INTRODUCTION

According to Hudler (pg. 230-34), the scientific community, spurred by new enthusiasm for the potential uses of fungi in industrial processes-including synthesis of pharmaceuticals-and introduction of new technologies for studying all aspects of fungal biology, brings us into a time of rapid and profound transition. Areas of inquiry that we will hear more about as the twenty-first century continues include:

Plant diseases. Engineering of disease-resistant plants and crops with other desirable characteristics
Mycoses. Prevention or treatment of benign fungi which become serious pathogens resulting from our use of drugs that depress our immune systems
Drugs from Fungi. Discovery of drugs from molds/fungi to manage bacterial diseases, hypertension, mycoses, and a wide array of other human ills. Increased attention paid to identifying and assaying microbes from the tropical rain forests.
Yeasts and Yeast Technology. Engineering yeasts for improved palatability and use as protein sources, especially in burgeoning Third World countries.
Wood decay Fungi. Using white rot fungi to lesson the damage by conversion of wood to pulp for paper and other products.
Pest Management. The use of fungi such as Entomophaga maimaiga and other endophytic fungi as agents of biocontrol.
Symbiotic Association of Fungi with Plants. The commercial distribution of fungi for application to roots of new transplants and established trees.
FINAL ASSIGNMENT

Write a three page paper (double spaced, #12 font using times new roman font face) predicting how fungi will significantly impact human affairs in the 21st century in at least four of the seven areas identified above. Support your assertions using evidence extracted from your texts, Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds and/or The Fifth Kingdom. Cite at least one additional source for each area identified (minimum 4 additional sources; 5 total). Your paper should include:

1. A title

2. An introductory paragraph

3. A summary of where we are now and changes we can expect over the next ___years for each of the areas chosen (see example below)

4. Evidence from Hudler and/or Kendrick and at least one other source documenting/supporting your claims and predictions for each area chosen.

5. A concluding paragraph. (more than two sentences please).

6. Recommendations for further readings (one article per area chosen)

EXAMPLE: Suppose one of the areas of inquiry you chose was “Bio-remediation.”