Mushroom poisoning

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mushroom-poisoning

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary toxin in death cap?Alpha-amanitin, an inhibitor of RNA polymerase II
2. What is the historical significance?Ancient Romans and Greeks were aware of and documented mushroom toxicity
3. What can happen if a child eats a poisonous mushroom?It can make them feel very sick, with stomach pain, and sometimes it hurts the liver or kidneys. In severe cases, it can be life‑threatening.
4. Why do some mushrooms that look yummy turn out to be dangerous?Many poisonous mushrooms look almost the same as the ones people eat. Inside, they have special toxins that can hurt the body.

Mycetism: A general term for poisoning by consumption of toxic mushrooms.
Amatoxins: A group of highly toxic cyclic peptides that inhibit RNA polymerase II.
Orellanine: A nephrotoxic compound found in certain Cortinarius species, causing kidney damage.
Morphologically Similar: Having a similar appearance or structure.