If the Bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus Experiences a Cost for Maintaining

question 27

Multiple Choice

If the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus experiences a cost for maintaining one or more antibiotic-resistance genes, then what should happen in environments from which antibiotics are missing?

• A) These genes should continue to be maintained in case the antibiotics ever appear.
• B) These bacteria should be outcompeted and replaced by bacteria that have lost these genes.
• C) The bacteria should try to make the cost worthwhile by locating, and migrating to, microenvironments where traces of antibiotics are present.
• D) The bacteria should start making and secreting their own antibiotics.

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Definitions:

Spinal Cord

A long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the brainstem down the back, and transmits nerve impulses between the brain and the rest of the body.

Common Ancestor

Forebear of two or more lineages or family groups; ancestral to both groups.

Nervous Systems

The complex network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body, coordinating actions and sensory information.

Organisms

Entities that exhibit the characteristics of life, such as growth, reproduction, and the ability to respond to their environment.