In this behind the scenes shot, one of ‘the infected’ from HBO’s The Last of Us is plastered to the wall by what looks like giant slime moulds. This yellow blob of goo may not look like much, but it is in fact a fierce predator of bacteria, yeasts and other microorganisms, including fungi. Yet their exact place on the tree of life is still unclear.ĭespite bearing a superficial similarity to fungi, there are many aspects of the slime mold's biology that are strikingly unique. Molecular methods for grouping lifeforms by comparing their DNA have helped us better understand slime molds' distinct heritage.

This is because they typically occur in the same ecosystems as fungi, and because they produce structures to help spread their spores, much like their fungal cousins do. Since scientists first tried to classify slime molds, they have been wrongly grouped with plants, animals, and in particular, fungi. They are in fact much more ancient, and less closely related to fungi than even we are. zombies) are meant to be victims of a fungal pandemic, slime molds are not actually fungi at all. The show's opening credits and creature designs are inspired by the slime mold Physarum polycephalum.

Caffeine molecule mold