A population of bacteria is not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Through repeated exposure to an antibiotic, the frequency of a recessive allele is rapidly increasing. What is the most likely explanation for this response?
A) The recessive allele is responsible for susceptibility of the bacteria to the antibiotic.
B) The dominant allele is responsible for susceptibility of the bacteria to the antibiotic.
C) The recessive allele is responsible for resistance of the bacteria to the antibiotic.
D) The population is experiencing gene flow.
E) The population is experiencing disruptive selection.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The recessive allele is likely responsible for resistance to the antibiotic, which explains its rapid increase in frequency. Bacteria with this allele survive and reproduce more successfully in the presence of the antibiotic, leading to a shift in allele frequencies.

A Population of Bacteria Is Not in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium