Assignment:
In this discussion, please choose an antibiotic that no one else has presented. Also, please put your chosen antibiotic in the topic line of your discussion thread so that everyone knows what you have chosen.
Antibiotic Resistance of bacterial species is becoming more of a problem with each passing year and has prompted the "Be Antibiotics Aware" campaign by the CDC. Take a few moments to explore the campaign's website.
Comment on the following based on your own experience or that of someone you know:
1. Knowing what you do now about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, have you or someone you know ever been given an antibiotic by a doctor when perhaps you should not have been given one? What was the outcome?
2. Pick a specific antibiotic (e.g. penicillin and tetracycline), do a little research on it, and explain to the class how it targets bacterial cells and not eukaryotic cells (i.e. why does it harm bacteria but does not harm us?). This is often linked to antibiotics mechanism of action. Choose an antibiotic that has not yet been presented by a classmate! You will not get full credit if you present an antibiotic that another student has presented.
3. Given how prevalent antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers are today, do you think one or both of these products can contribute to the antibiotic resistance problem? Why or why not? Give some support for your opinion. Do you use these products in your house or at work? Why or why not? To help you with this, consider or do some research on how these products work before answering. Include this information in your response as it relates to your opinion. You should read this recent FDA: Taking a Closer Look at Antibacterial Soap from the FDA on Triclosan.
Site all external sources you used in answering these questions.
4. Please give two similarities and two differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
5. Give a specific example of a prokaryotic organism.