slime mold

slime mold
slime mold slime mold, slime mould slime mould . 1. An unusual fungus-like protist of the phylum Myxomycota or the class Myxomycetes, having a stage of growth in which it comprises a naked noncellular multinucleate mass of creeping protoplasm having characteristics of both plants and animals; it also has a propagative phase in which it develops fruiting bodies bearing spores; it is sometimes classified as a protist. It is called also {acellular slime mold}. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

2. Any of several remarkable amoebalike organisms of the phylum Acrasiomycota, mostly terrestrial, having a fruiting phase resembling that of the {acellular slime molds}, but being cellular and nucleate throughout their life cycle; called also {cellular slime mold}. The most studied species is {Dictyostelium discoideum}. In their feeding phase, they live like amoebae as individual cells, engulfing bacteria as a prime food source. When the food source diminishes, they begin to aggregate, swarming together to form clumps which may move toward heat and light, so as to reach the surface of the ground; they then differentiate into a form with spores contained within a sporangium resting on a stalk. When the spores are carried to another location with adequate food supplies, the spores may germinate to resume the life cycle. The phase of aggregation appears to be initiated by release of cyclic AMP, serving as a signal between the individual cells. The formation of the fruiting body has some similarities to differentiation in multicellular organisms, but the mechanisms are still under study. Some biologists object to the classification of {Dictyostelium} as a slime mold, as it is neither a mold nor slimy. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • slime mold — or slime fungus n. MYXOMYCETE …   English World dictionary

  • slime mold — n any organism of the group Myxomycetes called also myxomycete * * * any member of the fungal class Myxomycetes …   Medical dictionary

  • slime mold — slime′ mold n. fng any of various funguslike organisms belonging to the phylum Myxomycota of the kingdom Protista, characterized by a somatic ameboid phase and a streaming phase in which the separate organisms merge and produce spore bearing… …   From formal English to slang

  • Slime mold — Not to be confused with slime bacteria. Slime mold Stemonitis fusca in Scotland, UK …   Wikipedia

  • slime mold — noun a naked mass of protoplasm having characteristics of both plants and animals; sometimes classified as protoctists • Syn: ↑slime mould • Hypernyms: ↑fungus • Hyponyms: ↑true slime mold, ↑acellular slime mold, ↑plasmodi …   Useful english dictionary

  • slime mold — 1. any of various funguslike organisms belonging to the phylum Myxomycota, of the kingdom Protista (or the plant class Myxomycetes), characterized by a noncellular, multinucleate, creeping somatic phase and a propagative phase in which fruiting… …   Universalium

  • acellular slime mold — slime mold slime mold, slime mould slime mould . 1. An unusual fungus like protist of the phylum Myxomycota or the class Myxomycetes, having a stage of growth in which it comprises a naked noncellular multinucleate mass of creeping protoplasm… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cellular slime mold — slime mold slime mold, slime mould slime mould . 1. An unusual fungus like protist of the phylum Myxomycota or the class Myxomycetes, having a stage of growth in which it comprises a naked noncellular multinucleate mass of creeping protoplasm… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • slime mold — noun Date: 1880 any of a group (Myxomycetes or Mycetozoa) of organisms usually held to be lower fungi but sometimes considered protozoans that exist vegetatively as mobile plasmodia and reproduce by spores …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • slime mold — A common term for members of the divisions Acrasiomycota and Myxomycota …   Dictionary of microbiology

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