Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibiotics themselves do not directly cause mutations in bacteria. Mutations occur naturally as a result of errors in DNA replication or exposure to mutagenic agents. However, the use of antibiotics can increase the rate of mutation in bacteria. This occurs because antibiotics can kill off susceptible bacteria, leaving behind only those that have developed resistance mechanisms through mutations. Over time, the selective pressure created by repeated exposure to antibiotics can lead to the evolution of increasingly resistant bacterial strains, which can then be passed on to other bacteria through horizontal gene transfer.
Additionally, the use of antibiotics can also create an environment in which bacteria are more likely to acquire new mutations, as the drugs can interfere with the normal processes of cell division and DNA repair, increasing the likelihood of errors. In this way, the use of antibiotics can indirectly contribute to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, although the actual mutations themselves are not caused directly by the drugs.