2007-03-20 10:10:12 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Most bacteria will die when introduced into a new environment, just like all organisms. However, there are just so many of them, that a few of them will be more tolerant to the conditions, and survive long enough to reproduce. Their offspring will have a high percentage of tolerant individuals. Because of the rapid turnover of generations, they will soon adapt to the environment as a species. Not so much because they are hardy, but because those that weren't hardy enough, died off.
It is an elegant example of evolution by natural selection in action.
2007-03-20 11:13:30 · answer #1 · answered by Labsci 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The short answer is evolution. But you must be clear - there isn't any particular kind of bacteria that can survive in any environment, and most bacteria can only survive in a rather limited set of conditions. However, there are many different kinds of bacteria that have evolved to survive in environmental niches that we generally think of as unfriendly to living organisms. In the end, almost any energy source can be used to support life, which is great for science fiction writers :)
2007-03-20 10:15:44 · answer #2 · answered by Tom 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
some are heat resistant
and some are spore forming (till removal of adverse conditions)
resistance may be transmitted through generations
2007-03-20 10:16:01 · answer #3 · answered by the vet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋