Questions: How do bacteria develop resistance to drugs? A. After a certain amount of the bacteria are killed by drugs, they learn to recognize and avoid it. B. If you do not take all of your antibiotics, they slowly develop a tolerance for it, like you would against certain toxins over time. C. Their ability to replicate very fast and natural mutations combine to allow them to evolve rapidly. D. If they only absorb a small amount, it works like a vaccine, immunizing them against larger amounts.

How do bacteria develop resistance to drugs?
A. After a certain amount of the bacteria are killed by drugs, they learn to recognize and avoid it.
B. If you do not take all of your antibiotics, they slowly develop a tolerance for it, like you would against certain toxins over time.
C. Their ability to replicate very fast and natural mutations combine to allow them to evolve rapidly.
D. If they only absorb a small amount, it works like a vaccine, immunizing them against larger amounts.

Transcript text: How do bacteria develop resistance to drugs? A. After a certain amount of the bacteria are killed by drugs, they learn to recognize and avoid it. B. If you do not take all of your antibiotics, they slowly develop a tolerance for it, like you would against certain toxins over time. C. Their ability to replicate very fast and natural mutations combine to allow them to evolve rapidly. D. If they only absorb a small amount, it works like a vaccine, immunizing them against larger amounts.

Solution

The answer is C: Their ability to replicate very fast and natural mutations combine to allow them to evolve rapidly.

Explanation for each option:

A. After a certain amount of the bacteria are killed by drugs, they learn to recognize and avoid it.

This is incorrect. Bacteria do not have the ability to "learn" in the way that higher organisms might. Resistance is not a result of recognition or avoidance but rather genetic changes.

B. If you do not take all of your antibiotics, they slowly develop a tolerance for it, like you would against certain toxins over time.

This is misleading. While not completing a course of antibiotics can contribute to resistance, it is not because bacteria develop a "tolerance" like humans might to toxins. Instead, incomplete treatment can leave behind bacteria that have some resistance, allowing them to survive and multiply.

C. Their ability to replicate very fast and natural mutations combine to allow them to evolve rapidly.

This is correct. Bacteria reproduce quickly, and during this process, mutations can occur. Some mutations may confer resistance to antibiotics, and these resistant bacteria can then multiply rapidly, leading to a population of resistant bacteria.

D. If they only absorb a small amount, it works like a vaccine, immunizing them against larger amounts.

This is incorrect. Bacteria do not become "immunized" against antibiotics. Instead, exposure to sub-lethal doses can select for resistant strains, but this is not the same as immunization.

In summary, bacteria develop resistance to drugs primarily through rapid replication and natural mutations, which allow them to evolve quickly.

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