In a laboratory, a scientist gathered identical E. coli

Last updated: 8/2/2022

In a laboratory, a scientist gathered identical E. coli cells and grew them in separate petri dishes labeled as population A, population B, and population C. With plenty of food and the right temperature, all E. coli cells in each population increased by reproducing every 20 minutes. However, populations A, B, and C were introduced to antibiotic 1 (Penicillin) and antibiotic 2 (amoxicillin). After one hour, the scientist observed each population under the microscope and noticed that population A died after receiving both antibiotics, population B survived but was not able to reproduce again, and population C survived and reproduced more abundantly by overtaking population A and B in the next generation. What mechanisms would BEST explain how population C developed an antibiotic resistance or acquired adaptations or features that made it well-suited to its immediate environment? Natural selection and Mutation Natural selection and Hybridization Polyploid and Recombination Polyploid and Migration