Infection & ResponseDeep Dive
How Antibiotic Resistance Develops
Part of Antibiotics and Drug Resistance — GCSE Biology
This deep dive covers How Antibiotic Resistance Develops within Antibiotics and Drug Resistance for GCSE Biology. Antibiotic function, bacterial resistance evolution, responsible use, global health impact It is section 6 of 19 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 6 of 19
Practice
20 questions
Recall
24 flashcards
How Antibiotic Resistance Develops
The Process of Natural Selection:
- Genetic Variation: Random mutations in bacterial DNA create variation in populations
- Selection Pressure: When antibiotics are used, they create environmental pressure
- Survival of the Fittest: Bacteria with resistance mutations survive while others die
- Reproduction: Resistant bacteria multiply and pass resistance genes to offspring
- Population Change: Over time, resistant bacteria become dominant in the population
Mechanisms of Resistance:
- Enzyme Production: Bacteria produce enzymes that break down antibiotics
- Target Modification: Changes to bacterial structures that antibiotics normally target
- Efflux Pumps: Bacteria pump antibiotics out of their cells
- Alternative Pathways: Bacteria develop new metabolic routes to bypass disrupted processes
Horizontal Gene Transfer:
Bacteria can share resistance genes directly with other bacteria through:
- Plasmid transfer: Small DNA circles containing resistance genes
- Transformation: Uptake of free DNA from environment
- Transduction: Gene transfer via viruses that infect bacteria