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Name: Malarie
Status: Student
Grade:  9-12
Location: PA
Country: United States
Date: Winter 2009 - 2010
Question:
Is it possible for bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics to lose resistance? If so, about how long does it take?


Replies:
Yes it can. The wildtype (which is antibiotic sensitive) will eventually become the dominant type if given enough time. Experiments were done about 50 years ago which showed that bacterial growth in a chemostat could result in a loss of bacterial resistance.

Ron Baker, Ph.D.


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