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Antimicrobial (Drug) Resistance

Gene Transfer

Diagram showing how gene transfer facilitates the spread of drug resistance.
Credit: NIAID

Diagram showing how gene transfer facilitates the spread of drug resistance. Bacteria multiply by the billions. Bacteria that have drug-resistant DNA may transfer a copy of these genes to other bacteria. Non-resistant bacteria receive the new DNA and become resistant to drugs. In the presence of drugs, only drug-resistant bacteria survive. The drug-resistant bacteria multiply and thrive.

Go to the illustration: What is Drug Resistance?
Go to the illustration: Mutation Causes Drug Resistance

Go back to: Cause of Antimicrobial (Drug) Resistance

Last Updated February 18, 2009