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Multiple Choice
How does the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria illustrate the process of natural selection?
A
Antibiotic resistance spreads only through the transfer of resistance genes from humans to bacteria.
B
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria arise because antibiotics directly cause mutations that make bacteria resistant.
C
All bacteria become resistant to antibiotics over time, regardless of genetic variation or selection pressure.
D
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria survive and reproduce because they possess genetic traits that allow them to withstand antibiotics, leading to an increase in resistant populations.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the concept of natural selection. Natural selection is the process by which organisms with traits that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to pass those traits to the next generation.
Step 2: Recognize that genetic variation exists within bacterial populations. Some bacteria may naturally possess genetic traits that make them resistant to antibiotics, even before exposure to the drugs.
Step 3: When antibiotics are introduced, they create a selection pressure. This means that bacteria without resistance traits are killed or inhibited, while those with resistance traits survive and continue to reproduce.
Step 4: Over time, the population of bacteria shifts. The resistant bacteria become more prevalent because they are the ones surviving and reproducing, illustrating the principle of 'survival of the fittest' in natural selection.
Step 5: Understand that antibiotic resistance does not arise because antibiotics directly cause mutations. Instead, it is the result of pre-existing genetic traits being favored under the selection pressure of antibiotic use.