Part 4/10:
Understanding the science of bacterial evolution is essential in grasping how superbugs emerge. Bacteria reproduce rapidly, and during DNA replication, errors—known as mutations—can occur. Some mutations may confer resistance, allowing bacteria to survive despite antibiotic exposure. For instance, a mutation might enable bacteria to produce an enzyme that neutralizes an antibiotic or pump the drug out of their cells before it can take effect. The survivors, endowed with advantageous traits, reproduce and pass these traits on, facilitating the rapid evolution of resistance.