Question

Discuss the importance of change to the DNA of microorganisms

Answer 1

Importance of change to DNA of microorganisms:

Change in DNA of microorganisms means any difference in the nucleotide of the microbes. This could be due to mutation, horizontal gene transfer, or any external effects. This could be advantageous to microorganisms in following way:

Antibiotic resistance: This is the major advantage for microbes as the change in genetic makeup due to change in DNA will lead to the failure of antibiotics to act upon them. In this way the microorganism will be escaped from the antibiotic treatment and leads to its increased survival rate.

Adaptibility: The microorganisms due to change in the nucleotides can incorporate host of such types to which they were incompatible initially. But change in DNA can let them to invade easily and replicate within the host to cause infection. They can survive in more harsh and extreme niche now with new genetic composition.