Resistance to Antibiotics, Pesticides, Herbicides, Chemotherapy Drugs

Definition

This refers to the ability of certain organisms (like bacteria or pests) to survive and multiply despite the use of substances designed to kill them or inhibit their growth.

Analogy

Imagine you're a superhero who's immune to bullets. No matter how many times your enemies shoot at you, you remain unharmed. That's what it's like for organisms that have developed resistance - they can withstand attacks from substances meant to destroy them.

Related terms

Antibiotic Resistance: When bacteria evolve in such a way that antibiotics no longer kill them.

Pesticide Resistance: The decreased susceptibility of a pest population to a pesticide that was previously effective at controlling the pest.

Chemotherapy Drug Resistance: When cancer cells are able to survive and grow despite being treated with drugs designed to kill them.