How do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics Antibiotic
How do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?
Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria change in response to an environmental pressure (introduction of antibiotics) Those with the genetic mutation for resistance continue to live and divide (they have a selective advantage) Those without the mutation die along with their genes Hhhmmm…a population changing in response to their environment…sound familiar? ?
Can we see Evolution in action?
What is happening at the cellular level? Bacteria have the amazing ability to take in foreign DNA and copy it This is known as bacterial transformation Bacteria have a circular chromosome as well as other circular pieces of DNA (plasmids) Foreign plasmids can be taken in by the bacteria through transformation
How does this happen? This can happen naturally between 2 bacterial cells or viruses injecting DNA into bacteria Or this can happen artificially…through People! We are going to play the role of microbiologists and see if we can transform bacteria!
Helpful Key Terms/Concepts for this Lab p. Gal Plasmid: circular piece of DNA used in the lab When successfully transformed, bacteria with p. Gal will turn blue and be resistant to antibiotics Antibiotic being used is known as ampicillin
- Slides: 8