What is the reproductive cell that can survive harsh conditions due to a protective coating?

• A. Spore
• B. Hyphae
• C. Mycelium
• D. Provirus

Answer: (A)

A spore is a reproductive unit built to endure harsh conditions because of its tough outer layers. This protective coating shields the cell during drying, heat, chemicals, and radiation, allowing it to stay dormant until conditions improve. When the environment becomes favorable, the spore can germinate and grow into a new organism. This survival strategy is common in fungi, some bacteria, and plants.

Hyphae are the threadlike filaments that make up fungal bodies, not reproductive cells themselves. Mycelium is the large network formed by many hyphae, serving as the growth medium rather than a single reproductive unit. A provirus is viral DNA integrated into a host genome, not a cell and not a reproductively active, protective unit.