Question

Are endospores good or bad?

Answer 1

Endospores:

1. Spores that are formed chiefly within bacterial cells.
2. They are formed when environmental conditions are unsuitable for bacterial survival and reproduction.
3. They are resistant to extreme conditions like high temperature, pressure, salinity, etc.
4. When conditions are optimum, these spores become active and typically perform their survival and reproduction.
5. Endospores of harmful bacteria can remain dormant for hundreds of years without being discovered.
6. Therefore, endospores of bacteria potentially harm humans and other life forms.
7. Example- endospores produced by Clostridium botulinum, Bacillus thuringiensis, etc.
8. Various diseases like tetanus, anthrax, botulism, and gas gangrene are caused due to endospores.