Answer:
Spores
Explanation:
Spores are small structures produced in large quantities by bacteria (as well as fungi and plants), capable of generating a new individual.
Bacterial spores (or endospores) act as survival structures when bacteria are found in unfavorable environmental conditions.
They are produced by the bacteria themselves and are found freely inside of them. The position where the spores are found is used as a way of identifying the species of bacteria.
While in the form of spores (which can be viable even for centuries for some species), the bacteria are resistant to heat, dehydration, radiation and pH variations.
When the environmental conditions are <u>favorable</u>, the spore absorbs water until it swells and breaks. From there, germination occurs, producing a cell identical to the parental cell, reactivating the metabolism, as well as the multiplication and growth of new bacteria.
