Question
A bacterial population was exposed to an antibiotic. Most of the bacteria died, but a few survived and reproduced. What would you expect to happen if the bacterial population was exposed to the same antibiotic again?
a. All of the bacteria will die because the antibiotics will know what to kill this time.
b. Most of the bacteria will die again, but a few will survive because the antibiotic can't reach all of them
c. The bacteria will infect the antibiotic.
d. Most of the bacteria will survive because the surviving bacteria from the first round passed on their resistant traits.
a. All of the bacteria will die because the antibiotics will know what to kill this time.
b. Most of the bacteria will die again, but a few will survive because the antibiotic can't reach all of them
c. The bacteria will infect the antibiotic.
d. Most of the bacteria will survive because the surviving bacteria from the first round passed on their resistant traits.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is: **d. Most of the bacteria will survive because the surviving bacteria from the first round passed on their resistant traits.**
When a bacterial population is exposed to an antibiotic, some bacteria may have genetic mutations that confer resistance to that antibiotic. Those that survive will reproduce, passing on their resistant traits to the next generation. Therefore, when the same population is exposed to the antibiotic again, a larger proportion of the bacteria will likely be resistant and able to survive the treatment.
When a bacterial population is exposed to an antibiotic, some bacteria may have genetic mutations that confer resistance to that antibiotic. Those that survive will reproduce, passing on their resistant traits to the next generation. Therefore, when the same population is exposed to the antibiotic again, a larger proportion of the bacteria will likely be resistant and able to survive the treatment.