Fantastic Fungi Fundamentals
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Letter to the Editor
Asena Firouzi
Dear Editor of National Geographic,
As a grade 11 biology student who has read your article titled “The Superfood Qualities of Mushrooms” , I am going to respond to its content. I believe the article does a good job of raising awareness and correcting many misconceptions about mushrooms and other edible fungi. I agree with many of the points made as this could be a very beneficial article for all especially children and the elderly. The article highlights how many people suffer from lack of knowledge and believe that mushrooms should not be eaten due to; lack of flavour, calories, and nutrients. This is still widely believed since mushrooms are often neglected in most households. Many children refuse to eat most vegetables, let alone mushrooms. This is very common and should not be alarming at all, as it doesn’t make sense for children (with massive energy needs) to eat foods that don’t provide them with energy. As they instinctively prefer foods which can provide them with calories that are converted to energy (especially in the form of glucose), most children will refuse to eat nutritious vegetables. Most vegetables are not calorically dense, which means they don’t provide the necessary energy a child needs. In fact, many vegetables contain more indigestible fiber than calories which makes the body use just as much energy to digest the food than the food contains in the first place. As such, children will turn away most beneficial fungi, especially those that aren't eaten often (i.e oyster mushrooms, truffles, etc.). Although this is normal child behaviour, this often leads to obesity. Children begin to eat an unbalanced diet which does not include vegetables. Out of all the vegetables, mushrooms are one of the highest in nutrients. Some of these nutrients are extremely beneficial to children and elderly who are in need of nutrients. For children, these nutrients are needed for proper growth. For the elderly, there are antioxidants such as ergothioneine and glutathione that can help prevent issues that may come with the aging process (such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s). The issue discussed in the article is perfect to help educate the public about the benefits of mushrooms. Thank you for writing this eye opening article.
Sincerely,
Asena Firouzi
Biology and Business
Asena Firouzi
Asena Firouzi
In the past, scientists knew that certain molds could be used to kill certain types of bacteria. However, it was necessary to understand how to use this antibacterial microbe and to manufacture enough of the substance in order to produce an effective medicine. Many pharmaceutical companies now exist that offer the antibiotic, penicillin. The process occurs as Penicillium mold naturally produces the antibiotic penicillin and is transformed through the following steps; Penicillium mold is placed in deep fermentation tanks by adding a kind of sugar and other ingredients. This increases the growth of Penicillium. The Penicillin product is separated from the mold and purified for use as an antibiotic. Penicillin is created using the fungi called Penicillium chrysogenum. It works by killing bacteria by interfering with the ability to synthesize cell wall (peptidoglycan). This weakens the cell walls of dividing bacteria, so they burst and die because of osmotic pressure. Penicillin is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic and is more effective against Gram-positive bacteria.
This company is worth investing in because health care tends to do well in stock markets. The demand for health care is constant and never neglected. Meaning, most people won’t reduce their consumption of health care products and services no matter how much their prices rise. This is because medicine and health care is ultimately necessary when someone is in need. It is not an option to buy or not to buy when saving a life. With populations aging throughout the developed world, (not just in Canada) the demand for health care continues to grow. As the elderly get sick more often than younger people, they tend to need medication to and time to recover. Most penicillins are covered by the Canadian health plan, but if you were to be buying the antibiotic it would cost anywhere between $10 to $30. It's a cheap price to pay for such an effective medication that can treat many types of bacterial infections such as; upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections. lower respiratory infections, ear infections, and skin infections.
The average price of the medication is reasonable and has had plenty of success in the market. In the developing world, healthcare is one of the most important aspects of society. It is 100% necessary to prevent many preventable deaths. It will always remain something that people purchase thus, making it a steady investment to make. As time progresses, more effective and technologically advanced medicines and treatments will be researched and developed, making the world of health care an evolving and foolproof investment. In conclusion, I would invest in a pharmaceutical company that produces penicillin from fungi because health care is always in demand and would produce a consistent amount of money without risk of fluctuations.
