The Fabulous Fungi

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09/12/2008

Sep. 12, 2008

The Fabulous Fungi

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Everyone gets excited about shiitakes and truffles, but what about the rest of the fungal kingdom -- the yeasts, molds, and other wee beasties? On one hand, fungi are responsible for the bread we eat, the beer we drink, and the flavor of certain cheeses. They also help break down organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil. On the other hand, scientists say fungi cost millions each year in disease and infection. Yet good or bad, we know little about them. In this hour of Science Friday, we'll explore the good, the bad, and the tasty, as we take a look at that underappreciated and often poorly understood fifth kingdom -- the fungi.

Produced by Annette Heist, Senior Producer

Guests

Kelli Hoover
Associate Professor, Entomology

Penn State University

State College, Pennsylvania
Arturo Casadevall
Principal Investigator

Professor, Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases)

Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Chairman, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Bronx, New York
David Fischer
Mycologist, AmericanMushrooms.com

Author, "Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America" (University of Texas Press, 1992)

Coauthor, "Mushrooms of Northeastern North America" (Syracuse University Press, 1997)

Syracuse, New York
Kathie Hodge
Associate Professor, Mycology

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

Sep. 12, 2008