Re: What is the difference between spore and cyst or encyst?

Larry: That is a good question. Although people often use the words somewhat interchangably, they are not at all alike. Endocysts, which are essentiall bags within something, are typically one of two different things. One of which is a bag or layer of cells within an organsims such as an animal that is not generally associated with normal function. The second, refers to a collection of cells, like free living organisms that clump together and form a supercolony, or endocyst. These are often seen in certain marine archeae and cyanobacteria, or corals. This colony is not a germinating spore, or in any way associated with reproduction, other than its obvious survival advantages to the organism(s) as a whole. Spores on the other hand are typically self replicating reproductive bodies or non vegitative states of organisms. The best studied spores are those found in certain types of fungus, bakers yeast (S. cerevisiae) and Neurospora crassis and bacteria of the bacillus sp. which includes the extremely well studied strain B. subtilis, and the pathogen B. anthracies, which causes Anthrax. In the case of the yeast, the spores are differentiated sexually mature progeny that are capable of self replication, but are heartier and genetically different than the parents, and or a daughter cell, which is the product of a direct replication. In the bacteria, in response to harsh conditions, they will often form spores, which are a condensed and protected collection of the cells genetic material that is capable of re-growth upon introduction into a suitable environment. In the case of Anthrax, this is often in the skin, lungs and tissue of cows. -Matt-