Horizontal gene transfer can occur through several mechanisms. Why is this relevant to humans?

Question

Question 10 options:

A)

Bacteria can divide quickly using binary fission.

B)

Viruses can infect bacteria, inserting their genetic material into the bacterial DNA.

C)

Bacteria are never beneficial to humans.

D)

Bacteria can exchange genes for resistance to antibiotics in this way.

Answer 1

The relevance of horizontal gene transfer to humans is primarily expressed in option:

D) Bacteria can exchange genes for resistance to antibiotics in this way.

This is significant because it contributes to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which poses a major public health challenge. Horizontal gene transfer allows bacteria to rapidly acquire and disseminate genes that confer resistance to antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.