What is the function of an endospore and how is an endospore formed?

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: The function of an endospore is to allow the cell to survive harsh conditions by going into a dormant state. An environmental trigger, such as nutrient depletion or dehydration triggers the formation of compounds such as SASP and dipicolinic acid to protect the DNA from damage and reduce the water content inside the endospore. These changes protect the DNA and other critical chemical components from heat, dessication, and UV exposure. The function of an endospore is not for reproduction because every cell forms only one endospore. (The amount of detail expected in this answer should be commensurate with the amount of detail discussed in class.)

Biology & Microbiology

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Which of the following statements is true in eukaryotic cells?

A. Transcription occurs in the cytoplasm, and translation occurs in the nucleus. B. Transcription and translation both occur in the nucleus. C. Transcription occurs in the nucleus, and translation occurs in the cytoplasm. D. Transcription and translation both occur in the cytoplasm.

Biology & Microbiology

In step "b" the original strands have separated because

a. the hydrogen bonds between bases were broken. b. the sugar-phosphate linkages broke. c. the polymerases stopped functioning. d. the bases repelled each other. e. water changed the bases into their subunits.

Biology & Microbiology

Which structure below is unique to organisms that harness solar energy to make sugar?

A. Endoplasmic reticulum B. Chloroplast C. Plasma membrane D. Chromosome E. Nuclear envelope

Biology & Microbiology

In the process of nitrogen fixation, if you start with 5 molecules of N2, you will need ________ hydrogen atoms and ________ ATP molecules to make ________ molecules of ammonia.

A. 30; 80; 10 B. 30; 80; 5 C. 15; 80; 10 D. 15; 16; 5

Biology & Microbiology