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sl8

(13,787 posts)
Wed Oct 23, 2019, 04:39 PM Oct 2019

The 'blob': Paris zoo unveils unusual organism which can heal itself and has 720 sexes

From https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/17/europe/france-new-organism-zoo-intl-scli-scn-hnk/index.html

(Video at link)

The 'blob': Paris zoo unveils unusual organism which can heal itself and has 720 sexes

By Julie Zaugg, CNN
Updated 12:24 PM ET, Thu October 17, 2019

(CNN)It is bright yellow, can creep along at a speed of up to 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) per hour, can solve problems even though it doesn't have a brain and can heal itself if it is cut in two.

Meet the "blob," an unusual organism which will go on display Saturday at the Paris Zoological Park, as part of a first-of-its-kind exhibition intended to showcase its rare abilities.

The slime mold, which is known officially as physarum polycephalum (or "the many headed slime" ) is neither a plant, an animal or a fungus. It doesn't have two sexes -- male and female -- it has 720. And it can also split into different organisms and then fuse back together, according to a press release from the Zoological Park.

The unicellular being is believed to be around a billion years old, but it first came to the public's attention in May 1973, after a Texas woman discovered a rapidly-expanding yellow blob growing in her backyard. With its otherworldly, extraterrestrial appearance, the blob became a brief media sensation, even picking up a mention in the New York Times.

[...]

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The 'blob': Paris zoo unveils unusual organism which can heal itself and has 720 sexes (Original Post) sl8 Oct 2019 OP
Holy shit. DetlefK Oct 2019 #1
Impressive, wow! FM123 Oct 2019 #2
Blobs everywhere. : D chowder66 Oct 2019 #9
I know, I was laugh-typing that... FM123 Oct 2019 #12
Very funny and cute! nt chowder66 Oct 2019 #14
Fascinating! Faux pas Oct 2019 #3
physarum polycephalum, yortsed snacilbuper Oct 2019 #4
Although not a true fungus, it is closely related LeftInTX Oct 2019 #5
i follow a couple of mushroom pages on fb. mopinko Oct 2019 #6
We'd need a LOT bigger alphabet. Hortensis Oct 2019 #7
Between the blob and car driving mice, we're in trouble. Luz Oct 2019 #8
720?? The mind reels.... panader0 Oct 2019 #10
Imagine the Tinder interface... meadowlander Oct 2019 #15
Its favorite food is oatmeal! lol chowder66 Oct 2019 #11
Yes! It had me at "oatmeal" FM123 Oct 2019 #17
Can someone explain to me how it can have 720 sexes? chowder66 Oct 2019 #13
Here, briefly: Tanuki Oct 2019 #16
Thank you. I tried google first but came up short. chowder66 Oct 2019 #18
I wonder how you say "vive la difference" in Blobese? n/t DFW Oct 2019 #19
Lol. nt chowder66 Oct 2019 #21
Fascinating! Thanks for posting. SharonClark Oct 2019 #20
Does that make it easier, or harder for a lonely blob to find a date? Maru Kitteh Oct 2019 #22
Blob/Warren 2020 Takket Oct 2019 #23
Yet another thing that would make a better president eleny Oct 2019 #24

FM123

(10,053 posts)
2. Impressive, wow!
Wed Oct 23, 2019, 04:54 PM
Oct 2019

We must immediately stop referring to our White House occupant as an orange blob - it is an insult to blobs everywhere. Especially this one that is so exceptional and can do so many amazing things!

LeftInTX

(25,376 posts)
5. Although not a true fungus, it is closely related
Wed Oct 23, 2019, 05:32 PM
Oct 2019

And it was originally categorized as a fungus...

mopinko

(70,127 posts)
6. i follow a couple of mushroom pages on fb.
Wed Oct 23, 2019, 05:59 PM
Oct 2019

there is at least one post a month of slime mold. they come from all over.

Tanuki

(14,918 posts)
16. Here, briefly:
Wed Oct 23, 2019, 07:06 PM
Oct 2019
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5325747

..."In case you're wondering how the blob has 720 sexes, here's how it works: While human sex cells come in two types (sperm and egg), slime moulds have sex cells with multiple genes that can come in different combinations. Those combinations determine whether two individuals can mate with one another. "
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