How do you explain the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria?
1 Answer
Adaptive evolution by natural selection of best suited variations and mutations by losing genetic material
Explanation:
There are ten million bacteria that can grow from a single bacteria in a day. When treated with an antibiotic only a few cells will survive. -the two or three cells that carry a rare resistance gene for that antibiotic. These survive and pass their successful gene to their discontents. The beak of the finch page 258 Jonathan Weiner.
There is vast though finite variation within a normal population of bacteria. Some these existing genetic variations survive and pass their resistance on to the next generation.
The other source of antibiotic resistance is mutations. Researchers looking for the source found " that in each strain the bacteria had dropped from its chromosome a gene called lat G which codes for the production of two enzymes catalase and peroxidase."...
(This lose of genetic information allowed the bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotic ) ... Apparently the cells had paid a price to defend themselves from the drug. They had made an evolutionary trade off giving up part of their own adaptive equipment for the sake of survival. The beak of the finch page 260
From a respected evolutionist Jonathan Weiner antibiotic resistance comes from existing variations and mutation from losing genetic information.
