Antibiotic resistance evolves quickly because
A) antibiotics impose strong selection for resistance.
B) antibiotics cause new mutations in bacteria that result in antibiotic resistance.
C) natural selection causes evolution to slow down.
D) bacterial infections should not be treated with antibiotics.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Antibiotics impose strong selection for resistance by killing susceptible bacteria and allowing resistant bacteria to survive and reproduce. As a result, antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly become dominant in populations of bacteria. Bacteria can also acquire resistance through the exchange of genetic material, such as plasmids, which can spread resistance genes rapidly among bacterial populations. Natural selection does not cause evolution to slow down, but rather drives it forward. Bacterial infections should be treated with antibiotics when appropriate, but their misuse or overuse can contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic Resistance Evolves Quickly Because