Mutations and Antibiotic Resistance

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Mutations

A mutation occurs (when a gene is copied incorrectly)

If a mutation is beneficial an organism will survive longer and reproduce more

Some offspring will inherit the mutation

Those offspring will also survive longer and reproduce more

Over a period of time the mutation becomes a common gene in the species and those without the mutation become fewer as they cannot compete

Mutations can be beneficial, neutral or harmful

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Antibiotic Resistance

Bacteria experience mutations

These mutations can make them resistant to a certain antibiotic so they are more likely to survive

They can pass on this mutation meaning we cannot kill/treat that bacteria with that antibiotic

This can lead to infections which are difficult to control