Cells becoming resistant to bacteria; Within a population of bacteria, NO cells are resistant to antibiotics. Over time, ALL cells are resistant to antibiotics. Outline the steps of natural selection that lead to a fully resistant population:

  • Within the bacterial population, the cells obtain different types of mutations. - One type of mutation is antibiotic resistance. - Some types of mutations are harmful to the cell, some have no or little effect and others provide a survival advantage. - Most mutants do not survive. - The surviving bacterial cells reproduce by binary fission. As a result the number of mutant cells increases. - The bacterial population experiences an environmental change i.e. the population is introduced to antibiotics. - The antibiotic resistant mutants now have a survival advantage over the other mutants which do not survive. - The offspring of the antibiotic resistant mutants are also antibiotic resistant. - This offspring survive and reproduce until all the cells within the bacterial population are antibiotic resistant.
Answered by Emmaline S. Biology tutor

1561 Views

See similar Biology IB tutors

Related Biology IB answers

All answers ▸

Explain the process of DNA translation


Outline the role of phagocytic white blood cells in defence against pathogens


Where does digestion of protein occur?


How do you explain the process of translation?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences