Endospores
Bacteria need particular conditions to grow and reproduce successfully. Most bacteria prefer warm temperatures and moist environments. If the environment becomes unfavorable, many bacterial species will not be able to survive. A few species, however, can from a thick protective membrane called an endospore to survive the unfavorable conditions.
Endospores not only enable a bacterium to survive starvation, but boiling, freezing, and extremely dry conditions. A bacterium can survive as an endospore for an extended period of time. How long is an extended period of time? Not only a few hours, or days, or years, but centuries if needed!
Endospores were discovered in the gut of an insect preserved in amber. When scientists moistened the 30 million years old endospores, the membranes broke open and the bacteria began to grow. Yikes!
Endospores not only enable a bacterium to survive starvation, but boiling, freezing, and extremely dry conditions. A bacterium can survive as an endospore for an extended period of time. How long is an extended period of time? Not only a few hours, or days, or years, but centuries if needed!
Endospores were discovered in the gut of an insect preserved in amber. When scientists moistened the 30 million years old endospores, the membranes broke open and the bacteria began to grow. Yikes!