Spore: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is commonly used in biology and microbiology to describe a unit of asexual reproduction that is capable of developing into a new individual, usually in fungi, bacteria, algae, and some plants.

• Mushrooms release spores into the air to reproduce.
• Spores can survive in harsh environmental conditions.

The term 'reproductive body' is more general and can refer to any part of an organism involved in reproduction. It is commonly used in a scientific context when discussing the reproductive structures of various organisms.

• The reproductive body of ferns includes sporangia that produce spores.
• Researchers studied the reproductive bodies of various plant species to understand their lifecycle.

The term 'seed' is used in botany to describe the fertilized ovule of a plant, which contains an embryo capable of germinating into a new plant. It is often used when talking about angiosperms and gymnosperms.

• She planted sunflower seeds in her garden.
• Many fruits contain seeds that can grow into new plants.

This term is often used in cellular biology to describe cells involved in sexual reproduction, such as gametes (sperm and egg cells).

• Reproductive cells combine during fertilization to form a zygote.
• Damage to reproductive cells can result in genetic mutations.