Question
37. Scientists alter a microbe to make it resistant to an antibiotic by using a plasmid. The
plasmid contains genes with favorable new traits along with a gene for antibiotic
resistance. Afterward, the scientists can use the antibiotic to kill all microbes except
the genetically modified microbe for an experiment.
Which is an ethical concern of adding an antibiotic-resistance gene into the microbe?
A If the microbe replicates, the antibiotic-resistance will transfer to the offspring.
B
If the microbe is not properly stored, the antibiotic-resistance could be lost, costing money
and wasting time.
If the microbe is not properly contained, the antibiotic-resistance could be transferred to
disease-causing microbes, reducing the effectiveness of the antibiotic in the future.
D
If the microbe is made too frequently, the antibiotic-resistance gene could lead to false claims
about the microbe.
Answer
C. If the microbe is not properly contained, the antibiotic-resistance could be transferred to disease-causing microbes, reducing the effectiveness of the antibiotic in the future.