Using the Slime Mold Physarum polycephalum in Independent Student Research

 

Janice Bonner

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2006, Volume 27

Abstract

This mini-workshop will introduce the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum as an ideal organism for use in independent research for first-year biology students. There are many challenges to incorporating independent research in introductory biology courses: students don’t yet have sufficient conceptual understanding to conduct the research, the experimental organisms pose maintenance problems, necessary equipment is expensive, and there is not enough room to accommodate numerous experimental setups. Physarum polycephalum addresses all of these problems.

Keywords:  independent research design, slime mold

Virginia Tech (2005)