Evolution Under Intrinsic Control
Bacteria and their resistance to antibiotics have long been used as examples of Darwin’s theory of evolution. The bacteria resistance against antibiotics was seen as an example of natural selection where any random mutant that was produced that was immune would soon become selected, thus passing on its genetic traits to offspring.
This experiment showed that the bacteria did not produce random mutants to combat the antibiotics. Floyd Romesberg and fellow researchers found that the bacteria actively increase the number of mutants produced in order to increase the chance of survival. This is not all they found though, they also found that bacteria will try and fix themselves before they take the drastic steps to mutate.
Floyd Romesberg’s experiment linked the production of mutants to the protein Lex-A, this protein accelerates the production of mutant bacteria however when the bacteria are faced with a strong antibiotic the bacteria produces Lex-A allowing for an increased number of mutants to be produced.
These findings have given new light to antibiotic resistance and allow for vast implications in the medical field. Bacteria with the protein Lex-A suppressed were found to acquire no resistance to antibiotics where as the same bacteria with Lex-A acquired immunity to the same antibiotic.
In conclusion these finding do not show that Darwin was wrong, it just shows that the process of evolution is programmed into us and life can take control over the once thought of random processes.
Bacteria and their resistance to antibiotics have long been used as examples of Darwin’s theory of evolution. The bacteria resistance against antibiotics was seen as an example of natural selection where any random mutant that was produced that was immune would soon become selected, thus passing on its genetic traits to offspring.
This experiment showed that the bacteria did not produce random mutants to combat the antibiotics. Floyd Romesberg and fellow researchers found that the bacteria actively increase the number of mutants produced in order to increase the chance of survival. This is not all they found though, they also found that bacteria will try and fix themselves before they take the drastic steps to mutate.
Floyd Romesberg’s experiment linked the production of mutants to the protein Lex-A, this protein accelerates the production of mutant bacteria however when the bacteria are faced with a strong antibiotic the bacteria produces Lex-A allowing for an increased number of mutants to be produced.
These findings have given new light to antibiotic resistance and allow for vast implications in the medical field. Bacteria with the protein Lex-A suppressed were found to acquire no resistance to antibiotics where as the same bacteria with Lex-A acquired immunity to the same antibiotic.
In conclusion these finding do not show that Darwin was wrong, it just shows that the process of evolution is programmed into us and life can take control over the once thought of random processes.
Student # 40798460
Reference
Romesberg, F. E, R. T. Cirz, J. K. Chin, D. R. Andes, V. Crécy-Lagard, and W. A. Craig, 2007. Inhibition of Mutation and Combating the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance. PLoS Biol 3(6): e176.
