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Old amoebas spawn their farms

Some slime molds use agriculture to ensure a steady food supply

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Birds, bees and educated fleas actually don’t do it. But a social amoeba turns out to practice a simple form of agriculture in the form of bacterial husbandry.

FAMILY FARMS Round spore-forming structures atop slender stalks of a social amoebas contain starter kits of bacteria to grow food crops for the next generation, a simple form of agriculture.