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I don't understand this bit: ". . . resistant bugs have grown more numerous and by sharing DNA with each other, have become even tougher to treat . . . "

How are different microorganisms sharing DNA with each other? Am I misunderstanding completely?



You are reading correctly. Lots here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_gene_transfer

In short, one thing that happens is that they exchange small fragments of DNA (called plasmids). Those fragments can contain the information necessary for the resistance.


Mind? Blown. I had no idea that happened — it sounds almost Lamarckian.




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