Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

From a Natural Product to Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A Demonstration Using Polyketomycin from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028
Published on: January 13, 2017
Streptomycin: discovery and resultant controversy
1Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, England.
Abstract:
The antibiotic streptomycin was discovered soon after penicillin was introduced into medicine. Selman Waksman, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery, has since generally been credited as streptomycin's sole discoverer. However, one of Waksman's graduate students, Albert Schatz, was legally recognized as streptomycin's co-discoverer and received a share of the royalties from the drug. The aim of this essay is to discuss the streptomycin story, largely using previously unquoted archival material, and in particular to provide further evidence for the important role which Schatz played in the discovery.
Related Concept Videos
Antibiotic Selection
History of Microbiology
Production of Antibiotics
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

