And if all mold spores went extinct suddenly, would the world be better or worse?
In: Biology
The most common mold on the planet, the green stuff that grows in your refrigerator, is called trichoderma, and it [stimulates the growth of plants and protects them from pathogens](http://www.plantprotection.pl/Trichoderma-spp-application-and-prospects-for-use-in-organic-farming-and-industry,93508,0,2.html) Trichoderma spores are toxic to humans in high doses, but absolutely necessary to healthy soil.
More generally, mold is just fungus that has a short life cycle. It breaks down dead stuff, and returns nutrients to the soil. Fungi that produce mushrooms do the same thing, but they have a longer life cycle than mold. Fungus turns death into something that can sustain life; they are absolutely essential to life.
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