Explain the significance of endospores

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Because an endospore can regenerate the cell that produced it, these bacterial structures are an important survival mechanism for some bacteria, as well as an important method of transmitting diseases caused by these bacteria. For example, because they are hard to destroy, endospores can be a source of diseases that are caused by anaerobic organisms, such as tetanus and botulism, or that are transmitted over long distances and times, such as anthrax. Endospores can also survive for indefinite periods of time; the minimum documented durability of endospores is 34 years, but there is some evidence to suggest that endospores may be able to survive for millions of years. Endospores are this resistant because they have a special protective coating and go through a process called sporulation, in which a copy of the cell's genome is prepared for long-term "storage" inside the endospore. This makes endospores a special challenge in sterilization applications.

Biology & Microbiology

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Of all the plant hormones, which one is a gas?

a. auxin b. cytokinin c. gibberellin d. ethylene e. abscisic acid

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Which of the following require the cell to use energy?

A. Osmosis B. Facilitated diffusion C. Diffusion D. Endocytosis

Biology & Microbiology

A lipid membrane is present in which of the following?

A. naked viruses B. enveloped viruses C. prions D. viroids E. both prions and viroids

Biology & Microbiology

Botulin, the toxin of botulism is

A. not as virulent as tetanospasmin. B. detected and diagnosed by analyzing a patient's blood. C. the cause of rigid paralysis. D. only produced under anaerobic conditions. E. produced when spores germinate in the intestines of adults after ingesting contaminated food.

Biology & Microbiology