The dots represent a bacterial infection. Sal was very sick with this bacterial infection. The infection was treated with antibiotics. Sal seemed to get well, but in a few weeks, she was sick again. How can this be explained using natural selection?

Question

Responses
A The antibiotics were ineffective to this strain of bacteria.The antibiotics were ineffective to this strain of bacteria.
B The stronger, more resistant bacteria survived the antibiotics and reproduced.The stronger, more resistant bacteria survived the antibiotics and reproduced.
C The antibiotics did not kill the bacteria; it only forced them to be dormant.The antibiotics did not kill the bacteria; it only forced them to be dormant.
D Antibiotics will only kill a portion of the bacteria, no matter how much medicine Sal takes.

Answer 1

B The stronger, more resistant bacteria survived the antibiotics and reproduced.

This can be explained using natural selection because the antibiotics killed the weaker, susceptible bacteria, allowing the stronger, more resistant bacteria to survive and reproduce. Over time, the population of bacteria became dominated by those that were resistant to the antibiotics, leading to Sal becoming sick again. This is an example of natural selection favoring traits that allow organisms to survive and reproduce in their environment.