Fungus that Blows Its Top

Genesis 1:11
“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.”

God doesn’t make cheap things! While we speak of “simple” forms of life, the more we learn about living things, the more clearly we see that there are no simple forms of life.

Evolution has long theorized that life began with simple forms that gradually, over millions of years, became more complex. Evolutionary scientists say that the “simple” forms of life still around today prove their claim. The problem is, there aren’t any simple forms of life! Take the “lowly” fungus, for example. The cap throwing fungus has a number of dandy designs that enable it to spread its reproductive spores. First of all, the cap throwing fungus has a built in clock. The fungus bends through the day in response to the sun’s movement. It also throws its masses of spores out in order to spread them over the widest possible area.

The built in clock of the cap throwing fungus waits to blow its top until the fungus is turned at the best angle to produce the widest possible spread of its spores. The light sensing system in the fungus releases the spores at about nine in the morning – aiming the spores at an area that is most likely to be open, so the spores can be spread even further by animals. But whether the spores land where animals pass or on a leaf, they are coated with a glue to aid in further dispersion.

The lowly fungus reminds us that there aren’t any simple forms of life. Even this fungus has been given sophisticated ways to carry out its command to reproduce after its kind.

Prayer:
Dear Father, there are none of us who are so simple or unimportant You have not enabled us to do Your will. Help me to always remember that sin is of my making, and to come to my Savior, Jesus Christ, for cleansing. In His Name. Amen.

Notes:
Howe, George F. 1972. “The cap thrower fungus.” Creation Research Society Quarterly, v. 9, n. 3, Dec. p. 172. A slow-motion video showing the fungus blowing its top can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5teg5DOIGC8. Photo: The spore discharge of Pilobolus crystallinus has been called the fastest living thing on the planet. Courtesy of F.H. Wigg.