Chapter 24, Problem 1COQ

 Antibiotics are commonly used to combat bacterial and fungal infections. During the past several decades, however, antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms have become alarmingly prevalent. This has undermined the ability of physicians to treat many types of infectious disease. Discuss how the following processes that alter allele frequencies may have contributed to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains:

1. a. random mutation
2. b. genetic drift
3. c. natural selection