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Ch. 4 - Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
Chapter 4, Problem 4.2a

Endospore formation is called (a) ________. It is initiated by (b) ________. Formation of a new cell from an endospore is called (c) ________. This process is triggered by (d) ________.

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Identify the process of endospore formation, which is a survival mechanism for certain bacteria under unfavorable conditions.
Recognize that endospore formation is initiated by environmental stressors such as nutrient depletion or extreme temperatures.
Understand that the formation of a new cell from an endospore is a process that allows the bacterium to return to a vegetative state.
Determine that this process is triggered by favorable conditions, such as the availability of nutrients and suitable environmental conditions.
Use the context of the problem to fill in the blanks with the appropriate terms related to endospore formation and germination.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Endospore Formation

Endospore formation, or sporulation, is a survival mechanism employed by certain bacteria, allowing them to withstand extreme environmental conditions. This process involves the differentiation of a vegetative cell into a highly resistant endospore, which can endure heat, desiccation, and radiation. It is crucial for the survival of bacteria in unfavorable conditions and is a key feature of genera such as Bacillus and Clostridium.
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Triggers for Sporulation

Sporulation is typically initiated by environmental stressors, such as nutrient depletion, extreme temperatures, or desiccation. These conditions signal the bacterial cell to undergo a complex genetic and biochemical process that leads to endospore formation. Understanding these triggers is essential for comprehending how bacteria adapt to their environments and ensure their survival.
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Germination

Germination is the process by which an endospore reverts to a vegetative state, allowing the bacterium to resume normal metabolic activity and growth. This process is triggered by favorable environmental conditions, such as the presence of water and nutrients. Germination is a critical phase in the life cycle of spore-forming bacteria, enabling them to proliferate after a period of dormancy.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

DRAW IT Diagram each of the following flagellar arrangements:

a. lophotrichous

b. monotrichous

c. peritrichous

d. amphitrichous

e. polar

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Textbook Question

DRAW IT What group of microbes is characterized by cells that form filaments, reproduce by spores, and have peptidoglycan in their cell walls?

120
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Textbook Question

The antibiotic amphotericin B disrupts plasma membranes by combining with sterols; it will affect all of the following cells except

a. animal cells.

b. gram-negative bacterial cells.

c. fungal cells.

d. Mycoplasma cells.

e. plant cells.

186
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Textbook Question

Which of the following is not a distinguishing characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

a. They usually have a single, circular chromosome.

b. They have 70S ribosomes.

c. They have cell walls containing peptidoglycan.

d. Their DNA is not associated with histones.

e. They lack a plasma membrane.

167
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Textbook Question

Use the following choices to answer questions 2–4.

a. No change will result; the solution is isotonic.

b. Water will move into the cell.

c. Water will move out of the cell.

d. The cell will undergo osmotic lysis.

e. Sucrose will move into the cell from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration.


Which statement best describes what happens when a gram-positive bacterium is placed in distilled water and penicillin?

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Textbook Question

DRAW IT Draw the bacterial shapes listed in (a), (b), and (c). Then draw the shapes in (d), (e), and (f), showing how they are special conditions of a, b, and c, respectively.

a. spiral

b. bacillus

c. coccus

d. spirochetes

e. staphylococci

f. streptobacilli

146
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