Download Antibiotic worksheet

Antibiotic Resistance Worksheet - Biology 213
Instructions: Read the article and Ch 27 of your textbook and answer the questions below.
Questions
1. Based on the article (or other sources you have read), briefly describe three factors that are
contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance (may be biological, social, etc.)
2. Choose an antibiotic (or class of antibiotics) and look it up online. Briefly describe what the
antibiotic targets.
Examples of antibiotics: penicillin, carbapenems (class of antibiotics), erythromycin, etc.
3. What is one specific adaptation that can occur to confer resistance to the antibiotic you
selected? For example, if the antibiotic targets the bacterial ribosome, what is a specific
adaptation that would allow bacteria to not be affected by the antibiotic?
4. Provide examples of other adaptations that can make a bacterium resistant to an antibiotic.
5. What are R plasmids (see textbook).
Page 1 of 2 6. Describe how natural selection works using the development of resistance to the antibiotic
you selected. Be sure to specify what the adaptation is in this scenario. In your explanation,
choose one of the following mechanisms for increasing genetic diversity (mutation,
transformation, transduction, or conjugation).
Note: Even though you are only describing one, you should be able to tell this story using any of
these mechanisms for increasing genetic diversity.
7. Describe the differences between conjugation involving a F plasmid and conjugation
involving a Hfr cell. You may draw pictures, but be sure to labeling them with descriptions of
what is happening.
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