The introduction of the antibiotic methicillin was once successful in destroying Staphylococcus bacterial infections. More recently, strains of Staphylococcus bacteria have undergone mutations that cause the bacteria to be resistant to the action of methicillin, leading to increased incidence of the disease MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

How would the proportion of bacteria carrying this mutation change in the population over time in populations treated with methicillin?

The number of mutated bacteria would increase because the mutated bacteria would outcompete the non-mutated bacteria for resources.
The number of mutated bacteria would decrease because the non-mutated bacteria would outcompete the mutated bacteria for resources.
The number of mutated bacteria would decrease because the non-mutated bacteria would be selected for over time through natural selection.
The number of mutated bacteria would increase because the mutated bacteria are more successful and are able to reproduce more bacteria with the same mutation.

lThe number of mutated bacteria would increase because the mutated bacteria are more successful and are able to reproduce more bacteria with the same mutation.

This is because methicillin selectively kills non-mutated bacteria, leaving behind the mutated bacteria to reproduce and pass on their resistance to future generations.

Over time, this would result in an increased proportion of bacteria carrying the mutation in the population, leading to a higher incidence of MRSA. This process is an example of natural selection, where the mutation that confers resistance to methicillin provides a selective advantage in an environment where the antibiotic is present.

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