An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the development of antibiotic resistance in a strain of bacteria - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2002 - Paper 1
Question 5
An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the development of antibiotic resistance in a strain of bacteria. The table summarises ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the development of antibiotic resistance in a strain of bacteria - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2002 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which of the following statements best summarises the stages in the development of the new strain of bacteria that was resistant to antibiotic S?
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Answer
To understand the development of antibiotic resistance in the strain of bacteria, we analyze the steps involved:
Mutation: The initial step involves mutations occurring in the bacterial DNA. These mutations can lead to changes that may give some bacteria resistance to specific antibiotics.
Natural Selection: After the mutations happen, the next step is natural selection. Antibiotic S is applied, and bacteria that are resistant will survive and reproduce, while those that are not resistant will die off.
Replication: Finally, the resistant bacteria replicate, spreading the resistant traits throughout the population.
Based on these stages, the correct option is (C) Mutation → Natural Selection → Replication.