Evolution of Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics

 

Marion, A. L. & R. W. Preszler

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2010, Volume 31

Abstract

Groups of students first conduct a prescribed hands-on simulation of the effects of partial in comparison to complete antibiotic treatments on the evolution of resistance in bacteria. Secondly, students develop their own hypothesis concerning the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria and design and conduct a simulation to evaluate their hypothesis. Both simulations use a variety of common implements (e.g. forceps, pliers, spoons) to represent antibiotics with specific antibiotic properties and use a variety of household objects (marbles, beads, bolts, blocks) to represent bacteria with variable resistance to different antibiotics.

Keywords:  antibiotic, antibiotic resistence

University of Delaware (2009)