shows the process used to produce penicillin.
Explain why antibiotics, such as penicillin, affect bacteria but not viruses.
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