User interface language: English | Español

Date May 2022 Marks available 1 Reference code 22M.1.HL.TZ2.19
Level Higher level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 2
Command term Question number 19 Adapted from N/A

Question

Some strains of the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus have developed mechanisms that protect them against foreign DNA. What effect does this have on the evolution of antibiotic resistance in these strains of S. aureus?

A. Slower evolution, as bacteria with the antibiotic resistance gene will not reproduce

B. Slower evolution, as the antibiotic resistance gene from other species will not be accepted

C. Faster evolution, as mutations within a population are less likely to occur

D. Faster evolution, as antibiotic resistance genes can only be passed to individuals of the same species

Markscheme

B

Examiners report

Answered correctly by 50 % of the candidates that understood that by not accepting the antibiotic resistance gene, Staphylococcus aureus will be slow to develop resistance to the antibiotic.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 6: Human physiology » 6.3 Defence against infectious disease
Show 68 related questions
Core » Topic 6: Human physiology
Core

View options