Bounce Mushroom Mutating

Function: Genetically alter/mutate rhodactis mushrooms

Inspiration: Bounce mushrooms are found in the wild, but hadn’t been successfully propagated in captivity. A single bounce mushroom can sell for thousands of dollars. I wanted one but buying a specimen was out of the question so I decided to try to grow my own.

Methods: Months of trial and error

• First, I tried to give the mushrooms cancer by exposing them to UVC and UVB radiation, thinking that the characteristic tumors/growths that are distinctive on bounce mushrooms were cancerous. This was unsuccessful.

• Next, I attempted to create a toxic, highly alkaline environment, thinking that the bounce mushroom growths were responses to certain stimuli. This, in addition to the radiation, made the project successful: over the course of four days, the mushrooms began to “bounce,” i.e. develop growths.

Outcome: Successful; I created a new mutation of a rhodactis mushroom. In 2018, the founder of Aquashella, the largest aquarium show in the country, invited me to keynote a presentation on my approach and results. I met many experts in the Reefing community and it was exciting to talk with them about shared passions.

Failures and Challenges: nothing significant. This whole project was one big experiment and I learned with each new method/attempt.