Why Does Evolution Matter Now?  

Evolution and Antibiotic and Pesticide Resistance

When people go to the doctor's office, they expect to be cured. They don't like to be told, "Go home, drink lots of fluids and rest, and you will get better." They want a more proactive approach. Often, doctors prescribe antibiotics just to make their patients happy, even if the antibiotics cannot treat the illness at hand. As a result, antibiotics become more prevalent, the microbes they attack are more likely to develop resistance, and over time the antibiotics become ineffective. Learn about why some diseases have become antibiotic-resistant and how you can help address the problem.

You are a member of a research team working for Darwin Industries.  You are responsible for collecting information that you will share with your research partner. Working together, you will complete a number of tasks.

Part A: Misuse of Antibiotics
1.	View "Why Does Evolution Matter Now?" Travel inside a Russian prison to see the impact of evolution on the lives of the inmates and the surrounding community. This video describes the transmission of tuberculosis and the evolution of multiple drug-resistant strains of TB.

2.  Answer the following questions about the video segment:

	•	Why is the Russian prison system considered to be "ground zero" in the fight against TB?
	•	What is responsible for the evolution of TB strains that are resistant to multiple drugs?
	•	How does the misuse of antibiotics affect the evolution of disease-causing bacteria? Use the theory of natural selection to explain the growing resistance to antibiotics.
	•	Why should we care about a resistant strain of TB in Russia?

 

3.	If you have time, you may want to view the animated video segment "The Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance" or read the interview of Dr. Paul Ewald.

Part B: Pesticide Resistance

The chemical arsenal we have developed in an attempt to rid our homes of rodents and our crops of insects is losing its power. We have simply caused pest populations to evolve, unintentionally applying artificial selection in the form of pesticides. Individuals with a higher tolerance for our poisons survive and breed, and soon resistant individuals out number the ones we can control.  You and your research partner are responsible to complete a specific task. After you have gathered the necessary information, you will teach your partner what you have discovered.

1.  Click the links and answer the following questions.

Partner A -  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/1/l_101_02.html

a.     Explain how in one county in England, these "super rats" have built up such resistance to certain toxins that they can consume five times as much poison as rats in other counties before dying.

b.    What has been introduced into the environment that selects what rats will survive?

Partner B - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/1/image_pop/l_101_02.html

c.     Explain the consequence of the widespread use of aerial pesticides on the fly population.

Part C: Spreading the Word
1.	Your teacher may divide the class into small groups. You and your teammates will work together as health professionals and researchers. (If you are at home, you can do this activity alone.)
2.	Your team has been hired to develop a public relations campaign to help inform the general public about the threat of antibiotic resistance. You will gather information and produce an educational piece (pamphlet, or brochure) to inform the general population.

3. You will use the following websites to conduct your research:

http://whyfiles.org/038badbugs/

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/06/12/antibiotic.resistance/index.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/4/l_104_03.html

4. Your research team needs to process the information you collect and design an informational product for presentation to the class or by distribution  to a general audience. Your goal for today is to produce an outline to develop your pamphlet, or brochure (outline will be handed in at the end of the period).  It should include: •  An explanation of antibiotic resistance; •  An explanation of how natural selection influences the effectiveness of antibiotics and the virulence of infectious agents; •  Information about how national and international agencies combat antibiotic resistance; and •  Tips for how the public can help combat increased antibiotic resistance.

5. Produce pamphlet, brochure or informational poster after your team's outline has been approved by your teacher.