Kingdom Fungi
Questions
1. All fungi are eukaryotic, heterotrophic and can reproduce by spores. Fungi do not carry out photosynthesis . There are two growth patterns for fungi. They can be single celled, such as yeast, or grow large and the can form hyphae. They contain cross walls which divide the hyphae into different compartments. Each compartment has one or two nuclei. The cross walls have openings allowing cytoplasm and other organelles to move. The large amount of hyphae below the ground is the mycelium. The body grows from the mycelium. Fungi could reproduce both sexually or asexually.
2. To get their nutrients, fungi do not go through photosynthesis. Instead, fungi produce enzymes that digest food sources outside of their body. Small molecules are released by the enzymes and absorbed by the fungi. Majority of fungi feed from decaying objects in the soil. Fungi are decomposers.
3. Fungi have evolved a structure called the mycelium. The mycelium is a mass of hyphae that allows for the large surface area and rapid growth. Mycelium can form bodies, such as mushrooms.
4. The cell walls of fungi contain chitin, plants do not. Chitin is a polymer and is also found on the exoskeletons of insects. Since fungi contain chitin, they are more closely related to animals than plants.
5. In the ecosystem, fungi are the decomposers. The decompose the dead and decaying matter around them. They recycle this matter and release the elements (carbon and nitrogen) back into the ecosystem to be used again. Without them, these resources would be lost. Also, the remains of animals and other materials are broken down and returned to the soil to be reused by other organisms. Fungi also help plants absorb the nutrients they need from the soil, which then helps the ecosystem in countless ways by helping the plant.
6. One way fungi are important to humans is that they serve as a food source. Different fungi are often found in many dishes and serve as good source for many vitamins, such as vitamin B and vitamin D. Also, yeast is used in a staple to the human diet; bread. Without yeast, many breads would not be made and the human diet would lack the amount of grains and carbohydrates that we need. A second way fungi are very important to humans is that they are used medically. Fungi can produce antibiotics that can kill or limit the growth of bacteria. An example of a drug that can isolated from fungi is penicillin. Also, the medicine that is given to patients after an organ transplant to reduce the risk of rejection is derived for fungi. A third way fungi benefit humans is that they can break down and filter out chemicals in water. The Oyster Mushroom aid humans in cleaning up oil spills. By cleaning up the spill, it helps to prevent damage that can be done by that spill and allows humans to continue using the body of water as a food source (fish), or as a mode of transportation, or for trade.
Below are pictures of microscopic and macroscopic pictures of specimen in the fungi kingdom.
2. To get their nutrients, fungi do not go through photosynthesis. Instead, fungi produce enzymes that digest food sources outside of their body. Small molecules are released by the enzymes and absorbed by the fungi. Majority of fungi feed from decaying objects in the soil. Fungi are decomposers.
3. Fungi have evolved a structure called the mycelium. The mycelium is a mass of hyphae that allows for the large surface area and rapid growth. Mycelium can form bodies, such as mushrooms.
4. The cell walls of fungi contain chitin, plants do not. Chitin is a polymer and is also found on the exoskeletons of insects. Since fungi contain chitin, they are more closely related to animals than plants.
5. In the ecosystem, fungi are the decomposers. The decompose the dead and decaying matter around them. They recycle this matter and release the elements (carbon and nitrogen) back into the ecosystem to be used again. Without them, these resources would be lost. Also, the remains of animals and other materials are broken down and returned to the soil to be reused by other organisms. Fungi also help plants absorb the nutrients they need from the soil, which then helps the ecosystem in countless ways by helping the plant.
6. One way fungi are important to humans is that they serve as a food source. Different fungi are often found in many dishes and serve as good source for many vitamins, such as vitamin B and vitamin D. Also, yeast is used in a staple to the human diet; bread. Without yeast, many breads would not be made and the human diet would lack the amount of grains and carbohydrates that we need. A second way fungi are very important to humans is that they are used medically. Fungi can produce antibiotics that can kill or limit the growth of bacteria. An example of a drug that can isolated from fungi is penicillin. Also, the medicine that is given to patients after an organ transplant to reduce the risk of rejection is derived for fungi. A third way fungi benefit humans is that they can break down and filter out chemicals in water. The Oyster Mushroom aid humans in cleaning up oil spills. By cleaning up the spill, it helps to prevent damage that can be done by that spill and allows humans to continue using the body of water as a food source (fish), or as a mode of transportation, or for trade.
Below are pictures of microscopic and macroscopic pictures of specimen in the fungi kingdom.