Spores

Spores are specialized, tough reproductive units produced by some bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants. They serve as a survival mechanism, allowing these organisms to withstand extreme conditions like heat, drought, or chemical exposure. Unlike regular cells, spores are dormant, metabolically inactive, and highly resistant. When conditions improve, spores can develop into active, growing organisms. This ability helps certain microbes persist in challenging environments and makes some spores, like bacterial spores, important in medical and industrial contexts due to their resilience.