Antibiotic Resistance 2
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 3.1.17
Antibiotic Resistance
Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics. This is the process:
Random mutations
- Within a population of bacteria, some will have random mutations (random change in DNA).
- The mutated bacteria are resistant to antibiotics and so they are able to survive, whilst the non-resistant bacteria die.
Natural selection
- The resistant bacteria can reproduce rapidly because their competition (the non-resistant bacteria) has been destroyed by the antibiotic.
- When the resistant bacteria reproduce, they produce genetically-identical copies. These copies will all be resistant to the antibiotics.
Test yourself on Antibiotic Resistance 2
Antibiotic Resistance
What combination of processes causes bacteria in a population to become resistant to antibiotics?
Select the statement that correctly explains antibiotic resistance