Describe how the malaria parasite developed drug resistance through natural selection.

Here's how the malaria parasite developed drug resistance through natural selection: Within a population of malaria parasites, there is natural variation due to random mutations. Some parasites may have a genetic mutation that makes them resistant* to antimalarial drugs, even before drug exposure. When antimalarial drugs are administered, they act as a selection pressure*. The drugs kill off the non-resistant parasites, which are susceptible to the treatment. The parasites with the drug-resistant mutation are able to survive* the treatment because they are not affected by the drug. These surviving, drug-resistant parasites then reproduce*, passing on their resistance genes to their offspring. Over successive generations, the proportion of drug-resistant parasites in the population increases*, leading to a population that is largely resistant to the drugs. What's next? Send 'em 📸