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Orange Bread Mold
A fast-growing orange bread mold and one of biology's classic model organisms. It has been used intensively in laboratories since 1941, including in the work behind the one gene-one enzyme hypothesis. In nature it forms orange blooms after fires, volcanic eruptions and slash-and-burn clearing. Its speed and airborne conidia make it a feared contaminant in labs and mushroom culture.
Not eaten as such. Neurospora species are regarded as non-pathogenic, and Perkins & Davis (2000) argued the conidiating species qualify as generally recognized as safe; the food mold for oncom is the related N. intermedia var. oncomensis.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
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