Which Statement Best Describes the Phenomenon of Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria

Question

Which statement best describes the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance in bacteria?
A) For a particular antibiotic, all bacteria are either completely resistant or completely sensitive.
B) When a type of bacteria is resistant to antibiotics, it's resistant to all antibiotics.
C) Resistance is a matter of degrees; resistance can be partial or total, and resistance to each antibiotic is a separate trait.
D) Resistance to antibiotics is a trait that didn't exist before antibiotics were developed for pharmaceutical use.

Accepted Answer

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a complex phenomenon that varies with the type of antibiotic and the specific bacteria involved. Resistance can be partial or complete and can develop over time as bacteria evolve mechanisms to counteract the effects of antibiotics. Additionally, different bacteria may be resistant to different antibiotics, so resistance to one antibiotic does not necessarily indicate resistance to all antibiotics.