Question

1. which characteristic of life allows bacteria to become antibiotic - resistant?

Explanation:

Bacteria become antibiotic - resistant due to the characteristic of life called "adaptation (through evolution by natural selection)". Bacteria have genetic variation (due to mutations or horizontal gene transfer). When exposed to antibiotics, the antibiotics act as a selective pressure. Bacteria with genetic traits (like genes for antibiotic resistance) that allow them to survive in the presence of antibiotics are more likely to reproduce. Over time, the population of bacteria becomes more resistant as the resistant - trait - carrying bacteria pass on their genes. Another way to think about it is the ability of organisms to respond to their environment (the antibiotic is part of the environment) and change (evolve) over generations. The key characteristic here is the capacity for evolution (which is related to the ability to adapt), where populations of organisms change over time in response to selective pressures. Also, the characteristic of having heritable genetic material that can undergo changes (mutation) and be passed on is crucial, as this allows for the variation that natural selection acts upon.

Answer:

The characteristic of life that allows bacteria to become antibiotic - resistant is the ability to evolve (or adapt) through natural selection (related to having heritable genetic variation and responding to environmental pressures like antibiotics, where bacteria with resistance - promoting genetic changes survive and reproduce, leading to a more resistant population over time).