Microbes acquire resistance to antibiotics through different processes that include random and sexual reproduction.

Microorganisms can develop resistance to antibiotics through several mechanisms. Here are the steps:

1. Random Mutation: This is a spontaneous process where the genetic material of the microbe changes. These changes can sometimes lead to antibiotic resistance. For example, a mutation could alter the target site of the antibiotic in the bacterial cell, reducing the antibiotic's effectiveness.

2. Conjugation: This is a form of sexual reproduction in bacteria. In this process, one bacterium transfers a copy of a plasmid (a small, circular piece of DNA) to another bacterium through a structure called a pilus. If the plasmid carries genes for antibiotic resistance, the recipient bacterium will also become resistant.

3. Transformation: In this process, bacteria take up DNA from their environment. The DNA may come from dead and lysed (broken open) bacterial cells. If the DNA contains antibiotic resistance genes and is incorporated into the recipient bacterium's genome, the bacterium will become resistant.

4. Transduction: This is a process where bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) carry antibiotic resistance genes from one bacterium to another. If the genes are incorporated into the recipient bacterium's genome, the bacterium will become resistant.

These processes can occur simultaneously and in combination, leading to bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. This is a significant concern for public health.