Thursday, January 8, 2015

Class Zygomycetes: The Bread Molds-Apologia Science, Biology Module 4

I am sure that the majority of people have seen mold on their bread but what exactly is that mold and why is it there?  Lets find out.

image from docs stoc
Bread mold is formed by fungi in the Class Zygomycetes.  This is a diverse fungal class of phylum zygomycota.  Zygomycota can be found all over the world.  There are more than 800 species of
zygomycetes divided into 32 families and 10 orders.  These are a very unique fungi because they can reproduce sexually and asexually.  Zygospores are created via fusion of two other spores.  Asexual reproduction occurs via the spread of spores by either wind or by animals.

Different zygomycetes thrive in different environments, for example: you may find some in soil, animal waste, or plant matter that has begun to decay, some are parasites which feed off of animals and/or plants, and finally, others can live on or in organisms by creating a symbiotic relationship.

image from imagination station
A good example of a zygomycetes in black bread mold.  These are further categorized as Rhizopus stolonifer.  These can also cause diseases in humans by compromising your immune system and can manifest in various ways such as a sinus infection, gastrointestinal tract infections, infections of the lymph nodes; face, nose, and mouth infections, subcutaneous mycosis, and angioinvasive disease.  Besides humans, horses, cats, and dogs can also be negatively affected by zygomycetes which can be fatal.

Here is a cool time-lapsed video of mold growing on bread.
Another video

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