Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes the deadly disease anthrax produces thick endospores.
What is the significant role of spore formation in the reproductive cycle of this bacterium?

Question

Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes the deadly disease anthrax produces thick endospores.
What is the significant role of spore formation in the reproductive cycle of this bacterium?

anonymous · Answer

spore formation is used to protect it from harsh environmental conditions

anonymous · Answer

@andreaevelynn It has nothing to do with reproduction.  The endospores of bacteria are not related to reproduction in anyway, but are a structure used to survive unsuitable conditions.  Once the conditions return to a suitable nature, the exact same bacterium becomes active again.  The only way it relates to reproduction is that it may allow an individual bacterium to survive to reproduce.