Questions and Answers
Fungi are autotrophs.
False
Fungi spores are haploid.
True
Fungi have true roots, stems, and leaves.
False
How do fungi differ from plants?
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Which characteristic is shared by all fungi that helps them obtain nutrients?
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What might one expect about plants without mycorrhizae?
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In many fungi, both asexual and sexual reproduction involve what?
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What type of relationship exists between a fungus and algae in a lichen?
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An organism cannot be a fungus if it is what?
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Why are humans interested in rusts?
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What carbohydrate makes up the cell walls of fungi?
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What structure has a symbiotic relationship with fungi in mycorrhizae?
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What do all fungi do?
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Fungi do not carry out what process?
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Fungi resemble plants in that they both always have what?
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What is the tangled mass of cells that makes up the body of a fungus?
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How do most fungi reproduce?
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What is the dark fuzz that grows on bread an example of?
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Bread rises because fermentation by yeast produces what?
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Yeasts obtain energy by alcoholic fermentation.
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Which statement about Penicillium is correct?
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An important role of fungi in ecosystems is what?
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Millions of years ago, fungi might have been important to the success of what?
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Fungi feed on what?
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The breakdown of dead organisms is sped up by the fungal production of what?
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The human disease ringworm is caused by what?
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Which statement about lichens is correct?
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The association of plants and fungi in mycorrhizae illustrates what type of relationship?
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The relationship between a fungus and alga in a lichen is also an example of what?
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Fungi are prokaryotic heterotrophs.
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Fungi absorb their food.
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Fungi cell walls are made of cellulose.
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Fungi recycle nutrients in the ecosystem.
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Early fungi may have helped plants obtain nutrients.
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Chitin, the material that forms fungal cell walls, is a complex what?
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Fungi break down complex organic matter by releasing what?
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Study Notes
Fungi Overview
- Fungi are not autotrophs; they are heterotrophic organisms that absorb nutrients.
- Fungi reproduce through both asexual and sexual methods, often involving the shedding of haploid spores.
Characteristics of Fungi
- Fungi do not have true roots, stems, or leaves.
- Fungi possess cell walls made of chitin, a complex polysaccharide, unlike plants which have cell walls made of cellulose.
- All fungi absorb their food and do not perform photosynthesis.
Reproduction and Nutrition
- Fungi spores are haploid, contributing to genetic diversity in reproduction.
- Key process for nutrient acquisition involves external digestion facilitated by the release of digestive enzymes.
- Fungi can feed on both living and dead organisms.
Symbiotic Relationships
- Mycorrhizae illustrate mutualism, where fungi associate with plant roots to enhance nutrient absorption.
- Lichens, formed by the symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacteria, are also examples of mutualism.
Ecological Role
- Fungi play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down dead organisms, thereby recycling nutrients.
- Fungal fermentation processes produce carbon dioxide, which is vital in various biological processes, such as bread rising through yeast activity.
Human Relevance
- Certain fungi, like Penicillium, are valued for their medical significance, being the source of penicillin.
- Some fungi can be harmful, such as rusts that affect crop plants and ringworm causing disease in humans.
Miscellaneous Facts
- Early fungi may have facilitated the nutrient acquisition for plants.
- Fungal networks, known as mycelium, serve as the body of the fungus and are essential for its growth and reproduction.
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Description
Test your knowledge of fungi with this Chapter 20 practice quiz. It covers fundamental characteristics and properties that differentiate fungi from other organisms. Challenge yourself on true or false statements and other related questions.
