23 votes

The incredible latent abilities of living things — slime mould is amazing!

Posted by RodneyRodnesson
Tags: biology.micro, scientists, michael levin, organisms, slime molds, author.george musser, source.nautilus, paywall
https://nautil.us/the-biologist-blowing-our-minds-323905/

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Title
The Biologist Blowing Our Minds
Authors
George Musser
Published
Jun 28 2023
Word count
2424 words

4 comments

  1. doingmybest
    Link
    My lab collaborated with this guy a number of years ago. His ideas about electricity and cells are so interesting and forward thinking. I recommend a deep dive for anyone with even a slight interest.

    My lab collaborated with this guy a number of years ago. His ideas about electricity and cells are so interesting and forward thinking. I recommend a deep dive for anyone with even a slight interest.

    5 votes
  2. [2]
    wax66
    (edited )
    Link
    Such a fascinating read! Paging u-saddestofboys! Ohhh wait... dammit. I miss that treasure trove of slime mould knowledge. I learned so much from him.

    Such a fascinating read!

    Paging u-saddestofboys!

    Ohhh wait... dammit. I miss that treasure trove of slime mould knowledge. I learned so much from him.

    3 votes
    1. chocobean
      Link Parent
      I was just thinking exactly the same thing. Last I heard from him was that r-Mycology was being stupid and he started his own slime Patreon. Saw a big big one on a hike recently and was so...

      I was just thinking exactly the same thing. Last I heard from him was that r-Mycology was being stupid and he started his own slime Patreon.

      Saw a big big one on a hike recently and was so thankful for everything I learned. His enthusiasm was infectious and I hope we get many Tildes users like that about every subject.

      1 vote
  3. ducc
    Link
    This is really interesting stuff, but I'm a little confused about his obsession with bioelectricity. For example: Maybe it's just the way he said this or the article is written, but he seems to be...

    This is really interesting stuff, but I'm a little confused about his obsession with bioelectricity. For example:

    But as soon as there’s carcinogen exposure or maybe an oncogene that gets expressed, the electrical connection starts to weaken. It’s a feedback loop, because the more you have those thoughts, the more you’re like, “Well, maybe let me just turn that connection down a little bit. Now I’m really coming into my own. Now I’m out of here. I’m metastasizing.”

    Maybe it's just the way he said this or the article is written, but he seems to be pushing the idea that this bioelectrical "circuit" is the be all and end all of behavioral regulation. But, we already know about and have extensively studied chemical epigenetics - and oncogenes and tumor growth are specifically really well studied examples of this. I'm sure electrical signaling has a role to play, but it definitely isn't the ultimate factor.

    2 votes