Fungi questions What makes an organism a fungus? Describe the basic characterist
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Fungi questions
What makes an organism a fungus? Describe the basic characteristics of fungi. Include information about the structure. metabolism and reproduction of fungi. (50-100 words) How are fungi different from plants and algae? How are fungi different from protozoa? How are fungi different from animals? How are fungi different from bacteria? (50 words) Describe the 4 major fungal divisions and how fungi are classified into those divisions. (In other words, what characteristic is used to determine which division a fungus belongs in?) (50 words)Explanation / Answer
What makes an organism a fungus? Describe the basic characteristics of fungi. Include information about the structure, metabolism and reproduction of fungi.
Fungus is a member of the group Eukaryotic and is different from others as the cell walls of fungus contain Chitin.
The basic characteristics of fungi
The kingdom fungi include mushrooms, molds, yeasts, rusts etc. They can be found everywhere and are microscopic or macroscopic. Mycology is the branch which delas with the study of fungi. Fungi will appear similar to plants and are closely related to the animals also. These are not capable of producing their own food and will get from others.
Structure of the fungi:
The body of fungus is known as mycelium (a matt of thin and tangled threads). Hyphae are the individual thread like strands (one cell thick, but many cells long) and the cell wall is made of chitin.
Metabolism of fungi
Most fungi are decomposers, and will break down organic material like dead animals and plants by releasing digestive enzymes. The hyphae will absorb the digested compounds. Store their food as starch. Fungi will follow glucose metabolism, non carbohydrates function as sole sources of C (through gluconeogenesis glucose will be produced). These provide precursors for cell wall. Through glycolysis, will breakdown the glucose to release energy and pyruvic acid. EMP (Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas), HMP (Hexose monophosphate) and ED (Entner-Duodoroff) are the three pathways for hexoses. XP (Xylitol pathway) and PK (phosphoketolase pathway) are the pathways to utilize pentoses. Three types of fermentation can be found, Alcoholic, Lactic acid and Mixed acid fermentation.
Reproduction of fungi
They reproduce by means of spores (produce sexual or asexual spores based on the species). The sexual state is known as teleomorph and asexual state is known as anamorph. Spores are the small reproductive cells released from the gills. Exhibit alternation of generations.
How are fungi different from plants and algae? How are fungi different from protozoa? How are fungi different from animals? How are fungi different from bacteria?
Fungi
Plants
Algae
Cell wall is composed of chitin
Cell wall is composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectin
Cell wall is composed of carbohydrates cellulose
Chlorophyll absent
Chlorophyll present
Chlorophyll present
Fungi are heterotrophs (cannot prepare their own food)
Most plants are autotrophs
Algae are autotrophs (can prepare their food)
Fungi
Protozoa
Cell wall is present
Cell wall is absent
Most are non motile
Most are motile
Fungi
Animals
Will secrete digestive enzyme to digest outside and then it will absorb the nutrients
Animals ingest the food first, then carry out the digestion process internally
Fungi have cell wall (made of chitin, mannans and glucans)
Cell wall is absent
Fungi
Bacteria
Multicellualr, eukaryotic organisms
Single celled prokaryotes
Nuclear membrane present
Nuclear membrane absent
80S ribosome present
70S ribosome present
Cell wall is made of peptidoglycan
Cell wall is made of chitin, glucan, mannan
Forms endospores for survival
Endospores are formed for reproduction
Describe the 4 major fungal divisions and how fungi are classified into those divisions.
This classification is based on the way the fungus reproduces sexually
Zygomycota
Use zygospores to reproduce Egx. Bread mold
Ascomycota
Use ascus for reproduction Ex. Yeasts, cup fungi
Basidiomycota
Use basidia to reproduce. Ex. Mushrooms, puffballs, rusts
Deuteromycota
Will not undergo sexual reproduction (Fungi imperfecti). Ex. Penicillium
Fungi
Plants
Algae
Cell wall is composed of chitin
Cell wall is composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectin
Cell wall is composed of carbohydrates cellulose
Chlorophyll absent
Chlorophyll present
Chlorophyll present
Fungi are heterotrophs (cannot prepare their own food)
Most plants are autotrophs
Algae are autotrophs (can prepare their food)
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