Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is driven by genetic variation, natural selection, and the evolution of populations to contain predominantly resistant individuals.
Resistance in bacteria occurs when some individuals possess traits that allow them to tolerate antibiotics due to genetic variation. When antibiotics are applied, they kill most bacteria, but those resistant survive and pass down their resistance traits.
Natural selection leads to the survival and reproduction of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resulting in the population evolving to predominantly contain resistant individuals. This demonstrates how environmental pressures can drive evolutionary change.
Genetic variation within populations plays a crucial role in the development of antibiotic resistance, as existing resistance genes are selected for under antibiotic use, leading to the rise of superbugs.
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