What is Mold? Under what conditions does mold do best? What types of substances does mold grow the most and the fastest? Mold is a microscopic organism, a furry growth of fungi and grows on organic substances that are exposed to moisture for a period of time. But there are some that can grow in conditions that are dryer and cold. Mold can be found everywhere inside buildings, homes, and the outdoors. Mold reproduces and spreads by making and releasing spores into the air. Spores are very tiny, usually one cell organisms. They are produced by asexual (only produced by one parent) organisms such as fungi (mold, mildew, and mushrooms), algae, some bacteria, and some plants (ferns and moss). The mold produces spores and releases them into the air and they eventually land on an object. If the object and the area around the object has conditions for the mold spore to grow it will grow. The better the conditions the faster it will grow and then produce more spores and the cycle continues. There are many different types of mold and certain molds grow …show more content…
best under certain conditions. The things that mold spores need to grow are time, some oxygen, appropriate temperatures, moisture, and nutrients (food source). Most mold and their spores can grow and survive between the temperatures of 33 thru 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The mold we are exposed to on a daily basis grows best in the temperatures between 40 – 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Since mold is a fungus it needs water. Mold likes wet, damp places and/or moist, humid air to grow in abundance. When the spores land on a damp or moist surface it can multiply. The food sources for mold can be any organic substance, anything that contains carbon atoms. Mold can be anything from wood, paper, cardboard, paint, fabric, clothes, oil, soap, food we eat, dirt, and even dust. Molds can be dangerous to humans and destructive to the materials that humans use and crops.
It can cause health problem and illness in people such as respiratory problems, pneumonia, athlete’s foot, allergic reactions, and ringworm. Although, mold can be a serious issue in the home and around people it can be beneficial. Molds like to live off of dead or dying sources because it's easier and faster for the spores to grow. Because of this it can decompose and breakdown fallen trees, leaves, and dead organisms. This benefits the environment by fertilizing the dirt and soil for new plants to grow. Mold is also used as medicine, Penicillin is made from Penicillium mold, and it is used to kill certain types of bad bacteria that make us sick. We can also eat certain types of mold like blue cheese and mold is used to make many other kinds of cheeses, bread, and citric acid to flavor some sodas and
candy. In conclusion, we live with mold every day. From breathing in the spores to throwing out rotten food or eating mold on purpose or by accident. We know that there are many different types of mold and how mold grows. Also that mold is both harmful and beneficial to humans and the environment. With knowledge of mold in our everyday lives we may be able the control mold or at least slow the process of mold growth.
Sordaria fimicola is a species of microscopic fungus that is an Ascomycete and are used to test for genetic variation in the lab setting (Sordaria fimicola: A Fungus used in Genetics, Volk). These organisms are what are called model organisms, or species that has been widely studied usually because it is easy to maintain and breed in a laboratory setting and has particular experimental advantages (Sordaria fimicola, Volk). S. fimicola, because it is in the Ascomycota phylum, have a distinguishing reproductive structure called the ascus, which is surrounded by the perithecium. This cylindrical sac-like structure houses 8 haploid spores; created through meiosis to produce 4 haploid spores and then mitosis to make 8 (Lab Manual, pg. 59-68). Based on the genotype they will vary in order and color. There are 3 different ratios that can arise from the 8 ascospores: 4:4, 2:2:2:2, and 2:4:2 (black/wild type and tan coloration). The 4:4 ratio suggests that no crossing over had occurred because there is no difference in order of the color parents that were mated. The two other ratios suggest genetic recombination, or crossing over, because of the
The possible Fungus spores could pose a health risk based upon data from the NYDHS study, Harry Dobin’s autopsy, and experts in the field. Additionally, the Fungus, presumably, is the cause of the public nuisance (i.e. the odor) and the Fungus spores are the result of Landfill’s
It kills bacteria by competing with it for food, The bacteria around the fungus are destroyed as penicillin is released. The penicillin kills the mold by stopping its cell walls from forming. This results in the cells bursting and dying (Ward, 50-51). During World War II, penicillin was used in place of surgery due to the lack of doctors. The drug obviated the need for many amputations because it could neutralize the bacteria that caused dead tissue responsible for limb removals (Conniff, 2013). A letter sent home from a soldier, Murphy, demonstrates an example of this. “At first they thought they would have the take his leg off… it was long before they really could treat him… But they started treating him with the new ‘wonder drug’ penicillin and it brought him around ok” (Higginbotham, 2001). In addition to eliminating amputations, penicillin made infections less painful to handle. Surgeons commonly treated wounds by draining them and leaving them open to heal. Infections were common and often deadly, recovery wound take months. However, after the distribution of penicillin, surgeons simply drained the wound, sprinkled penicillin powder, and stitched the wound close (Conniff, 2013). Thousands of soldiers who escaped death or amputation owed their well-being to the mass production of
grows, it lives for a period of time, then it dies. The human life cycle is
Mold is a member of the fungi family. Since mold is part of the fungi family, it cannot use the sun to obtain energy. This means that mold has to use other plants or animals to grow. Even though they cannot see them, there are millions of mold spores in the air. These spores settle down and start to multiply which can be done rapidly or slowly as long as it has a food source. Mold usually grows best in warm environments, but it can still grow in cold environments also. Mold can cause illness such as vomiting or feeling nauseated when it is eaten or when it smells bad.
When someone works in an environment where they are exposed to chemicals, dust, fumes and molds, they are more likely to develop asthma. Along with asthma, constant exposure to chemicals and vapors can cause serious lung problems that can develop into more serious lung problems.
Microorganism is a living thing that cannot be seen by naked eye and is so small in size. Microorganism usually can be seen through microscope because microscope have the ability to see small thing using various magnification. The examples of microorganism are bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae and virus. Among all of the microorganisms, bacteria have the greatest advantages in preserving food and beverages. Bacteria are generally harmless but can produce enzymes that can alter the structure the food. In extreme cases, bacteria can secrete toxic substances that can cause the food to spoil.
We simply inspect your home for the presence of mold which is in itself considered a serious health hazard. Protect your property, your investment and above all, your family by calling our mold inspections firm now for that supervised inspection that will add peace of mind and security to that structure you call home.
For buildings constructed pre-1980 in Liverpool, asbestos containing materials were likely used in the building construction. While asbestos itself is not harful, it is when the asbestos is disturbed, and release tiny fibres that are then inhaled, that it becomes dangerous. Exposure to asbestos can lead to fatal diseases such as Mesothelioma, lung cancer and Asbestosis. While use of the material in construction was banned, it is
Bacteria, like black death. Since it is in the mesophilic category,¨… [ Y.Pestis] grows best in moderate temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, typically between
The pH of the solution would alter the rate of the reaction if it was
You know that having asbestos in your home can be dangerous, but do you know how and where to find it? Asbestos is generally safe until it is disturbed, but remodeling projects and other household improvements can expose you to asbestos if you're not careful. Deteriorating and damaged building materials, too, can release asbestos. In order to keep your family safe, it is important to know where you may encounter asbestos. It is also important to learn how to take a sample of any suspect material to determine if it is asbestos or something more benign.
...e mold growth by interacting with mold spores and encouraging mold and mildew growth in the air conditioning ducts.
They become an issue of relevance when they cause epidemics in humans or animals. Mycotoxicosis is no exception. In 1960, about 100,0000 turkeys died from feeding on mold peanuts. Investigation discovered that these mold peanuts were infected with a group of mycotoxins called aflatoxin[1]. Economically, mycotoxins cause illness and death in humans and animals, and increase cost of food production and toxin management. Examples of economically important mycotoxin-producing fungi include Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp., Claviceps spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Acremonium spp., Phomopsis spp., and Stachybotrys spp.[4]. Cancer is the most studied mycotoxicosis among the others, with aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and fumonisins being the most carcinogenic groups. Other mycotoxins groups cause different diseases; zearalenone and ergopeptine affect the fecundity and growth of humans and animals, deoxynivalenol causes teratogenic diseases, and phomopsin and sporidesmins are harmful to the liver[1, 2,
they create many breathing and heart conditions like cancer and other threats in the body, that is why children who are exposed through air pollutants are most likely to have pneumonia and asthma.