# Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem worldwide. Explain how antibiotic-resistant bacteria develop and spread within a population.

> Eduqas GCSE Biology — 3.3 Treating, curing and preventing disease · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Random mutation(s) occur in bacteria, producing a variant that is resistant to the antibiotic
2. When an antibiotic is used, non-resistant bacteria are killed / only the resistant bacteria survive (natural selection)
3. Resistant bacteria reproduce, passing the resistance to offspring / the resistant gene is inherited by daughter cells
4. Resistant bacteria can spread between people / between populations, increasing the proportion of resistant bacteria

## Key terms

- [antibiotic resistance](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/antibiotic-resistance)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas GCSE Biology](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/antibiotic-resistance-is-an-increasing-problem-618bf61f) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.