EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Endospores germinate back into vegetative cells (an active bacterial cell that undergoes metabolism) when surrounding environmental conditions favor bacterial growth and reproduction.

Detailed explanation-2: -A Combination of Extreme Environmental Conditions Favor the Prevalence of Endospore-Forming Firmicutes. Environmental conditions unsuitable for microbial growth are the rule rather than the exception in most habitats.

Detailed explanation-3: -Endospore formation is usually triggered by lack of nutrients, and usually occurs in Gram-positive bacteria. In endospore formation, the bacterium divides within its cell wall. One side then engulfs the other. Endospores enable bacteria to lie dormant for extended periods, even centuries.

Detailed explanation-4: -Winds carry the spores to new spots where they can survive for long periods of time before germinating and sprouting fungal filaments of their own. Some bacteria produce a special type of spore called an endospore, which can withstand such extremes as boiling and freezing temperatures, and ultraviolet radiation.

Detailed explanation-5: -The structure of the spore protects the genomic DNA from intense heat, radiation, and attack by most enzymes and chemical agents. In fact, bacterial spores are so resistant to environmental factors that they can exist for centuries as viable spores.