About Fungi

What are fungi?

For non-science types, we'll break down the definition word by word.  "they are eucaryotic, heterotrophic and absorptive..."
          a: Eucaryotic
          b: Heterotrophic
          c: Absorptive

Are fungi plants?

How are fungi important to the environment?

What are some uses of fungi?

What are mycologists?

What are fungi?
     A formal definition of fungi would include that they are eukaryotic, heterotrophic and absorptive organisms, which have cell walls, typically reproduce asexually and/or sexually by producing spores, and grow either reproductively by budding or nonreproductively by hyphal tip elongation.

What does that mean?
     For non-science types, we'll break down the definition word by word.  "they are eukaryotic, heterotrophic and absorptive..."

a: Eukaryotic
     All living things are made from cells.  Although there are many kinds of cells, the most broad difference between any two cells is whether they are eukaryotic or prokaryotic.  Eukaryotic refers specifically to cells that contain a well defined nucleus.  Eukaryotes (having cells that are eukaryotic) are also typically larger, contain membrane-bound structures (organelles), divide their chromosome complement by mitosis and/or meiosis, and usually have a sexual life cycle.  Animals, plants, and fungi are eukaryotic.  Prokaryotes (having cells that are prokaryotic) are usually smaller than eukaryotes, not compartmentalized by having organelles, and do not have a membrane-bound nucleus.  Bacteria are prokaryotic.

b: Heterotrophic
     Heterotrophic organisms require nutrients that have been preprocessed by other life forms - in contrast to autotrophic organisms,  which are able to make their own food from simple molecules. Animals (including humans) and fungi are all heterotrophs.  Nearly all plants (with the exception of carnivorous and some parasitic plants) are autotrophic -- they only require water, carbon dioxide, light and mineral nutrients to thrive. 

c: Absorptive
     Fungi obtain food by taking it up with water and other dissolved substances across an outer membrane that is located directly inside their cell wall; they are not phagocytic or ingestive. 

(Back to the top)

Are fungi plants?
     No!...There are currently a minimum of five kingdoms of life, with most modern biologists suggesting many more.  Fungi belong to Kingdom Fungi while plants belong to Kingdom Plantae.  Fungi are not plants.  They are plant-like organisms that lack chlorophyll and absorb food from their many habitats.  They don't require sunlight for their growth, so fungi can live in dark places.
     Fungal Nutrition - Absorptive
     Plant Nutrition - Photosynthetic

(Back to the top)

How are fungi important to the environment?
     Fungi can be helpful or even harmful in some cases, but they all are important in the ecosystem.  Fungi are considered to be one of the earth's great recyclers, because they decompose (rot) dead plants, animals and other organic matters into soil.  They are essential to the health of soil in crop fields, vegetable gardens and forests.

(Back to the top)

 What are some uses of fungi?
     Fungi have been deeply associated with the food we eat everyday.  Edible mushrooms would be one of the best examples.  We have them on our pizza or in our soup and salads.  Some yeast fungi are required for us to make beer, cheese, bread, soy sauce, and many molds are also used to help make may other kinds of food products. They also are used to make many important drugs like penicillin.

(Back to the top)

What are mycologists?
     Mycology is the study of fungi.  Mycologists are the scientists who study fungi. Medical mycologists study fungi that cause disease (mycosis), and  drugs and treatments to cure fungal infections. Many plant pathologists also study fungi, but in their case the fungi are those that cause diseases of plants.

(Back to the top)