Evolution At Warp Speed

Resource Type
Description
This activity explores an image of the MEGA-Plate experiment, which serves as a phenomenon for learning about antibiotic resistance and evolution by natural selection.
Antibiotics are chemicals that kill bacteria or stop them from growing. But over time, populations of bacteria can evolve resistance to antibiotics, which means that the antibiotics will no longer work against them. To study how bacteria evolve resistance, scientists set up an experiment called the MEGA-Plate — a large bacterial growth plate divided into sections with different amounts of antibiotics. This image shows the MEGA-Plate from above after 11 days. E. coli bacteria appear as white on the black background.
The “Educator Materials” document includes background information and implementation suggestions for using the image as a phenomenon. The “Student Handout” includes the image and background information.
The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.
Student Learning Targets
- Examine images of phenomena, make observations, and ask questions.
- Collaborate with peers on ideas, ask questions that require higher levels of reasoning, and develop deeper understanding of concepts.
- Explain how populations of bacteria evolve antibiotic resistance through the process of evolution by natural selection.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
antibiotic resistance, antibiotics, E. coli, medicine, MEGA-Plate, microbial evolution, pathogen, superbug
Terms of Use
Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.
Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-4; SEP1
AP Biology (2019)
EVO-1.C, EVO-1.D, EVO-1.E, EVO-1.J, EVO-3.A, SYI-3.D, IST-4.A; SP3
IB Biology (2016)
5.2
AP Environmental Science (2020)
Topic(s): 2.6, 2.7
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.H, SP2
Common Core (2010)
ELA.WHST.9-12.9
Vision and Change (2009)
CC1; DP1