Diversity of Life: Fungi
Biology:
Unit 1: Diversity Of Life
Fungi
Fungi: are multi-cellular heterotrophs that use external digestion, and often grow out of sight, underground
→ fungi have nothing in common with plants other then the fact that they are stationary, and grow in the ground. They are not photosynthetic, and they do not produce their own food.
Characteristics/ Cell Structure: * Mesh like bodies, composed of branching networks of filaments called mycelium * Mycelium: a branched mass of hyphae * Hyphae are thin filaments that make up the body of a fungus, they consist of long tubes of cytoplasm containing many nuclei * Cytoplasm is contained in a cell wall made of chitin
Life Cycle
Haploid: a single set of unpaired chromosomes
Diploid: two complete sets of chromosomes from each parent
Dikaryotic: a cell containing two separate nuclei
* The life cycle of most fungi involve the haploid individuals that reproduce both sexually and asexually
1. Spores produce hyphae with haploid nuclei 2. Hyphae fuse together to form Dikaryotic cell 3. Hyphae grow into large mycelium 4. Mycelium matures into mushroom cap with gills 5. Basidium on gills produces spores 6. Haploid nuclei fuse to form diploid zygote 7. Zygotes produce new haploid nuclei which becomes basidiospores (released as spores)
Zygote: formed by the fusion of two different sex cells, such as sperm and an egg
Importance
* Fungi, along with bacteria are the major decomposers on Earth, they are responsible for the cycling of nutrients throughout the biosphere * Fungi as well engage in symbiotic relationships with plants * Plants rely on fungi to help obtain nutrients from the soil * Without the help of fungi, the plant growth and productivity would decrease severely
Environment Impact * Fungi are responsible for some animal and plant diseases * Fungi can rot wood, and damage buildings * The introduction of non-native fungi species have
Unit 1: Diversity Of Life
Fungi
Fungi: are multi-cellular heterotrophs that use external digestion, and often grow out of sight, underground
→ fungi have nothing in common with plants other then the fact that they are stationary, and grow in the ground. They are not photosynthetic, and they do not produce their own food.
Characteristics/ Cell Structure: * Mesh like bodies, composed of branching networks of filaments called mycelium * Mycelium: a branched mass of hyphae * Hyphae are thin filaments that make up the body of a fungus, they consist of long tubes of cytoplasm containing many nuclei * Cytoplasm is contained in a cell wall made of chitin
Life Cycle
Haploid: a single set of unpaired chromosomes
Diploid: two complete sets of chromosomes from each parent
Dikaryotic: a cell containing two separate nuclei
* The life cycle of most fungi involve the haploid individuals that reproduce both sexually and asexually
1. Spores produce hyphae with haploid nuclei 2. Hyphae fuse together to form Dikaryotic cell 3. Hyphae grow into large mycelium 4. Mycelium matures into mushroom cap with gills 5. Basidium on gills produces spores 6. Haploid nuclei fuse to form diploid zygote 7. Zygotes produce new haploid nuclei which becomes basidiospores (released as spores)
Zygote: formed by the fusion of two different sex cells, such as sperm and an egg
Importance
* Fungi, along with bacteria are the major decomposers on Earth, they are responsible for the cycling of nutrients throughout the biosphere * Fungi as well engage in symbiotic relationships with plants * Plants rely on fungi to help obtain nutrients from the soil * Without the help of fungi, the plant growth and productivity would decrease severely
Environment Impact * Fungi are responsible for some animal and plant diseases * Fungi can rot wood, and damage buildings * The introduction of non-native fungi species have