Mutation, HGT, and superbugs
Explain how mutation and horizontal gene transfer spread resistance genes and create superbugs.
HGT mechanism definitions, conjugation diagram with labeled parts, multi-resistance explanation, colony-data application scenario, and linking sentence connecting culturing to resistance to stewardship.
- 1Do thisExplain how mutation and horizontal gene transfer spread resistance genes and create superbugs.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisNotebook check: HGT mechanism definitions, conjugation diagram with labeled parts, multi-resistance explanation, colony-data application scenario, and linking sentence connecting culturing to resistance to stewardship.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions) › Aseptic technique, culturing, selection, resistance genes, and data reliability. › Notebook checkOpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: How can resistance genes jump between bacterial species in ways that make treating multi-drug-resistant superbugs nearly impossible?
- 0-10 minDefine mutation and horizontal gene transfer in notebook; list the three HGT mechanisms (conjugation, transformation, transduction)
- 10-25 minRead how bacteria swap resistance genes via plasmid; summarize in two sentences
- 25-42 minDraw a diagram: one resistant cell shares a resistance plasmid with a neighbor via conjugation; label all parts
- 42-55 minExplain how one HGT event can confer resistance to multiple antibiotics simultaneously; connect to the antibiotic mechanism classes from the previous unit
- 55-68 minUse your colony data: if one colony on your plate were resistant, how long and under what conditions would it take over the plate? Write your reasoning
- 68-80 minWrite the linking sentence: culturing produces data, resistance explains what the data means, stewardship is what we do about it
- • MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) kills more Americans each year than HIV; it became resistant through exactly the mechanisms you are about to study.
- • Unlike animals, bacteria can pass resistance genes to bacteria of a completely different species; they do not have to wait for reproduction.
- • Your colony data from Wednesday gives you a real population to apply these ideas to.
- • Exit goal: a HGT diagram showing a resistance gene moving between cells and a superbug connection sentence.
- 1Define mutation and horizontal gene transfer in your own words.
- 2Read how bacteria swap resistance genes even between different strains.
- 3Draw how one resistant cell can share a resistance gene with neighbors.
- 4Connect this to why superbugs can resist several antibiotics at once.
- 5Use your colony data to imagine how a resistant colony could take over.
- 6Write one sentence linking culturing, resistance, and stewardship.
- • You will be able to explain mutation and horizontal gene transfer.
- • You will be able to describe how resistance genes spread between bacteria.
- • You will be able to explain how superbugs arise.
- • Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) moves DNA between bacteria via conjugation (plasmid transfer), transformation (environmental DNA uptake), or transduction (phage-mediated).
- • Because resistance genes often travel on plasmids, a single HGT event can make a previously susceptible bacterium resistant to multiple antibiotics simultaneously.
- • Superbugs (like MRSA and CRE) carry multiple resistance genes acquired through HGT over time; some are now resistant to all available antibiotics.
Your PLTW work today
Aseptic technique, culturing, selection, resistance genes, and data reliability. · Mutation, HGT, and superbugs
Day 4 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Return to Activity 1.2.3 Attack of the Superbugs in myPLTW and measure your inhibition zones from the incubated plates.
Record zone-of-inhibition measurements for each antibiotic and write your best-antibiotic conclusion.
Plates should be inoculated (Wednesday); zone measurements and conclusion due today.
Data table with zone measurements and conclusion sentence in notebook.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Aseptic technique, culturing, selection, resistance genes, and data reliability. · Mutation, HGT, and superbugs
Return to Activity 1.2.3 Attack of the Superbugs in myPLTW and measure your inhibition zones from the incubated plates.
Plates should be inoculated (Wednesday); zone measurements and conclusion due today.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Explain how mutation and horizontal gene transfer spread resistance genes and create superbugs.
- Define mutation and horizontal gene transfer in your own words.
- Read how bacteria swap resistance genes even between different strains.
- Draw how one resistant cell can share a resistance gene with neighbors.
- Connect this to why superbugs can resist several antibiotics at once.
- Use your colony data to imagine how a resistant colony could take over.
- Write one sentence linking culturing, resistance, and stewardship.
Notebook check: HGT mechanism definitions, conjugation diagram with labeled parts, multi-resistance explanation, colony-data application scenario, and linking sentence connecting culturing to resistance to stewardship.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Define mutation and horizontal gene transfer in your own words. | _______ |
| Read how bacteria swap resistance genes even between different strains. | _______ |
| Draw how one resistant cell can share a resistance gene with neighbors. | _______ |
| Connect this to why superbugs can resist several antibiotics at once. | _______ |
| Use your colony data to imagine how a resistant colony could take over. | _______ |
| Write one sentence linking culturing, resistance, and stewardship. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You will be able to explain mutation and horizontal gene transfer.
- You will be able to describe how resistance genes spread between bacteria.
- You will be able to explain how superbugs arise.
Teacher-posted resources
Classroom documents for this lesson. Ones marked “Open the file” open right here; the rest are posted in Schoology. Use the label on each card to choose the right move.
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Culturing, aseptic technique, superbugs by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-1_How-to-Fight-Infection/00_Unit-Overview. Score 126. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Culturing, aseptic technique, superbugs by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-1_How-to-Fight-Infection/1.2_Antibiotic-Treatment. Score 126. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
How to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your Notebook check.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
CDC Antibiotic Resistance- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Tue, Oct 6, 2026 · Mutation, HGT, and superbugs here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
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