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Antibiotic resistance spreads through a bacterial population because:

AResistance passes only to offspring
BNon-resistant individuals die off
CAntibiotics create the resistance gene
DBacteria choose to become resistant
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Non-resistant individuals die off
1. Resistance genes exist in a population before the antibiotic arrives. 2. Applying the drug removes everyone who lacks them. 3. Individuals that cannot resist the antibacterial die off, leaving only individuals with the resistance gene to reproduce. 4. The drug selects among existing variation rather than creating a new gene. _Source: OpenStax Biology for AP(R) Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 18 'Evolution and the Origin of Species', sections 18.1-18.3_
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