Explain antibiotic resistance observed in bacteria in light of Darwinian selection theory.

• Darwinian Selection Theory states that “The organisms with the characteristics that enable them to survive better in natural conditions (the existing environmental conditions) would outbreed others that are less-endowed to survive under those conditions.”

• Bacteria have been subjected to antibiotics since the earliest discovery of the first antibiotic i.e. Penicillin. Due to these constant treatments, certain strains of bacteria, due to mutations, developed resistance, or the already present resistance gene, now got selected as they could still survive in the presence of the antibiotics.

• Only the ones that survived the antibiotic treatment could further perpetuate and produce offsprings, resulting in the increase of antibiotic resistance in the bacterial population.

• Hence, the antibiotic resistance was observed in bacteria.