5 ms·
I don't understand this bit: ". . . resistant bugs have grown more numerous and by sharing DNA with each other, have become even tougher to treat . . . " How a
by JasonFruit 13y ago
I don't understand this bit: ". . . resistant bugs have grown more numerous and by sharing DNA with each other, have become even tougher to treat . . . "
How are different microorganisms sharing DNA with each other? Am I misunderstanding completely?
- maxerickson 13y agoYou are reading correctly. Lots here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_gene_transfer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_gene_transfer In short, one thing that happens is that they exchange small fragments of DNA (called plasmids). Those fragments can contain the information necessary for the resistance.
- JasonFruit 13y agoMind? Blown. I had no idea that happened — it sounds almost Lamarckian.