Sporulation
Sporulation
Sporulation (/spɔːrjʊˈleɪʃən/) is a process of the formation of spores that occurs in certain bacteria, fungi, algae, and some protozoans. This process is a part of their life cycle and is used as a method for survival and reproduction.
Etymology
The term "sporulation" is derived from the Latin word "spora" meaning "seed", and the suffix "-ulation" which implies a process or action.
Process
Sporulation begins when the nutrient levels in the environment are low. The organism begins to prepare for a dormant state by creating a copy of its chromosome and encasing it in a tough outer coating. This creates a spore that can survive in harsh conditions. Once the conditions become favorable again, the spore can germinate and return to its normal state.
Types of Sporulation
There are two main types of sporulation: asexual sporulation and sexual sporulation. Asexual sporulation involves the formation of spores without the fusion of gametes, while sexual sporulation involves the fusion of gametes to form a zygote, which then forms a spore.
Related Terms
- Endospore: A type of dormant stage in some bacteria that allows them to survive in harsh conditions.
- Germination: The process by which a spore returns to its active state.
- Gamete: A mature sexual reproductive cell.
- Zygote: The cell formed by the union of two gametes.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sporulation
- Wikipedia's article - Sporulation
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski