Endospores
By: Akarsh V
WHAT IS THE FUNCTION/PURPOSE OF ENDOSPORES, AND HOW DOES IT HELP BACTERIA?
Endospores are small, round, thick-walled structure that contain the bacteria's genetic materials. Endospores are very resistant and can protect a bacteria's genetic material from freezing, drying, and heating.They are also resistant to gamma radiation, desiccation, starvation, and chemical disinfectants. They are the reason for the resilience of bacteria.Bacterial endospores serves the survival of the bacteria. The bacteria will change form into an endospore when conditions for survival is unfavorable. In this state they are hardier, resist many environmental changes, require no nutrients or water and can survive undetermined periods of time (it is believed it may survive thousands of years). Once survival conditions becomes favorable, it reverses it's form to normal bacterial form and restart division cycle. For us, is a real pain to get rid of, but for the bacteria, it's a major tool for survival.