Question

Sal has a bacterial infection and was treated with antibiotics. Sal seemed to get well but in a few weeks she was sick again. How can you explain this using natural selection

Answer 1

After being treated with antibiotics, some of the bacteria in Sal's body may have evolved resistance to the medication through a process known as natural selection. These resistant bacteria were able to survive the antibiotic treatment and continue to multiply, eventually causing Sal to become sick again. Over time, the population of resistant bacteria may have increased due to their ability to survive and reproduce in the presence of the antibiotic, making it more difficult to fully eradicate the infection. This is a common issue with antibiotic use and highlights the importance of using these medications judiciously to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.