How Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Take Over

Here's how.

Active Time

20-30 minutes

Total Project Time

20-30 minutes

Key Concepts

Microbiology, medicine, bacteria, antibiotics, antibiotic resistance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eu5eAOOGOc

Introduction

Have you ever had to take antibiotics? Your doctor probably told you to finish taking all the pills even if you felt better after one or two days. But why is that? Why shouldn't you stop taking antibiotics as soon as you feel better? You might be surprised to hear that if you do, you might contribute to the creation of antibiotic resistant "superbugs!" Find out how these superbugs can develop in this activity by rolling dice to model how different bacteria respond to an antibiotic treatment.

Credits

Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies

This activity is not appropriate for use as a science fair project. Good science fair projects have a stronger focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data. To find a science fair project that is just right for you, browse our library of over 1,200 Science Fair Project Ideas or use the Topic Selection Wizard to get a personalized project recommendation.

Next: Materials

Materials

Six-sided dice (20 total. 15 of one color, 5 of another color.) Note: Alternatively, you can use an online dice roller.
Paper
Pen
Graphing paper (optional)

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