Eukaryotes - Fungi

Question 1

Are fungi photosynthetic?

Answer 1

No. Fungi do not have chlorophyll and can’t photosynthesise. Instead, they’re heterotrophs, meaning they obtain their nutrients by breaking down organic matter.

Question 2

What are the two functions of pigments in fungi?

Answer 2

1. Provides UV protection
2. Provides protection from predators since pigments are toxics

Question 3

What is the molecule found in the cell walls of fungi? Is this the same molecule found in plant cell walls? Is it the same molecule found in animal cells?

Answer 3

Chitin! No. But, it’s a carbohydrate that’s closely related to function of cellulose (plants). No (animals don’t have cell walls)

Question 4

What are the two states in the fungus life cycle?

Answer 4

1. Vegetative:
   not reproducing, just growing in environment.
   e.g., bread
2. Reproductive:
   asexual or sexual; spores are released into the environment, germinate, and produce a vegetative structure.
   e.g., mushrooms

Question 5

How is the growth form (what it looks like) different in each of the two states?

Answer 5

1. Vegetative:
   grows as threads in their habitat.
2. Reproductive:
   produces structure for the creation and dispersal of spores.

Question 6

Why would a fungus use energy and resources to produce millions or trillions of spores?

Answer 6

Increased chances of reproduction success

Question 7

What does heterotrophic mean?

Answer 7

Obtains energy and nutrients by consuming molecules from environment

Question 8

How do fungi get nutrients if they do not consume molecules from their environment?

Answer 8

release digestive enzymes into habitat and absorbs the products of digestion

Question 9

What does saprobe mean??

Answer 9

Digest dead or decaying matter

Question 10

Why are fungi so important for the cycling of nutrients?

Answer 10

Bc they can digest cellulose and ligmin

Question 11

How can fungi be used to clean contaminants from the environment?

Answer 11

Bioremediation: the use of microbes to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater

Question 12

How is ergot a problem for human food systems while it is growing and after it is dead?

Answer 12

While growing: Ergot infects crops and produces toxins that contaminate grains, making them dangerous for human consumption.

After death: can continue to affect crops in subsequent growing seasons and causing economic damage due to contamination and loss of harvest.

Question 13

What is an example of a plant parasite that is an infection that humans want for making food?

Answer 13

fungal infections on some varieties are used to flavour wine

Question 14

Why is it difficult to treat a fungal infection in an animal?

Answer 14

fungi are eukaryotes, like animal hosts, so treatments impact the host and fungus → difficult to target the fungus

Question 15

Why might the body not get stressed and have a big immune response to a cutaneous fungal
infection such as ringworm?

Answer 15

Bc it’s a superficial, slow-growing infection that the immune system can usually control without triggering widespread systemic inflammation

Question 16

How does an infection of the fungus that causes valley fever enter the body?

Answer 16

Through inhaling fungal spores; the spores become airborne when the soil is disturbed and can be inhaled into the lungs, where they cause infection.

Question 17

What happens to cause an infection that is caused by an opportunistic fungus?

Answer 17

When a normally harmless fungus takes advantage of a weakened immune system or disrupted microbial balance to overgrow and cause disease.

Question 18

Why might consuming yogurt with live bacterial cultures be helpful while taking antibiotics for a bacterial infection?

Answer 18

Bc yogurt is actually made of bacteria too; can help replace the beneficial bacteria that antibiotics may kill