Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am currently doing an experiment of the effect of lead on slime mold.
However, durin the stage of culturing true slime mold, the slime mold is cultured on agar plate different to the original one came from the supplyer. They then changed to a complete strange looking state that no site on the Internet have ever mentioned. I am just wondering any expert have a clue what is actually growing, is that some other form of slime mold or am I growing some other stuff. (They grow really well, better than the original slime mold)
I tried to attach photos of it but I don't see it working, can anyone help?

Hi,

Welcome to Science Buddies!

I think you are doing a variation of the following excellent project from this website:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p028.shtml

If so, you are culturing the slide mold, Physarum polycephalum. This organism does have two phases in its life cycle; the protoplasmic sliming phase that is used for the maze experiment and the dormant fruiting body phase. The sliming phase form is bright yellow and the fruiting body phase is darker in color and does not move.. If you do an internet search for "physarum polycephalum," you will find images for the actively growing sliming form and if you add "fruiting bodies," to the search name, you will see images of the fruiting body dormant phase.

Physarum polycephalum and other slime molds will form fruiting bodies if food or water becomes scarce or if exposed to sunlight.

I hope this helps. However, please let us know this explanation does not answer your question.. Please describe the physical appearance of the organism growing on your plates if you need more help.

Donna