PreLab Assignment
1. Why are people interested in using probiotics for health purposes? (use nih.gov as source)
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2. Look up the historical perspective of the disease syphilis caused by the bacterium
Treponema pallidum. Make a few notes here: ________________________________
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3. A ringworm is not a worm, but a fungus. What is the most common method of
contracting (catching) ringworm? ___________________________________________
Find a great image of ringworm using Google Images. Looks like a worm but it's not.
4. Yes, there are fungi that cause disease (ringworm, athlete's foot to name a
couple). But many fungi are helpful. List 3 beneficial things about fungi:
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5. Is there an easy way to differentiate between poisonous and edible mushrooms?
The easy answer is NO!!!!!
When in doubt don't eat a mushroom in the wild. It may be poisonous.
What is the common name of the most poisonous mushroom? _______________
and its scientific name? _____________________ and what organs are so damaged
that death can often be the result? ____________________________
6. Fungal stems, caps, and spores . . . . sound like plant parts??? But cells of fungi are
really more like animal cells. Try to find reasons for this similarity to animal cells:
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7. One final fungal question . . . Why is the mold Penicillium so important...