The consequences of rapid genetic change in pathogens

viral antigenic drift

when a point mutation alters a virus’s nucleic material, resulting in small changes so that it continues to be recognised and reacted to by the body’s immune system

Viral antigentic shift

when two or more strains of a virus combine to form a new strain of the virus so that it is no longer recognised and reacted to by the body’s immune system

Causes of bacterial resistance

overuse of antibiotics leads to more oppurtunities for bacteria to mutate and evolve to become resistant

Block mutation

changes to the large-scale structure of chromosomes, affecting multiple genes

Polyploids

Additional chromosomes produced by mutations, alter allele frequencies

Bacterial resistance

through natural selection populations of antibiotic resistant bacteria evolve