Page 23 - Adams Rib

OK, let's look at mutations.

Sometimes a bacteria has a

mistake in its DNA. For example,

it might have a mistake which

makes its 'skin-pump' not work
to pull food in through its skin. � � 9/J
very well. It uses its 'skin-pump' � 0 0
0

Along comes an antibiotic, 0
•
#
a germ-killer, but the � ,... __ .......■'"\ ;
. .
mutated bacteria can't pump
very well, so it doesn't suck

in much of the antibiotic -

and it doesn't die!

All the healthy bacteria, with strong 'skin-

pumps' die, because they suck in lots of

antbiotic, but the mutated bacteria stay alive.

It looks· like the mutated bacteria are superior,

.. ,.... "" .
. _-�' _'· but in fact they are weaker.
,,
These so-called

'superbugs are

mot really super.

They are just
lucky survivors

hey should
be called

WIMPYBUGS!