GMU:DIY Bio: doing things with biology/Niloofar Ghanavati/Growing Plasmodia: Difference between revisions
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==A Simple Method of Growing the Plasmodial Slime Mold Physarum Polycephalum== | ==A Simple Method of Growing the Plasmodial Slime Mold Physarum Polycephalum== | ||
Physarum polycephalum can be easily grown in its yellow plasmodial stage and in its flagellated stage. With a little care and attention your plasmodium will flourish and perhaps startle you with amazing growth and an ability to escape from almost any container. Keep in mind that slime molds are sensitive to the following: light (they don't like light but light does help trigger spore formation); an excess of water; and not enough moisture. | ''Physarum polycephalum can be easily grown in its yellow plasmodial stage and in its flagellated stage. With a little care and attention your plasmodium will flourish and perhaps startle you with amazing growth and an ability to escape from almost any container. Keep in mind that slime molds are sensitive to the following: light (they don't like light but light does help trigger spore formation); an excess of water; and not enough moisture.'' (Sudbery, Peter E. [https://www.uni-weimar.de/kunst-und-gestaltung/wiki/GMU:DIY_Bio:_doing_things_with_biology/Niloofar_Ghanavati/References]) | ||
*Growing Plasmodia | *Growing Plasmodia | ||
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*Alternative Materials and Method for Growing Plasmodia | *Alternative Materials and Method for Growing Plasmodia | ||
Larger and more vigorous plasmodia have been produced with this method. Use a large container such as a plastic food container or an ice chest. Into this large container place a small bowl. Drape paper towels over bowl so that edges of paper towel contact bottom of large container. Poor enough tap water into the large container to cover the bottom and to wet the edges of the paper towels. Also sprinkle water on dry paper towel that is over the top of the bowl. The water in the bottom of the large container should continue to wick up the paper towel keeping it moist but not soaking wet. Onto the top of the paper towel that is spread across the bowl, place the living plasmodium or sclerotium and place an oat flake nearby. Cover the large container (loosely if possible) and keep in the dark. At least once every two days or so (more frequently if growth is rapid) open container and lightly sprinkle plasmodium with water and add a few additional oat flakes near the advancing front of the plasmodium. To initiate sclerotium formation, allow to slowly dry over several days. To initiate sporangia formation, transfer section of paper towel with plasmodia to clean, moist paper towel (discarding older, oat containing paper towel). Keep moist and periodically briefly expose to light. DO NOT FEED. This is an attempt to starve the plasmodium and induce spore formation. | Larger and more vigorous plasmodia have been produced with this method. Use a large container such as a plastic food container or an ice chest. Into this large container place a small bowl. Drape paper towels over bowl so that edges of paper towel contact bottom of large container. Poor enough tap water into the large container to cover the bottom and to wet the edges of the paper towels. Also sprinkle water on dry paper towel that is over the top of the bowl. The water in the bottom of the large container should continue to wick up the paper towel keeping it moist but not soaking wet. Onto the top of the paper towel that is spread across the bowl, place the living plasmodium or sclerotium and place an oat flake nearby. Cover the large container (loosely if possible) and keep in the dark. At least once every two days or so (more frequently if growth is rapid) open container and lightly sprinkle plasmodium with water and add a few additional oat flakes near the advancing front of the plasmodium. To initiate sclerotium formation, allow to slowly dry over several days. To initiate sporangia formation, transfer section of paper towel with plasmodia to clean, moist paper towel (discarding older, oat containing paper towel). Keep moist and periodically briefly expose to light. DO NOT FEED. This is an attempt to starve the plasmodium and induce spore formation. | ||
==Growing Plasmodia== | ==Growing Plasmodia== | ||