What results from the use of pesticides and antibiotics?

The use of pesticides and antibiotics can lead to the phenomenon of resistance in pests and bacteria. When these substances are applied, they often do not eliminate every individual in the population. Some bacteria or pests may possess variations that provide them with a survival advantage; these individuals survive the treatment and reproduce. Over time, this results in a population that is increasingly resistant to the pesticide or antibiotic.

This process of resistance is facilitated by mutations that confer protective traits, allowing some members of the population to survive against the effects of these chemicals. As these resistant individuals continue to reproduce, the frequency of such traits increases in the population, leading to a significant increase in resistance over generations.

In this context, the development of resistance through mutations is a well-documented response in various organisms, illustrating how natural selection operates in the presence of an environmental pressure such as pesticides or antibiotics.