Fungi- Lecture 3

Question 1

What are eukaryotic microbes?

Answer 1

fungi, protists, algae and slime moulds

Question 2

What does fungi contain?

Answer 2

cell walls

Question 3

what do protists not contain?

Answer 3

no cell walls

Question 4

What are fungi?

Answer 4

A Diverse group- based on morphology made up of
unicellular (yeasts)
multicellular (moulds) and are Chemoorganotrophic heterotrophs that are involved in decomposition of organic matter.

Question 5

Where do fungi inhabit?

Answer 5

soil and water

Question 6

How does fungi reproduce?

Answer 6

by spores in means of asexual and sexual stages

Question 7

What are moulds?

Answer 7

Non-photosynthetic, plant-like organisms. They are multicellular, filamentous organisms with Rigid cell walls made of
Chitin and other CHO polymers

Question 8

what is an important feature of moulds?

Answer 8

Hypha- “Tube” containing many different nuclei with shared cytoplasmic components. Hyphal mat enlarges to become visible mycelium and these mycelium can be vegetative and ariel mycelium

Question 9

What is the vegetative mycelium?

Answer 9

extends into growth medium to extract nutrients.

Question 10

What is the ariel mycelium?

Answer 10

seen above the surface of the growth medium and contains reproductive structures

Question 11

Where are spores produced?

Answer 11

Within a sac called a sporangium. The spores within the sporangium are called sporangiospores.

Question 12

What is fungal taxonomy based upon?

Answer 12

1. Morphological characteristics
2. Reproductive characteristics
3. DNA sequences 18s rRNA gene

Question 13

What are yeasts?

Answer 13

Belong to the Ascomycota subdiivision. They are
Unicellular
(filamentous stages possible but rarely observed) and larger than bacteria (x10) and normally round/oval.
Contain cell walls made of chitin or other sugar polymers.

Question 14

Is yeast diploid or haploid?

Answer 14

Haploid

Question 15

how is yeast produced?

Answer 15

In asexual reproduction by binary fission or “budding”.

Question 16

What is an example of yeast?

Answer 16

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Question 17

Where is Candida albicans found?

Answer 17

thrush (filamentous phase causes damage)

Question 18

Where is Cryptococcus neoformans
found?

Answer 18

infections of HIV patients

Question 19

Where is Saccharomyces cerevisiae
found?

Answer 19

alcohol and carbon dioxide

Question 20

What industries are fungi involved in?

Answer 20

ethanol
antibiotics
enzymes (washing powders etc.)
solvents
food flavours
Cholesterol-lowering drugs

Question 21

fungi are the main organisms involved in what?

Answer 21

the decay of organic material and the recycling of essential elements (C, N, etc.)

Question 22

yeast are good model organisms for what?

Answer 22

genetic manipulation

Question 23

what fungi is an edible mushroom?

Answer 23

agaricus bisporus

Question 24

what mould is edible?

Answer 24

Fusarium veneatum where the mycelium can be shaped to mimic meat

Question 25

What problems can fungi cause in humans?

Answer 25

1. grain infections 2. rusts- garden plants 3. dry rot- homes, barns 4. human infections- thrush 5. food spoilage- bread mould, mucor

Question 26

What caused the irish potato famine?

Answer 26

Phytophthora infestans – it is NOT a Fungus any more!!!!!!!! OOMYCETE

Question 27

How does fungi benefit man?

Answer 27

In food production, enzyme production, antibiotic production, natural symbionts and element recycling for C, N and S

Question 28

What is Mycorrhizae?

Answer 28

A plant-fungus mutualism and the vast majority of plants (>90%) is mycorrhizal

Question 29

What are lichens?

Answer 29

A symbiotic relationship of fungi and algae and often found in harsh tundra condictions

Question 30

Where does chitin biosynthesis occur in?

Answer 30

fungi

Question 31

What size is fungi nuclei?

Answer 31

very small with little repetitve DNA

Question 32

What unique sterol do fungal cell membranes have?

Answer 32

ergosterol

Question 33

What pathway is different in fungi compared to humans?

Answer 33

Lysine biosynthesis pathway- they make it and humans don't

Question 34

What are chemoorganotrophic heterotrophs?

Answer 34

An organism that gets its carbon from organic substrates for growth and development and gets its energy from the decomposition, also oxidation, of an organic compound

Question 35

What is hypha?

Answer 35

one of the threads that make up the mycelium of a fungus

Question 36

What are mycelium?

Answer 36

a network of fungal threads or hyphae

Question 37

What are 2 examples of mould species and where are they found?

Answer 37

Penicillium digitatum- found in soil of citrus producing areas Stachybotrys chartarum (black mould)- found in water damaged building etc

Question 38

what are 2 fungal diseases?

Answer 38

ringworm and vaginal candidiasis