Question

PLEASE ANSWER.   E. coli is a species of bacteria that causes many different infections in humans. Certain E. coli strains have developed resistance to antibiotics, making infections with these strains difficult to treat. How do bacteria such as E. coli, which reproduce asexually, gain new traits such as antibiotic resistance?

A.

by undergoing spontaneous mutations when they replicate, which increases genetic variation in a population

B.

by mutating their DNA in response to environmental conditions to gain beneficial traits

C.

by adapting to changes in environmental conditions without undergoing changes in their DNA

D.

by producing offspring with new gene assortments from genetic recombination, which increases diversity in a population

Answer 1

Answer: It’s not b that’s all I know

Explanation:I took the test b was not correct

Answer 2

Answer: The correct answer is-

B. by mutating their DNA in response to environmental conditions to gain beneficial traits.

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria means the bacteria is not susceptible to the antibiotic that is the effectiveness of antibiotic against the bacteria is eliminated or reduced.

It occurs when bacteria undergoes mutation that is alteration in the genetic material ( for instance, in one mechanism of resistance, mutation changes the protein that was earlier target for the antibiotic).

Therefore, by mutating the DNA in response to environmental condition ( such as exposure to antibiotic in this condition), bacteria gains beneficial characters and become resistant.

Thus, option B) is the right answer.