5.9 - Antibiotics Flashcards
How antibiotics work against bacteria Why antibiotics are ineffective against viruses The consequences of antibiotic resistance
1
Q
What are antibiotics?
A
Drugs that kill or inhibit bacterial growth
2
Q
How do antibiotics work?
Specifically what do they target?
A
Target bacterial enzymes and ribosomes
3
Q
Why don’t antibiotics damage human cells?
A
Human cells have different enzymes and ribosomes
4
Q
What are some ways antibiotics affect bacteria?
A
Prevent cell wall synthesis
5
Q
Why don’t antibiotics work against viruses?
A
Viruses lack cell structures and rely on host cells
6
Q
How does antibiotic resistance develop?
A
Genetic mutations and natural selection
7
Q
What happens to bacteria with antibiotic resistance?
A
They survive and reproduce
8
Q
How is antibiotic resistance spread?
A
Through reproduction and conjugation
9
Q
Where are genes for antibiotic resistance often found?
A
On plasmids
