During antibiotic use, bacteria can evolve resistance. This is an example of:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The process of bacteria evolving resistance to antibiotics due to the selective pressure exerted by the antibiotics is an example of artificial selection (human intervention selecting for certain traits) acting on a natural process (bacterial evolution). Antibiotic use creates a selective pressure that favors the survival and reproduction of bacteria with resistance traits, leading to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains.
- Coevolution (option A) refers to the influence of two species on each other's evolution, which is not the case in the scenario described in the question.
- Convergent evolution (option B) involves unrelated organisms evolving similar traits due to similar environmental pressures, which is not directly applicable to the situation of bacteria evolving resistance to antibiotics.
- Macroevolution (option C) refers to large-scale evolutionary changes over long periods, which is not specifically demonstrated in the context of bacteria evolving resistance during antibiotic use.