This activity is taken from the site http://ourteacherspage.com/mrb/Contact/resistance_5.html . This was originally placed by Mr. Buonagurio, and I thank him.
Why Does Evolution Matter Now?
Evolution and Antibiotic and Pesticide Resistance
When people go to the doctor's office, they expect to be cured. They don't like to be told, "Go home, drink lots of fluids and rest, and you will get better." They want a more proactive approach. Often, doctors prescribe antibiotics just to make their patients happy, even if the antibiotics cannot treat the illness at hand. As a result, antibiotics become more prevalent, the microbes they attack are more likely to develop resistance, and over time the antibiotics become ineffective. Learn about why some diseases have become antibiotic-resistant and how you can help address the problem.
Part A: Misuse of Antibiotics | ||
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2. Answer the following questions about the video segment:
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| • | Why is the Russian prison system considered to be "ground zero" in the fight against TB? |
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| • | What is responsible for the evolution of TB strains that are resistant to multiple drugs? |
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| • | How does the misuse of antibiotics affect the evolution of disease-causing bacteria? Use the theory of natural selection to explain the growing resistance to antibiotics. |
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| • | Why should we care about a resistant strain of TB in Russia? |
