Sporulation refers to the formation of spores from vegetative cells during unfavourable environmental conditions.
It occurs in different organisms like Fungi too.
The formation of almost asleep and inactive forms of bacteria is known as sporulation.
Spores are capable of preserving the bacteria’s genetic material when the conditions become harsh and difficult for the normal form of bacteria.
Sporulation also provides a multilayered structure that can be maintained for a very long time.
Spores are designed in order to protect a bacterium from dryness, heat, and intense radiation for a long time, in relation to the normal life span of the microorganism.
Endospores formed by Bacillus subtilis have been recovered from substances that are supposedly thousands of years old.
Also, they are capable of resuscitation into a healthy and dividing cell.