Question

__________________________________________________________________________________________________7. Two students are discussing natural selection in bacteria and how it can relate to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Bernadette states that when antibiotics are used, bacteria can respond by developing traits to help them defeat the antibiotic, which then may increase their fitness. Dominique states that there is already a variety of traits among the bacteria. Bacteria that have traits that allow them to survive the antibiotic and reproduce may have higher fitness. Which individual's reasoning do you agree with more and why? in a few sentances

Answer 1

I agree more with Dominique's reasoning. Natural selection relies on the existing genetic variation within a population. Bacteria already possess a variety of traits due to mutations and horizontal gene transfer. When antibiotics are introduced, it is the pre-existing traits that enable some bacteria to survive and reproduce, leading to an increase in those traits in the population over time. Bernadette's statement suggests that bacteria can actively develop new traits in response to antibiotics, which does not align with the principles of evolution and natural selection.