Elementary
Bodies
/
Minimal
Reproductive
UnitsHowever,
cells
of
mollicuts
divide
unevenly
into
very
minute
bodies
called
the
elementary
bodies
or
minimal
reproductive
units.
They
are
commonly
formed
inside
the
large
bodies
or
mature
cells.
These
elementary
bodies
range
in
size
from
about
330
nm
to
450
nm.
These
can
pass
through
bacteria
rataining
filters
like
viruses
but
are
viable
on
ordinary
media.
These
have
bacteria
like
structure.
These
bodies
are
often
cited
as
the
smallest
independently
living
entities.
These
represent
a
stage
in
the
life
cycle.
They
enlarge
to
form
long
filaments
and
mycelia
and
chains
of
minute
spheres
like
conidia
but
much
smaller
in
size.
It
is
thought
by
some
that
these
conidia
like
bodies
are
liberated
and
that
each
increases
in
size
to
become
larger
body
several
in
diam,
inside
which
new
elementary
bodies
are
formed.
