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2006-09-25 16:23:32 · 6 answers · asked by plz help me 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
its a remarkable demonstration of survival of the fittest. the bacteria "learn" what is hurting them and they evolve into stronger and more resistant bacteria. They can actually become "like" what is hurting them to become resistant.
go research the HIV virus and how it works, you will be amazed.
2006-09-25 16:28:43 · answer #1 · answered by Bistro 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
An antibiotic is a drug that kills bacteria. However, all the bacteria don't always die. Sometimes a few survive. Surviving means that they are immune to the effect of the drug. Now you have bacteria that will reproduce and that do not respond to drugs. In a way, they have outsmarted us. They didn't do it on purpose; that's an example of how evolution works.
If antibiotics were only used to treat serious human conditions, this might never have happened. But they are used widely in factory farms where our chicken, beef and pork are produced. Used in these massive quantities, some were bound to survive and reproduce, creating new generations of resistant bacteria. Scary, huh?
2006-09-25 16:36:27 · answer #2 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are not getting stronger in the same sense as it would happen with higher organisms. Instead, this is a results of survival of the "strongest" in the population. Bacterial culture is a community of microorganisms which contantly mutate, so that at any time there are thousands of variants for the same type of bacteria (strain).
In unfavorable conditions (e.g. when an antibiotic is added) most cells get killed. Those few which survived give a progeny of "stonger" or antibiotic resistant type.
2006-09-27 09:06:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you mean more resistant, not stronger. Basically what happens is the bacteria gets use to the drug you're using... kinda like how your body builds up it's immune system.
2006-09-25 16:26:12 · answer #4 · answered by cgspitfire 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like your body, bacteria become immune ot certain things, only they go a step further. They actually become like the drug you use to avoid destruction.. luckily it takes a long time, and it only takes minor adjustments to get around their immune systems. Thoug, eventually we're gonna run out of tweeks to make
2006-09-25 16:32:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they develope resistance to the antibiotics. survival of the fittest! good luck
2006-09-25 16:25:18 · answer #6 · answered by HK3738 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋