胞子

• 読み: ほうし
• ローマ字: houshi
• 漢字の分解: 胞 (hou) — cell, sac, sheath; 子 (shi) — offspring, child, small unit
• 発音: /hoː.ɕi/

意味

Spore. A reproductive unit in fungi, plants, and certain bacteria, capable of developing into a new organism without fusion with another cell.

胞子 are the primary means of reproduction and dispersal in fungi, mosses, ferns, and some bacteria. Unlike seeds, spores typically contain minimal nutritive tissue and can remain dormant for extended periods under harsh conditions. In mycology, spore morphology is an important diagnostic tool for identifying fungal species. Some pathogenic bacteria form endospores highly resistant to heat and chemicals.

例文

1. キノコは成熟すると傘の裏側から胞子を大量に放出する。
2. シダ植物は種子ではなく胞子によって繁殖する原始的な植物だ。
3. 胞子は極端な環境下でも長期間生存できる耐久性を持つ場合がある。

使い方ガイド

場面: biology, mycology, botany, microbiology

トーン: descriptive

起源と歴史

Compound of 胞 (cell, sac) + 子 (offspring, seed-like entity). The combination captures the biological function of a cellular unit that gives rise to new life.

文化的背景

時代: Meiji–Modern

世代: All ages (with biology education)

社会的背景: Universal