Biology / Unit 9 Bio 1967 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Antibiotic Resistance Mechanism
Captions available
The idea
Antibiotic resistance spreads when a resistance allele, already present at low frequency or transferred in, is selected for as susceptible bacteria die off.
In practice
A resistance gene can move between bacteria by conjugation, spreading resistance faster than mutation alone would.
Where people slip
Antibiotic use does not create resistance genes — it selects among variants that already exist or arrive by transfer.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Biology