Texas Manicurist Written Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Resource

The inactive reproductive stage of certain fungi and bacteria is referred to as spores. Spores are specialized cells that can resist harsh environmental conditions and remain dormant until conditions improve for growth and reproduction. They serve as a protective mechanism for the organism, allowing it to survive in unfavorable situations.

In fungi, spores can be produced through sexual or asexual means and are crucial for propagation. In addition, spores can be dispersed over great distances, enabling the organism to colonize new environments successfully. This ability to remain inactive yet viable in diverse conditions is why they are considered a key survival strategy in the life cycle of many fungi and some bacteria.

The other terms listed refer to different life stages or reproductive strategies: gametes are involved in sexual reproduction, conidia are a specific type of asexual spore in fungi, and cysts are resistant forms of certain protozoa or bacteria, but they do not encapsulate the general concept of inactive reproductive stages as effectively as spores do.