What is the Best Explanation for the Emergence of Resistant

Question

What is the best explanation for the emergence of resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus?
A)Antibiotics used to fight Staphylococcus aureus infections create resistance in the pathogen.
B)Resistance occurs in all organisms that have short generation times.
C)In many bacteria, artificial selection is stronger than natural selection.
D)In the presence of antibiotics, resistant bacteria in a population survive better than non-resistant bacteria, produce more offspring, and pass on the resistance to their offspring.
E)Resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus are more fit than nonresistant strains in all environments.

Accepted Answer

In the presence of antibiotics, resistant bacteria in a population survive better than non-resistant bacteria, produce more offspring, and pass on the resistance to their offspring. This leads to the emergence of resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Essentially, the use of antibiotics creates an artificial selection pressure that favors the survival and reproduction of resistant strains. Over time, this results in the evolution of a population of bacteria that is increasingly resistant to antibiotics.