How can a bacterium in nature become resistant to a specific antibiotic?

Question

abb0t · Answer

Their bacterial (cellular) composition allows them to become resistant to certain antibiotics. Also, when you expose the bacteria to a certain antibiotic excessively, sometimes a few of the bacteria survive. This is because it has the ability to neutralize or escape the effect of the antibiotic; that one bacterium that escaped can then multiply and replace all the bacteria that were killed off. What antibiotic basically does is break down the cell wall of the bacteria. 
However, some of the DNA that codes for resistance can be grouped in a single easily transferable package. Well, this means that bacteria can become resistant to many antimicrobial agents because of the transfer of one piece of DNA.

(You will probably go more into detail about the transfer of genetic material of bacteria in upper division biology coruses or upper division chemistry course, such as biochemistry).

abb0t · Answer

If you're still not satisfied or understand this concept, you can look up $Hfr^+$ gene for bacteria. It's an experiment that shows how genetic material is transfered between bacteria and how it incorporates this DNA into another DNA and thus creating resistance.

anonymous · Answer

Okay thank you, you are very helpful! Now that I read through this I understand it more. I think I was over thinking the question too. I will look more into the whole process of how the transfer happens. Thank you for the 2nd comment too.