Name ___________________________ Section ____________
Structural stains – Results & Interpretation - 10 points – You will hand this section in on the
designated date.
Endospore stain
1) Label the vegetative part of cell and the endospore. (1 pt.)
_____________________
_____________________
2) What position are the endospores in? See Figure 1 in the handout “Structural Stains –
Background & Procedure” for the proper terms. (1 pt.)
3) What is an endospore? (1 pt.)
4) What is the vegetative part of the bacteria cell? (1 pt.)
5) Why is it beneficial for a bacterium to be able to form endospores? (1 pt)
Alexa Campanella
SU23
Endospore
Vegetative Cell
Central Endospores
Endospores are a type of bacteria that can survive difficult environmental conditions like
extreme heat, low nutrients, radiation, and dehydration. They're formed by several genera in
the orders Bacillales, Clostridiales, and Lactobacillales. They're called "resting bodies"
because they won't metabolize in harsh/difficult environments
The vegetative part of the bacterial cell is what grows and forms endospores.
It's beneficial to form endospores because it protects the bacteria from harsh environments
and helps preserve the DNA
