News Microbes

How a slime mold near death packs bacteria to feed the next generation

Some social amoebas use proteins to preserve a food crop for their offspring

amoeba

SNACK STARTER  Some stealthy proteins let social amoebas save live food in the ball-shaped spore cases atop their slender stalks for the next generation.  

Usman Bashir/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

In the final frenzy of reproduction and death, social amoebas secrete proteins that help preserve a starter kit of food for its offspring.