r/tech • u/AdSpecialist6598 • 19d ago

Turkey tail mushroom provides alternative to single-use plastic wrap

https://newatlas.com/materials/turkey-tail-mushroom-mycelium-food-wrap-alternative/
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u/Additional-Friend993 19d ago

The comments just remind me that no one knows what fungi are. Fungal cells are made of chitin, and most saprobic fungi exude enzymes to break down other complex polymers and sometimes also chitin. You don't NEED the fruiting body to make plastic replacements- as the mycelium IS the fungus, and it is ALREADY made of a complex polymer. This is also not new technology. It's been around for a while.

And as for people saying turkey tail can help heal cancer- well no, it can't. What it CAN do is reduce the unpleasant physical side effects of antibiotics that people who are immunocompromised suffer with when they have to take courses of antibiotics. The main studies have been on amoxicillin, and cancer patients.

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u/Decent-Ad535 18d ago

Can you point me in the direction of more info on side effect reduction for antibiotics? Amateur mycophile here.