Why would it be advantageous to be able to become an endospo

Why would it be advantageous to be able to become an endospore if you were a soil bacterium? A water bacterium? A pathogen? (answer each individually - think about the environmental stresses these bacteria are under; 3 points)

Solution

Endospore is a tough resistant, protective layer, which keep the cell in the dormant state under unfavorable conditions of growth. For example, in tundra soils, the bacteria form endospores during the cold summers and become active during the warmth summers when the temperature allows their active metabolism. Eg: Bacillus species.

Endospore formation is advantageous to water bacteria because the decreased water levels or dried water sources does not favour their growth. The bacteria become active again when the water is available. Eg: Clostridium species.

Pathogenic bacteria can from endospores in response to toxicity of drugs and radiation. These bacteria become active in the absence of these stressors. For example, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.