You isolate a pathogenic strain of E. coli from a patient and discover that this E. coli strain is resistant to an antibiotic. Common laboratory strains of E. coli are not resistant to this antibiotic,

nor are any other previously isolated pathogenic E. coli strains. However, such resistance has been observed in other bacteria in the hospital in which the patient was treated. This newly discovered antibiotic resistance in E. coli is most likely due to _______.
(a) a mutation within a gene.
(b) a mutation within the regulatory DNA of a gene.
(c) gene duplication.
(d) horizontal gene transfer.


(d) Horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes occurs commonly among bacterial strains, and human beings are hosts to a plethora of bacteria. Although it is possible that there is a gene in the normal E. coli genome that can lead to antibiotic resistance when mutated or duplicated [choices (a), (b), or (c)], this is less likely, especially given that this type of antibiotic resistance has never been observed.

Biology & Microbiology

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The substantial reduction of the total population of microorganisms on inanimate objects and the destruction of potential pathogen is called

A. antisepsis. B. sanitization. C. disinfection. D. sterilization.

Biology & Microbiology

Which of the following is a common energy currency in living cells that powers most living organisms?

A) Sunlight B) Heat C) ATP D) Phosphate

Biology & Microbiology

The E. coli lac operon has ________ operator sequences.

A. one B. two C. three D. four

Biology & Microbiology

Which of the following statistics or conditions has an interpretation in the linear probability model that is unique/distinct to the standard linear regression model?

A. T-statistic B. 95% confidence interval C. P-value for an estimated coefficient D. None of the answers is correct.

Biology & Microbiology