Antibiotic resistance

Question 1

How does bacterial resistance occur in bacteria

Answer 1

Spontaneously through random mutations within DNA.

Question 2

How does bacterial resistance spread to other bacteria

Answer 2

Transformation: bacteria can inherit mutated DNA from the environment e.g. if a resistant cell dies
Conjugation: Bacteria can receive the resistant DNA from plasmids directly from other bacteria
Transduction: Bacterial Viruses can pick up antibiotic resistance and then pass it on to the bacteria they infect

Question 3

what is natural resistance

Answer 3

when the bacteria is naturally resistant to the antibiotic due to their structural or functional characteristics

Question 4

How did humans speed up the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in bacteria

Answer 4

after consuming the antibiotics they pass through us into the environment. rivers that are polluted with antibiotics will often have antibiotic resistant bacteria

Question 5

how is antibiotic resistance from livestock passed on to humans

Answer 5

livestock are given plenty of antibiotics which can result in resistant strains forming. once consumed, these strains can be passed on to humans.

Question 6

What is MRSA

Answer 6

Methicillin resistant Stapholococcus aureus is a superbug that is resistant to a variety of antibiotics making it very hard to treat.

Question 7

What is Neisseria gonorrhoea

Answer 7

an STI that has become resistant to a variety of antibiotics which once used to be able to treat it.

Question 8

how can people reduce the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria

Answer 8

reduce the use of antibiotics and ensure that a antibiotic course is taken in full.
maintain good hygiene practices in hotspots like hospitals
Develop new antibiotics to keep up the spread of resistant bacteria