In Our Time

Slime Moulds

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Jan 30, 2025
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INSIGHT

What is Slime Mold?

  • Slime mold is a broad term encompassing diverse species with shared characteristics like a free-living single-cell stage and spore production.
  • These organisms vary greatly in size and form, with some being microscopic and others reaching a meter across.
INSIGHT

Slime Mold's Relation to Other Organisms

  • Slime molds appear on both the plant-like and animal-like branches of the tree of life.
  • Some are more closely related to plants, while others are closer to animals and fungi.
ANECDOTE

Where to Find Slime Molds

  • Slime molds thrive in damp, shady environments like rotting logs or leaves.
  • They appear as shape-shifting blobs in their single-celled phase, and as networks of slimy veins in their multicellular stage.
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