Putting It Together: Theory of Evolution

Let’s return to our discussion of evolving bacteria from the beginning of the module. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that based on current evidence, gonorrhea may soon be untreatable; there are no new treatments or vaccinations in development for this bacteria. Within the United States this remain the second most common sexually transmitted disease. Almost a third of the US cases are drug resistant. MRSA remains a growing problem in our healthcare system. Staph bacteria are the most common source of health-care related infections in the United States. Of MRSA infections, nearly 14% result in death.

Think about It

Based on this lesson you now understand that evolution is an inevitable process. Is there any hope of stopping antibiotic resistance from developing?

Is there anything you can do?

To learn more about the topic, you can visit the following websites:

Flashcards

It is tempting to view different topics as completely separate, but in fact the ideas we cover in this course are often connected to one another. If you don’t retain the vocabulary from module to module, those connections can be missed. As you continue on, remember to come back and review the terms you’ve learned in order to increase your depth of knowledge.