2. Many bacteria in the modern age have become resistant to antibiotics. Assuming that this did not occur by slow, random mutations, name an evolutionary process that can allow many members of a population to become resistant in a short period of time. What are the specific ways in which genes from an antibiotic resistant species can be introduced into an antibiotic susceptible population? In a similar sense, some non pathogenic bacteria can become pathogenic almost literally overnight via a similar process. Give an example of a pathogenic bacterium that gained pathogenicity through this process.
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One such process is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), which allows genes to be transferred between individual organisms, even if they are not parent and offspring. Show more…
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Biologists have proposed that the widespread use of antibiotics has played a role in creating resistant bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). How do evolutionary mechanisms and natural selection contribute to antibiotic resistance? A) Before antibiotics, bacteria didn't change much, and with them, they change a lot. B) Antibiotics create selection, mutations enable survivors, that fitness results in resistance. C) Antibiotics create mutations, the mutants prevent reproduction, the only offspring are parentals. D) There is not any evidence that supports the idea that bacteria are evolving; we cannot see this on a historic time scale.
Adi S.
Pathogenic bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis tend to become resistant to antibiotics used to treat them over time. This resistance arises because: a. Individual bacteria are able to adapt to the presence of an antibiotic. b. Individual bacteria become tolerant to an antibiotic over time. c. Some individual bacteria have mutations that make them resistant when the drug is first applied. d. Individual bacteria undergo mutations when exposed to an antibiotic.
Bacteria have evolved the ability to survive in the presence of toxic antibiotics. Explain how natural selection has produced populations of bacteria that have this resistance from populations that did not have resistance.
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