In 2019, the Paris Zoological Park unveiled a new exhibit that quickly captured global attention. The creature, nicknamed “the blob,” is not a product of science fiction but a living organism. This mysterious, yellowish organism moves, eats, and possesses other strange abilities, all without a conventional body structure. Its debut sparked curiosity, presenting a biological puzzle that challenges common classifications of life.
Identifying the 2019 Blob
The “blob” is a species of slime mold known to science as Physarum polycephalum, which translates to the “many-headed slime.” They begin as single-celled organisms, but under the right conditions, they aggregate to form a single, large, cohesive mass. This collective structure, called a plasmodium, can move as one unit to explore its surroundings.
The organism’s classification is a subject of scientific discussion, as it is not a plant, an animal, or a fungus. Instead, Physarum polycephalum belongs to the kingdom Protista, a diverse group that includes organisms like amoebas.
In its natural environment, Physarum polycephalum is typically found in damp, dark places like forest floors, thriving on decaying leaves and logs. Its diet consists of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungal spores, and other microbes. The Paris Zoo cultivated its specimen by feeding it oatmeal, which it appears to favor.
Unusual Abilities of a Brainless Organism
Despite lacking a brain or nervous system, Physarum polycephalum exhibits behaviors that suggest a form of rudimentary intelligence. It can solve complex problems, such as navigating the most efficient path through a maze to find a food source. Researchers have observed it extending its vein-like tendrils to connect food sources, replicating the efficiency of modern transportation networks. It accomplishes this by leaving a slime trail, which it avoids retracing to explore new areas more effectively.
The organism also possesses a strong capacity for regeneration. If cut into pieces, each segment can survive and grow into a new, complete slime mold. This means the creature is nearly immortal, with its only significant threats being exposure to light and drought.
Individual slime molds can also fuse together. When two separate blobs meet, they can merge into a single, larger organism. If one of the merging individuals has learned information, such as the location of a food source, it can transfer this knowledge to the other.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The reproductive strategy of Physarum polycephalum is unconventional. Unlike organisms with two sexes, this slime mold has nearly 720 distinct mating types. These are not sexes in the traditional sense but are determined by a specific set of genes that governs which individuals are compatible for reproduction.
For reproduction to occur, two slime molds must have different mating types. This genetic mechanism prevents the organism from mating with itself, thereby promoting genetic diversity. When two compatible single-celled slime molds meet, they can fuse their genetic material to form a new, genetically distinct organism.
This complex system of mating types ensures a high degree of genetic shuffling, which is advantageous for adaptation. The sheer number of variants allows for many potential reproductive pairings within a population.