Concept explainers
To determine:
Whether the mutation that arises in a bacterium that confers antibiotic resistance is harmful, beneficial or neutral.
Introduction:
Mutation in an organism is a permanent alteration of “
Explanation of Solution
Although mutations that leads to alteration in the sequence of the protein can be harmful, but occasionally such effects may be beneficial in a particular environment. Without mutations, there is no possibility of evolution as mutation generates favorable variants that allow an organism to adapt to its environment.
Antibacterial agents, also known as antibiotics are a form of antimicrobial drug that is used for prevention and treatment of bacterial infections. This may result in inhibition of bacterial growth or destruction of bacteria. The resistances in the bacteria do not develop out of need instead before even the introduction of antibiotic some of the bacteria in low number were already carrying such mutation (regarding resistance).
These mutations allowed the bacteria to grow in antibiotic culture which clearly indicates that such mutations are beneficial for them because it allows them to grow and reproduce, but they can be harmful or neutral when there is no antibiotic.
The mutation that arises in a bacterium that confers antibiotic resistance is beneficial only in the presence of antibiotics.
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