Why Is Widespread Resistance to Tuberculosis (TB) Not Likely to Evolve

question 50

Multiple Choice

Why is widespread resistance to tuberculosis (TB) not likely to evolve any time soon?

• A) Only a small percentage of people who are nonresistant to the bacterium will become infected and die from TB, so the variant will stay in the population.
• B) TB is highly fatal, so those who are nonresistant will die quickly.
• C) Humans are no longer evolving, so the population cannot develop widespread resistance.
• D) It would be too expensive to genetically engineer people to give them the resistance gene.

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Definitions:

Winged Invertebrates

Invertebrate animals that possess wings, allowing them to fly; includes insects and some species of arachnids.

Hymenoptera

An order of insects that includes wasps, bees, and ants, characterized by two pairs of wings and a constriction between the abdomen and thorax.

Insects

A class of arthropods characterized by a three-part body (head, thorax, abdomen), three pairs of legs, compound eyes, and one pair of antennae.

Coleoptera

An order of insects known as beetles, characterized by their hard forewings (elytra) which cover the hind wings.