Final answer:
The false statement about the cause of resistant bacteria is that antibiotic resistance is never caused by horizontal gene transfer, which is indeed a mechanism for resistance spread.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about the cause of resistant bacteria that is false is: c) Antibiotic resistance is never caused by horizontal gene transfer. Horizontal gene transfer is, in fact, one of the mechanisms by which bacteria acquire resistance. Bacteria can share antibiotic resistance genes with each other, allowing resistance to spread quickly in a bacterial population. Additionally, the overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics in both healthcare settings and agriculture greatly contribute to the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains.Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is caused by a combination of factors, but the statement that antibiotic resistance is never caused by horizontal gene transfer is false.
Horizontal gene transfer, which includes transformation, transduction, and conjugation, can allow genes for antibiotic resistance to be transferred between bacteria species. This transfer can lead to the acquisition of resistance genes by non-resistant bacteria, making them antibiotic-resistant.Other factors that contribute to the development of resistant bacteria include overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics, genetic mutations in bacteria, and inappropriate prescription and use of antibiotics.