Question

Tetracycline, an antibiotic, works by interfering with the ribosome's ability to make proteins. Tetracycline is used to kill a number of different bacteria (prokaryotes), and while it can impact humans (eukaryotes) negatively, it does not kill our cells. Which explanation below best explains this phenomenon?

A. Tetracycline can only diffuse into bacterial cells.
B. While both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells have ribosomes, the prokaryotic ribosome is different from the eukaryotic ribosome, which is why the bacteria die, but not human cells.
C. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic ribosomes are exactly the same, but we have special enzymes to break down tetracyclines.
D. Eukaryotic cells are never negatively impacted by any kind of antibiotic, under any circumstances.

Answer 1

Tetracycline kills bacteria without harming human cells because the prokaryotic ribosome is different from the eukaryotic ribosome.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best explanation for why tetracycline, an antibiotic, kills bacteria but does not harm human cells is explained by option B: While both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells have ribosomes, the prokaryotic ribosome is different from the eukaryotic ribosome, which is why the bacteria die, but not human cells.

Tetracycline specifically interferes with the prokaryotic ribosome's ability to make proteins, which is crucial for bacterial survival. Human cells, being eukaryotic, have ribosomes that are structurally different from prokaryotic ribosomes, allowing them to be unaffected by tetracycline.