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Article: Bacterial Adaptation
- Article from:
- World of Microbiology and Immunology
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Bacterial adaptation
Bacteria
have been designed to be adaptable. Their surrounding layers and the genetic information for these and other structures associated with a bacterium are capable of alteration. Some alterations are reversible, disappearing when the particular pressure is lifted. Other alterations are maintained and can even be passed on to succeeding generations of bacteria.
The first antibiotic was discovered in 1929. Since then, a myriad of naturally occurring and chemically synthesized
antibiotics
have been used to control bacteria. Introduction of an antibiotic is frequently followed by the development of
resistance to the agent. Resistance is an example of the ...