False-colour scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the soil bacterium Streptomyces lividans, showing the formation of a spiral spore chain (orange). S. lividans is a natural producer of the antibiotic Streptomycin. A member of the Actinomycetes group, the bacterium shares many characteristics with the fungi. The bacteria grow in the soil as a branching network of filaments, known as a mycelium (yellow). They also produce aerial mycelium, from the tips of which develop spore chains of indefinite length. When spores of the kind shown here are mature, they rupture & are dispersed on the wind. Magnification: x6500 at 6x4.5cm size.