Fungi

Question 1

Fungi: what domain?

Answer 1

Eukarya

Question 2

Size range of fungi

Answer 2

Single cell (yeast) to 3-mile wide (honey mushroom)

Question 3

Do fungi contain chlorophyll? What kind of cell membranes do they have? What are their cell walls made up of, and what is this compound a polymer of?

Answer 3

No chlorophyll
Plasma membrane
Cell walls of chitin (polymer of N-acetylglucosamine)

Question 4

2 methods of fungi nutrition: names, how they work

Answer 4

Saprophytes (obtain nutrients from dead organic matter)

Absorptive (secrete enzymes, then absorb broken-down nutrients)

Question 5

Fungi are able to break down many complex ____ ____, including ____.

Answer 5

Organic compounds

Cellulose

Question 6

What would happen without fungi?

Answer 6

Dead plants and trees would accumulate to great depths

No fungal activity -> no CO2 production -> plant and animal life would cease

Question 7

What is the term for the study of fungi?

Answer 7

Mycology

Question 8

What is the term for diseases caused by fungi?

Answer 8

Mycoses

Question 9

What is the term for poisoning by fungal toxins?

Answer 9

Mycotoxicosis

Question 10

Aflatoxins: what are they, how do they work, what genus of fungi is a major source of them?

Answer 10

Carcinogens produced by fungi
Intercalate between DNA bases, causing mutations
Aspergillus is a major source of aflatoxins

Question 11

Ergot alkaloids: similar structure to what drug? Symptoms of ingestion? What 2 conditions are they used to treat? What genus of fungi produces them?

Answer 11

LSD
Delusions and convulsions
Treat migraines and induce labor
Produced by Claviceps

Question 12

Fungi: habitats (3), pathogenic or not

Answer 12

Habitats: mostly terrestrial, some aquatic, can be part of human microflora
Can be pathogenic

Question 13

Symbiotic forms of fungi (2): type of fungi and organism it forms association with

Answer 13

Lichens: fungi and Cyanobacteria

Mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots

Question 14

What percentage of land plants form symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi?

Answer 14

80%

Question 15

How does symbiotic association of plants and mycorrhizal fungi work?

Answer 15

Fungus provides the plant with nutrients and water uptake

Plant provides carbohydrate to fungus

Question 16

Name for unicellular fungi

Answer 16

Yeasts

Question 17

2 type of yeast (genus and species): characteristics

Answer 17

Saccharomyces cerevisiae: used to make bread, beer, and wine
Candida albicans: microflora of mouth, vagina, and intestinal tract; cause of thrush (infection caused by overgrowth in mouth)

Question 18

Name for multicellular fungi

Answer 18

Molds

Question 19

Hyphae

Answer 19

Filaments of mold

Question 20

Hyphae can be _____ or ______. What do these 2 terms mean?

Answer 20

Coenocytic (no cross walls)

Septate (cross walls)

Question 21

Mycelium

Answer 21

Mass of hyphae

Question 22

Can fungi change from yeast to mold form?

Answer 22

Yes

Question 23

Asexual reproduction yields offspring that are _____ to parent.

Answer 23

Identical

Question 24

3 mechanisms of asexual reproduction of fungi

Answer 24

Binary fission
Budding
Spore production

Question 25

2 examples of spores produced by asexual reproduction

Answer 25

Conidiospores | Sporangiospores

Question 26

Fungal sexual reproduction often occurs under what 2 conditions?

Answer 26

Stress | Nutrient-limiting

Question 27

Offspring of sexual reproduction are genetically _____ between 2 parents (mating types).

Answer 27

Intermediate

Question 28

In sexual reproduction, ______ cells of ______ mating types fuse.

Answer 28

Haploid | Opposite

Question 29

What is used for signalling between mating types during sexual reproduction?

Answer 29

Pheromones

Question 30

In Saccharomyces, mating types are designated ____ and ____.

Answer 30

A | Alpha

Question 31

Dikaryon

Answer 31

Single hypha with 2 distinct nuclei created by fusion in sexual reproduction

Question 32

When nuclei fuse in sexual reproduction, a ______ _____ is formed.

Answer 32

Diploid zygote

Question 33

What process forms haploid spores?

Answer 33

Meiosis

Question 34

2 types of haploid spores produced through meiosis

Answer 34

Zygospores | Ascospores

Question 35

How many total subdivisions of fungi? What is the term "subdivision" equivalent to in taxonomy?

Answer 35

8 total subdivisions | Subdivision = phyla

Question 36

4 best-known subdivisions of fungi

Answer 36

Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota

Question 37

Members of subdivision Chytridiomycota are often referred to as _____.

Answer 37

Chytrids

Question 38

Chytridiomycota: complex or simple fungi? Environment?

Answer 38

Simplest fungi | Aquatic

Question 39

Are Chytridiomycota motile? If so, what do they use for motility? What are these motile cells called?

Answer 39

Motile Flagella Zoospore

Question 40

Chytridiomycosis

Answer 40

Chytrid infection causing massive frog deaths

Question 41

Zygomycota: name for sexually-produced spores, name for asexually-produced spores

Answer 41

Sexual: zygospores Asexual: sporangiospores

Question 42

Example genus of Zygomycota: what is it

Answer 42

Rhizopus: bread mold

Question 43

What are some commercial uses for Rhizopus? (2)

Answer 43

``` Meat tenderizer (using enzymes produced by fungus) Birth control agents ```

Question 44

Rhizopus can act as a pathogen of what type of organism? What is the name of the disease it causes?

Answer 44

Plant | Rice seedling blight

Question 45

Does Rhizopus toxin cause rice seedling blight? If not, what organism does?

Answer 45

No | Caused by Burkholderia growing within fungus

Question 46

Ascomycota: what iconic structure? What is the name of this structure from which Ascomycota gets its name?

Answer 46

Sac | Ascus

Question 47

Ascomycota: name for sexually-produced spores, name for asexually-produced spores

Answer 47

Sexual: ascospores (in ascus) Asexual: conidiospores

Question 48

3 well-known genera of Ascomycota

Answer 48

Saccharomyces Aspergillus Penicillium

Question 49

Name of Ascomycota genus and species that causes lung infections

Answer 49

Histoplasma capsulatum

Question 50

Name of disease Histoplasma capsulatum causes and how it works (2 steps)

Answer 50

Histoplasmosis Mold spores are inhaled Spores germinate into yeast in lung

Question 51

Name of Ascomycota genus that causes disease in bats

Answer 51

Pseudogymnoascus

Question 52

Name of disease Pseudogymnoascus causes in bats: what parts of bat does it infect?

Answer 52

White nose syndrome | Infects skin of hibernating bats (not just nose)

Question 53

What type of extremophile is Pseudogymnoascus?

Answer 53

Psychrophile

Question 54

Basidiomycota are referred to as the _____ fungi.

Answer 54

Club

Question 55

What is the name of the Basidiomycota structure that bears sexually-produced spores? What are those spores called? Where is this structure found on the Basidiomycota?

Answer 55

Basidium Basidiospores In the gills of the Basidiomycota, on the underside of the cap

Question 56

2 examples of Basidiomycota (general for one, genus and species for the other)

Answer 56

Mushroom | Cryptococcus neoformans

Question 57

2 genera of mushrooms: which one is edible, which is poisonous

Answer 57

Agaricus is edible | Amanita is not

Question 58

Amanita include what type of mushroom?

Answer 58

Death angel

Question 59

What toxin does Amanita produce? What does the toxin target?

Answer 59

``` Produces amanitin (peptide toxin) Targets RNA polymerase ```

Question 60

Cryptococcus neoformans: pathogenic? If so, what populations?

Answer 60

Pathogen in AIDS and immunocompromised

Question 61

How does Cryptococcus neoformans enter the body? What parts of the body does it affect?

Answer 61

Basidiospores are inhaled (one source is pigeon droppings) | Infects lungs and CNS (can cross the blood-brain barrier)

Question 62

2 virulence factors of Cryptococcus neoformans

Answer 62

Capsule | Pigment that has cytotoxic functions