What are Endospores?
Two genera of bacteria, Clostridium and Bacillus, produce endospores. Endospores are tough, resistant structures that allow the bacteria to essentially exist in ‘suspended animation.’ Endospores do not metabolize and do not reproduce but merely exist, much like plant seeds, until exposed to environmental conditions suitable for bacterial growth. Example of Clostridium bacteria with characteristic drumstick-shaped endospore-producing cells. The dark rod-shaped cells are vegetative, actice cells. The clear ovals are endospores, and the objects consisting of both dark rod and clear oval are vegetative cells producing endospores. Variations in endospore morphology: (1, 4) central endospore; (2, 3, 5) terminal endospore; (6) lateral endospore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bakterien_Sporen.png Endospore Sporulation Endospores are made through a process known as sporulation in response to extreme environmental conditions. Extreme environments include high temperatures, drying out (dessic
