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.
The development of resistance to antibiotics by bacteria is a real world example of evolution.
The process is called "evolution". Basically, if one bacterium has a trait that helps it resist antibiotics, it is more likely to survive and reproduce.
An example of microevolution in organisms is the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Through repeated exposure to antibiotics, bacteria may develop genetic mutations that confer resistance to the drug, allowing those bacteria to survive and reproduce, leading to the evolution of a population that is no longer susceptible to the antibiotic.
NO! Antibiotics have no effect at all on viruses and should never be used to treat viral infections and doing so accelerates the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change in a way that makes antibiotics less effective against them. This can occur through mechanisms like mutations in bacterial DNA, acquiring resistance genes from other bacteria, or developing ways to pump out or break down antibiotics. These changes allow the bacteria to survive and multiply even when exposed to antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.
They have resistance to the antibiotic.
Bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics through genetic mutations or by acquiring resistance genes from other bacteria. Over time, the resistant bacteria population can grow, making the antibiotics less effective in treating infections caused by those bacteria. This can lead to treatment failure and the need for more powerful antibiotics.
B- Bacteria
An example of micro-evolution is the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria due to natural selection. When exposed to antibiotics, bacteria with genetic mutations that provide resistance to the drug survive and reproduce, passing on the resistant trait to future generations. Over time, the proportion of resistant bacteria in the population increases, leading to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains.
A microbiologist or medical scientist would study how bacteria are affected by antibiotics. They can investigate how bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics and explore new ways to combat antibiotic resistance.
Resistant or resistance is when a bacteria has adapted to an antibiotic.
Bacteria resistance refers to the ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics or other antimicrobial drugs, reducing or eliminating their effectiveness in killing the bacteria. This resistance can develop through genetic mutations or acquisition of resistance genes from other bacteria, leading to treatment challenges and increased risk of uncontrolled infections.