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Biology AS CIE

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  1. 1-cell-structure
    10 主题
  2. 2-biological-molecules
    19 主题
  3. 3-enzymes
    13 主题
  4. 4-cell-membranes-and-transport
    16 主题
  5. 5-the-mitotic-cell-cycle
    8 主题
  6. 6-nucleic-acids-and-protein-synthesis
    9 主题
  7. 7-transport-in-plants
    11 主题
  8. 8-transport-in-mammals
    16 主题
  9. 9-gas-exchange
    6 主题
  10. 10-infectious-diseases
    6 主题
  11. 11-immunity
    10 主题
课 10, 主题 2
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10-2-antibiotics AS antibiotic-resistance

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Exam code:9700

Resistance to antibiotics

  • Genetic variation exists between individuals in a bacterial population

    • This is the result of random mutation

  • A chance mutation might give rise to a new allele that provides resistance to an antibiotic

    • E.g. some pathogenic bacteria have become resistant to penicillin

    • They have acquired an allele that codes for the production of an enzyme which breaks down penicillin

  • When the bacterial population is treated with this antibiotic any bacteria with the resistance allele do not die

    • The antibiotic acts as a selection pressure

  • The resistant bacteria can continue to reproduce with less competition from the non-resistant bacteria, which are now dead

  • The allele for antibiotic resistance is passed on with much greater frequency to the next generation

    • This can occur especially quickly in bacterial populations, due to:

      • short generation times

      • all offspring being clones of their parents

      • horizontal gene transfer

  • The antibiotic resistance allele increases in frequency

    • A higher proportion of the bacterial population is now resistant to the antibiotic

  • This is an example of evolution by natural selection

Diagram illustrating antibiotic resistance development: mutation occurs, antibiotics kill non-resistant bacteria, resistant bacteria survive and reproduce.
Bacteria evolve rapidly due to their high mutation rate and short generation times; this means that antibiotic resistance can arise quickly when a population is exposed to a new antibiotic
  • Humans have caused an increase in the occurrence of antibiotic resistance

    • This is because treating infections with antibiotics provides a selection pressure which drives natural selection

  • This problem is made worse when antibiotics are used improperly, e.g.

    • For treatment of non-serious infections

    • For treatment of viral infections

    • Routine treatment to animals in agriculture

    • A course of antibiotics is not fully completed

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Be careful when describing the development of antibiotic resistance; there are two major pitfalls to look out for:

  • Antibiotic resistance mutations occur by chance, and not as the result of exposure to antibiotics; you should never say that antibiotics cause mutation

  • Mutation gives rise to a new resistance allele, and not a new gene

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