Final answer:
Bacteria that produce a chemical making them resistant to penicillin typically pass this resistance on to their asexually reproduced offspring, increasing the proportion of penicillin-resistant bacteria in the population.
Step-by-step explanation:
Since these bacteria reproduce asexually, they usually produce offspring that are also resistant to penicillin. This resistance typically arises through a mutation that enables the bacteria to synthesize an enzyme called penicillinase, which can break down penicillin. This ability to degrade penicillin is especially concerning with bacteria like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that reproduce by growing and dividing into two, passing on the resistance trait to subsequent generations. One of the main reasons for the development of resistant bacteria is the overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics. The misuse, such as not completing a full course of prescribed antibiotics, leads to natural selection where non-resistant forms are eliminated and the proportion of resistant forms is increased in the population. Even when bacteria are separated by a filter that prevents cell movement but allows free exchange of cellular material, resistance can spread as sensitive bacteria acquire resistance through genetic mechanisms such as lateral gene transfer.