Discussion:
Evolution of Antibiotic or Pesticide Resistance
For many years, antibiotics have been effectively used to treat bacterial disease; and pesticides have been used to protect our agricultural crops from many kinds of pests, including insects, worms (nematodes), fungi, or agricultural weeds, for example.
A growing concern for treating bacterial diseases or pest outbreaks is the evolution of antibiotic or pesticide resistance by bacterial or pest populations. Resistance means that a particular antibiotic is no longer effective in treating a disease, or that a particular pesticide will no longer prevent crop damage. This resistance can be viewed as evolution of a new trait at the population level, which is resistance to an antibiotic or to a pesticide. you will explore specific examples of antibiotic or pesticide resistance.
Answer the following.
1.Select and describe one example of antibiotic resistance or pesticide resistance. Be specific in your choice.
Describe the background for your choice of resistance. Include details about the disease or pest and the established control strategies.
How have we used antibiotics (to treat a particular disease), or pesticides (to protect from a pest); and how has this changed?
2.Explain how the resistant trait evolved based on principles of natural selection and evolution of a trait at the population level.
3.For your specific example, what are the consequences of resistance in terms of human health or crop loss / damage?
4.What steps can be taken to prevent or slow down the evolution of antibiotic or pesticide resistance? Do you think we will succeed in doing so? Why or why not?