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https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/the-slime-mold-physarum-polycephalum/ | https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/the-slime-mold-physarum-polycephalum/ | ||
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'''<big>Step 1: Preparing petri dishes:</big>''' | '''<big>Step 1: Preparing petri dishes:</big>''' | ||
<u>Materials:</u> Petri dishes, Erlenmeyer flask/pot, distilled water/tap water, powdered agar, scale | <u>Materials:</u> Petri dishes, Erlenmeyer flask/pot, distilled water/tap water, powdered agar, scale, spoon, aluminium foil | ||
The easiest gel to make is agar-agar-medium at a ratio of 1 to 100: | The easiest gel to make is agar-agar-medium at a ratio of 1 to 100: | ||
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- Fill the needed amount of water either into a pot or the Erlenmeyer flask | - Fill the needed amount of water either into a pot or the Erlenmeyer flask | ||
- Weigh the needed amount of powdered agar (e.g. by using some | - Weigh the needed amount of powdered agar (e.g. by using some aluminium foil as a dish) | ||
- Stir the agar into the water | - Stir the agar into the water | ||
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- Stir and heat the mixture until it's boiling (by using the stovetop or microwave) and take it off the heat before it boils over | - Stir and heat the mixture until it's boiling (by using the stovetop or microwave) and take it off the heat before it boils over | ||
- Pour the mixture into the petri dishes until they are max. halfway full and let them cool down until the medium has solidified | - Pour the mixture into the petri dishes until they are max. halfway full, close the lids and let them cool down until the medium has solidified | ||
'''<big>Step 2: Preparing food for the slime mold</big>''' | |||
Since Physarum is capable of ingesting material by phagocytosis, it needs "food" to grow, if it's starved, it will escape. | |||
A supply of oat flakes can be used as a source of food. | |||
While it is not absolutely necessary, the oat flakes can be sterilized to try to avoid possible contamination by using a pressure cooker: | |||
Materials: Glass jars with lids, cotton wadding, aluminium foil, water, pressure cooker | |||
- Prepare a jar with a lid by putting a hole into the lid and insert some cotton wadding tightly into the hole | |||
- Fill some oat flakes into the jars, close the lid and put aluminium foil over the lid (cover the lid completely) | |||
- Pour enough water into the pressure cooker, but not so much that the glasses are floating (follow manual for guidance), place the glasses inside | |||
- Close and lock the lid | |||