title: Longevity of microorganisms in natural environments.
abstract: Bacterial endospores are exceptional among living systems in respect to their resistance to adverse environmental conditions, notably to heat and dessication, and consequently might be expected to show crytobiosis of very long duration. This report considers recent observations indicating that the maximal longevity of bacterial spores is probably much greater than previously believed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gest
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mandelstam
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D005580:Fossils; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances