Question

The widespread use of antibiotics creates environments where ________ mutants have a selective advantage over wild-type___________, antibiotic-sensitive bacteria. The__________ which were originally_______ antibiotic-sensitive will _________ in population frequency under these conditions, eventually replacing the ______variants. Thus, infections are more likely to result from ___________strains.

Answer 1

Answer:

1. antibiotic-resistant

2. antiobiotic-sensitive

3. antibiotic-resistant

4. rare

5. increase

6. antiobiotic-sensitive

7. antibiotic-resistant

Explanation:

The widespread use of antibiotics creates environments where antibiotic-resistant mutants have a selective advantage over wild-type antiobiotic-sensitive , antibiotic-sensitive bacteria. The antibiotic-resistant  which were originally rare antibiotic-sensitive will increase in population frequency under these conditions, eventually replacing the antiobiotic-sensitive variants. Thus, infections are more likely to result from antibiotic-resistant strains.

Let assume that;

Antibiotic-senstitive bacteria are wild-type bacteria which are killed by antibiotics.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are mutant-bacteria which are not killed by antibiotics

Now in a population of species that are not affected by antibiotics, the antibiotic-resistant are RARE. But when exposed to antibiotics, majority (i.e 98%) of antibiotic-sensitive bacteria where destroyed, leaving 2% of antibiotic-resistant to survive in the population.

These mutants (antibiotic-resistant) would reciprocate uncurbed because  they do not need to compete for resources with majority of wild-types.

Therefore, the new population would consist mostly of mutants that are  antibiotic-resistants. As such, rendering that environment with infections most likely to be prevalent due to mutant-resistant bacteria because there are now very few species of wild-type antibiotic-sensitive bacteria in the new population.