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How does bacteria change their genetic information to become resistant to antibiotics?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Genetic mutations in the bacteria can cause them to become resistant to particular kinds of medication. As the reproduction rate of bacteria is so high, even just one bacteria with the gene that causes resistance can quickly multiply to become a strain of bacteria which are all resistant.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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Wiki User
∙ 11y agoA virus or bacteria multiply more rapidly and use energy from the body's healthy cells. They also can mimic healthy cells, or create more virulent strains during reproduction of cells. This may challenge immune system responses, and thus fever, sore muscles, and fatigue develop. Here a doctor will prescribe an antiobiotic, to shorten the duration of the achiness, tired muscles, and fever. Frequently a bacteria is not the root cause of illness but a virus is, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics. They may reproduce rapidly, and eventually mutate into new strains, particularly if taking antibiotics that do not cure or halt them. Because antibiotics, and even antibacterial soaps, cleansers and the like have been used so widely, the mutatiions or reproductions have been able to become stronger and more deadly.
This has caused the outbreak of MRSA, to develop, which is a community wide bacteria.Until more advanced solutions come along, people are sticking to tried-and-true advice any doctor would offer: Wash your hands, and wash them often.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoantibiotics do not get rid of 100% of germs
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoTransformation, Conjugation and Transduction
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Does bacteria exhibit genetic diversity within bacterial species?
Yes. This is why bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics.
How does binary fission result in bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics?
the genes of the bacteria have to be replicated, allowing for the chance of genetic mutation.
Why are some bacteria resistant to antibiotic drugs?
Bacteria can become resistant by many means. Antibiotics can affect several different parts of a bacterium such as cell wall synthesis (the penicillins affect this) or protein synthesis and several others. If for example an antibiotic affects cell wall synthesis by inhibiting an enzyme then if the bacteria mutates to overproduce that enzyme then it becomes resistant to that antibiotic at therapeutic concentrations. Or the bacteria could mutate so it does not need that exact enzyme any more and the antibiotic becomes useless. Some of the dangerous pathogens like methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have acquired resistance to several antibiotics by selective mutation (otherwise known as evolution). Some bacteria are not so good at mutating or are less dangerous as pathogens so they cannot acquire resistance at all or as quickly.Other bacteria can produce spores which are very tough capsules which contain all the genes of a bacterial species but are not viable cells, the spores are highly resistant to antibiotics because they are very thick and do not carry out normal cellular functions so they are not affected by antibiotics. Anthrax and Clostridium dificille can form spores.Some bacteria like Listeria and in some cases Staphylococcus aureus can get inside the human cell like a virus and become resistant to the immune system and also to drugs because it is harder for drugs to get inside a human cell.
Why the frequency of pencillin resistant bacteria can change over time within the population?
Due to bacteria reproducing quickly, their enormous numbers and the rapid transfer of genetic data there is great scope for mutation to occur. These newly formed bacteria are often non-sensitive to existing antibiotics.
What makes bacteria mutate?
Bacteria mutates when it is multiplying and there is a genetic error. Also Mutation occurs when bacteria becomes resistant to an antibacterial medicine.
How do bacteria exchange ganetic information?
Bacteria change genetic information with each through conjugation.
What process can lead to an increase in the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
This is due to mutation and natural selection. Only those who are resistant survive and therefore those carrying the genetic trait of being resistant will be the only ones breeding meaning this trait will be in the entire population.
What is an example of genes becoming more common in a population?
One example of a gene becoming more common in a population is antibiotic resistance in bacteria. When the antibiotics kill the bacteria some have a mutation that makes them resistant. These bacteria then reproduce and over time the species genetic code changes so that they are antibiotic resistant. This is the reason new vaccines are constantly released. The same basic principle works in pesticide resistance of rats.
Which process performs genetic recombination?
Genetic Recombination is the exchange of genetic information in order to increase the genetic diversity of the population. Probably only with bacteria.
How does bacteria exchange genetic information?
on plasmids in a process called conjugation
In paramecia and bacteria what is a reproductive process that allows recombination of genetic information?
conjugation
Why does evolution occur more faster in bacteria while developing resistance to antibiotics?
Bacteria undergo genetic mutations at a much quicker rate than humans. Often this will prove fatal to the mutated bacteria, but since bacteria are so plentiful, and since they reproduce so quickly, this poses no threat to the overall bacteria populations. Every once in a while, just by chance, one of these genetic mutations causes the bacteria to become resistant to a particular antibiotic. For example, a bacteria's DNA may mutate and begin producing a chemical which inactivates penicillin. Now imagine that the mutated bacteria finds its way into a human host. When the human realizes she is sick and begins taking penicillin, all of the non-mutated bacteria cells are killed, leaving only the mutant bacteria to thrive. It can reproduce without risk from the penicillin, and in short order the patient has an infection consisting ENTIRELY of mutated, penicillin resistant bacteria. The patient can then spread the infection to others, and penicillin will prove useless to combat the illness. In short, it is the frequent genetic mutation, large bacteria population, and short reproductive time which allows such quick resistance to develop.
