UV Light Creates Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Zapping bacteria with UV light can actually make them resistant to antibiotics. In the lab,

we took regular E. coli bacteria and blasted them with UV light.

This light is a mutagen, meaning it messes with their DNA and causes random changes.

We then put these bacteria on a plate full of antibiotics, which should have killed them.

But after the UV exposure, we saw more and more bacterial colonies surviving.

Each survivor had a random mutation that happened to make it immune to the drug.

So, the same light that gives you a sunburn can accidentally help create superbugs.