Question

how does an antibiotic act as a selective agent in promoting bacterial resistance? multiple choice exposure to a specific antibiotic causes a mutation that allows the affected bacteria to survive and reproduce, passing the mutation to future generations. antibiotics are designed to selectively kill some bacteria while promoting the survival of all others. a specific antibiotic selects favorable mutations that promote susceptibility to that antibiotic. bacteria with a random mutation that allows resistance to that antibiotic are able to survive exposure and reproduce, passing the resistance mutation on to subsequent generations of bacteria.

Explanation:

Antibiotics create a selective - pressure environment. Bacteria with pre - existing random mutations that confer resistance to the antibiotic can survive exposure. These resistant bacteria then reproduce, passing on the resistance - related mutations to their offspring, thus promoting bacterial resistance over time.

Answer:

Bacteria with a random mutation that allows resistance to that antibiotic are able to survive exposure and reproduce, passing the resistance mutation on to subsequent generations of bacteria.