Science is Fun Fridays!

 

This started out as a Fungi Friday search but it turns out slime mold is no longer considered part of that kingdom, (they are now considered Protista).  Slime mold is an informal name given to several kinds of eukaryotic organisms that can live freely as single cells but can also aggregate together to form multicellular structures.

 Here we see the mold appearing to breathe - it is the cellular components "shuttling" around in a process known as cytoplasmic streaming, or shuttle streaming.  This is the mold coming together to form a multicellular structure, and it is usually done when food is scarce or to reproduce.

Some scientists believe the molds have a capacity to learn from experience and change their behavior, even though they don't have a brain or central nervous system.  In fact, a study in 2016 did show that they learn to avoid caffeine, and they can pass on this knowledge to new cells that fuse with the structure.

The yellow is the more common "dog vomit" slime mold, but there are other kinds.  Above, Trichia varia - and below, Stemonitis fusca.


Weird, gross, and awesome...


 

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