Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi
I am doing a scince fair project at my school. I have several interview questions.

1. What effect does Mold have on Bread?

2. When did you first learn about Mold?

3. Could you please tell me what motivated you to study this topic.

4. What are some of the most imortant things you have learned about Mold?

5. Why do you think this topic is important and useful or interesting?

6. What practical applications have you found on this topic?

7. What is the hardest part about working with Mold?

8. Would you recomend somone to go into this research field.


Thanks for your time. Hope you have a great New Year.

Courtney

Hi,

Please be aware of Science Buddies' policy regarding interviews: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... =25&t=5681 .

I do not think we have any experts who are mycologists. I took a couple of plant pathology courses in college, so I can take a stab at your questions, but I am not sure that I am the appropriate person to ask. If you have a local department of agriculture, I bet you can find some mycologists to interview.

1. What effect does Mold have on Bread?

Mold breaks down the macromolecules in bread and absorbs them.

2. When did you first learn about Mold?

In a course I took as a college student called, 'Plants, Pests, Pesticides and People' and again in a course called 'Magical Mushrooms, Mischevious Molds.' That was about a decade ago.

3. Could you please tell me what motivated you to study this topic.

The courses sounded interesting.

4. What are some of the most imortant things you have learned about Mold?

I learned that a fungus (ergot) may have caused the witch and werewolf trials that were held all over Europe! I also learned how important fungi are in our daily lives, and how large tracts of forest would not function without symbiotic fungi (mycorrhizae).

5. Why do you think this topic is important and useful or interesting?

Fungi are everywhere. They are important detritivores, and are one of the only groups of organisms that can break down cellulose. Without them, our ecosystems would not function properly.

6. What practical applications have you found on this topic?

Well, obviously, if we are talking about bread mold, there are lots of practical applications as most people do not like to eat moldy bread or moldy food! There are some important exceptions, though--many people like various sorts of cheeses that contain mold, and alcohol is essentially created by letting fungi ferment the sugars in various liquids.

7. What is the hardest part about working with Mold?

I do not actually work with mold. I would imagine that the hardest thing is that there are so many mold spores in the air, your sterile technique would have to be very good!

8. Would you recomend somone to go into this research field.

Absolutely, while I love studying birds, I was really interested by the fungi.