Edexcel IGCSE Biology · Spec 3.39
Antibiotic Resistance
How antibiotic resistance develops in bacteria through natural selection, and how to reduce it.
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Antibiotic Resistance
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Spec 3.39
What you need to know
- Explain how antibiotic resistance develops
- Link it to natural selection
- Describe how to slow it down
Active recall
Quick check
Answer each question before opening the answer.
How do bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic?
A random mutation makes some bacteria resistant; the antibiotic kills the non-resistant ones, so the resistant survive and reproduce (natural selection).
How can we slow the spread of antibiotic resistance?
Only use antibiotics when necessary and always finish the full course.
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