If a bacterium carrying a plasmid that confers resistance to ampicillin is placed into medium without ampicillin, it may
A) gain resistance to other antibiotics.
B) transfer resistance to other cultures in the laboratory.
C) undergo a reversion mutation.
D) lose the plasmid because there is no selection for ampicillin resistance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Without the selective pressure of ampicillin, there is no advantage conferred by the plasmid carrying the ampicillin resistance gene. As a result, the bacterium is more likely to lose the plasmid through normal cellular processes, such as binary fission, and not retain the resistance.

If a Bacterium Carrying a Plasmid That Confers Resistance to Ampicillin