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How antibiotic resistance evolves

How antibiotic resistance evolves

Flow diagram showing a resistance mutation present before antibiotic treatment, death of susceptible bacteria, survival and binary fission of resistant bacteria, and a final population with a high proportion of resistant bacteria

Antibiotic resistance is the inherited ability of a bacterium to survive an antibiotic that would normally kill it or stop it reproducing. It can first arise when a random mutation produces a resistance allele in one bacterium before the antibiotic is used.

4.1.2 Resistant organisms and evolution Lesson

  1. GCSE
  2. /Biology
  3. /4.1.2 Resistant organisms and evolution

Step-by-step lessons on Edexcel GCSE Biology 4.1.2 Resistant organisms and evolution. Each one builds up to exam-style questions. Start with the foundational topics and build up to the higher-tier material.

Lessons