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Offspring which are produced by means of asexual reproduction are identical or clones to their parent. Reproduction Reproduction: Angiosperm Reproduction: Human Reproductive Health Inheritance Variation Molecular Inheritance Evolution Health Disease Food Production Microbes Biotechnology Biotech ApplicationĪsexual Reproduction: When a single parent participates in reproduction, and gamete formation does not take place it is called asexual reproduction. Thus, reproduction helps in continuity of species. The offspring grow, mature and produce new offspring. The spores in fungi function like seeds.Reproduction: The biological process through which an organism gives rises to young ones (offspring) similar to itself, is called reproduction. Spores are most apparent in plants that do not bear seeds such as ferns, mosses, hornworts, and liverworts. In plants, the spores are the reproductive agents in the process of asexual reproduction. The sporangia are located within the anthers and the carpel in flowering plants. The megasporangium produces the megaspores, whereas the microsporangium produces the microspores. The two different kinds of spores are formed in separate sporangia. The larger spore is known as megaspore, and it functions as the ‘female’ spore, whereas the smaller spore is known as microspore, and it functions as a ‘male' spore. Plants like quillworts, spike mosses, ferns of the Salviniales order, and seed plants are known to be heterosporous as they produce two different sizes of spores. The homosporous plants produce spores that are of the same type and size. The vascular plants are known to be either heterosporous or homosporous. The spores in the vascular plants are always haploid. These endospores are resistant to desiccation, ultraviolet radiation, chemical disinfectants, high temperatures, and extreme freezing conditions. Endospores can survive without nutrients. Around 10% dry weight of the spore is accounted for by this dipicolinic acid. The dipicolinic acid is known to be the spore-specific chemical that helps the endospore maintain dormancy. The endospore contains the bacteria's ribosomes, DNA, and also large quantities of dipicolinic acid. The endospores allow the bacteria to remain dormant for a prolonged time, and it can even remain dormant for centuries. During the process of the formation of an endospore, the bacterium divides within the cell wall, and one side engulfs the other side. Lack of nutrients can trigger the formation of endospores, and this often occurs in the Gram-positive bacteria. The endospore is the dormant form that the bacterium reduces itself to. The term 'endospore' suggests that it has a seed-like or spore form, but it is not the true spore. The tough, dormant, and non-reproductive structures that are produced by archaea belonging to the Firmicutes phylum and some bacteria are known as endospores. The zoospores contain flagella that help them swim and reach favorable environments where they can develop. The motile zoospores are produced by the other types of algae. Some green algae produce the non-motile spores that are known as aplanospores. The various red algae species can produce monospores that move because of the water currents and, upon germination, can develop into a new organism. The larger algae reproduce with the help of spores and undergo sexual reproduction. When the conditions related to food availability, moisture, and temperature become favorable, the fungal spores can germinate and grow to form new individuals. The spores are generated and released by specialized fruiting bodies. The fungi have spores that serve the same function as that of seeds in different plants. Even though they remain dormant for many years, they can germinate when the conditions become favorable again. Several bacterial spores are known to be highly durable. Spore production is commonly seen among the Clostridium and Bacillus bacteria. The bacterial spores mainly serve as the dormant, resting phase in the life cycle of the bacteria that helps in preserving the bacteria even in unfavorable conditions. Bacteria, algae, plants, and fungi produce spores. Spores are the reproductive agents in the process of asexual reproduction. Spores are different from gametes because the fusion of two gametes occurs to develop a new individual.