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Purpose: TRY GROWING YOUR OWN MOLDS IN A MOIST CHAMBER!!! Introduction: The material that supports the growth of a fungus is called its substrate. A commercially prepared medium like potato agar is one kind of substrate, but any organic material can be used. The simplest method of growing molds is to put a substrate like bread in a moist chamber. The substrate provides nutrients, and the chamber maintains the high humidity that favors the growth of fungi. Placing a slice of bread, fruit or vegetable, or a leaf in a plastic sandwich bag is a simple way to use this method. The small plastic bag must have a tie, a fold-over top or another way of sealing it. Mold growth should be visible after 3 to 5 days. If you want to try this experiment, follow the directions below. Materials: * Substrate material * Sandwich bags with a tie, fold top or "zip lock". * A marker to label the bags. * Damp, NOT WET, paper towels. Procedure: MAKING THE MOIST CHAMBERS * Label the bags with a number so you can tell them apart. * Place a damp towel in each bag. * Place a slice of bread or other substrate on top of the damp towel. * Seal the bags. * Record the substrate put in each bag. * Place the bags in a warm area out of direct sunlight where they will not be disturbed. * Check the bags each day. Fungal growth should be visable in 3 to 5 days. Fungi are fuzzy or hairy and may be green, white, black, yellow, etc. Bacterial colonies are shiny or slimy and may also be different colors. * Record the number, color, and size of the fungal colonies. One very fast growing fungus, the Galloping Grey Ghost (Rhizopus stolonifer), may completely cover bread in just a couple of days. QUESTIONS TO HELP DESIGN EXPERIMENTS * Are there differences in the numbers and kinds of fungi growing on different kinds of bread? * Does preservative in some bread affect the numbers and kinds of molds? * Are there differences in the numbers and kinds of fungi growing on bread compared to carrots?