Fungi Overview in SSCY 2613

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Questions and Answers

What characteristic distinguishes yeast from mold in their cellular structure?

  • Mold is more sensitive to environmental conditions than yeast.
  • Yeast is multicellular, while mold is unicellular.
  • Yeast reproduces by budding, while mold reproduces through spores. (correct)
  • Yeast has a chitinous cell wall while mold does not.

Which of the following statements about fungi is true?

  • All fungi are parasitic in nature.
  • Fungi are exclusively anaerobic organisms.
  • Fungi are photosynthetic organisms that produce their own food.
  • Fungi can be both saprophytes and symbionts. (correct)

Which type of fungus primarily feeds on living tissue of a host?

  • Saprophytes
  • Symbionts
  • Pathogens (correct)
  • Mycelium

What is the term for a hardened mass of mycelium that serves as an overwintering stage?

<p>Sclerotium (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where are fungi most commonly found in the environment?

<p>In air, water, soil, and decaying organic matter. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of fungi in the global carbon cycle?

<p>Decomposing cellulose to glucose (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following metabolite types is NOT typically produced by medicinal fungi?

<p>Photosynthetic pigments (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of biotechnology is primarily associated with the role of fungi in agriculture?

<p>Environmental Biotechnology (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the enzyme nitrate reductase produced by fungi do?

<p>Converts nitrate into nitrite and ammonium (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of biotechnology, which colour category is associated with fungi's role in aquaculture?

<p>Blue (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which types of drugs can be developed from medicinal fungi?

<p>Cholesterol and ergosterol inhibitors (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is primarily responsible for breaking down lignin, making it possible for further decomposition?

<p>Fungi (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which area does the grey colour category relate to the role of fungi?

<p>Bioprocess Technology (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one characteristic of fungi?

<p>Fungi are multicellular and unicellular eukaryotes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes dimorphic fungi?

<p>They can switch between yeast and mold forms based on environmental factors. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines the role of heterotrophs among fungi?

<p>They absorb food in solution directly through their cell walls. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is thermally dimorphic fungi known for?

<p>Changing their growth form from mold to yeast during infection. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do fungi primarily reproduce?

<p>Through spores. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organisms belongs to the kingdom of Fungi?

<p>Candida sp. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the long filaments in molds called?

<p>Hyphae. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organisms is classified as a dimorphic fungus?

<p>Candida sp. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Six Kingdoms of Life

Scientists categorize organisms based on similarities into six groups: Archae, Bacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Classifying Life's Diversity

Organisms are assigned to one of three domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) based on their cell structure.

Fungi Kingdom

Eukaryotic organisms (with complex cells), that absorb food, reproduce via spores, and lack chlorophyll.

Fungi Characteristics

Multicellular or unicellular, heterotrophic (obtain energy from consuming others), and characterized by rigid cell walls.

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Fungi Classification

Fungi are categorized into different types, including yeasts (single cell), dimorphic fungi (switch between yeast and mould form), and moulds (filamentous growth).

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Yeast

Single-celled fungi that reproduce asexually through budding.

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Dimorphic Fungi

Fungi that can exist in both a yeast and mold form depending on environmental conditions.

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Moulds

Fungi with long filaments (hyphae) forming a network (mycelium).

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Heterotroph

Organism that obtains energy by consuming other living organisms.

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Dimorphic Switching

The regulated process by which fungi switch between a yeast and a mold growth form.

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Spores vs. Yeast

Mold spores are tough and resistant, while yeast and yeast-like fungi are sensitive. Spores reproduce via various methods, while yeast reproduces by budding.

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Fungi Characteristics

Fungi are eukaryotic, heterotrophic, and lack chlorophyll. Their cell walls are chitinous, requiring carbon and nitrogen for survival.

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Fungal Body Forms

Fungi can be unicellular (like yeast), filamentous (hyphae), or multicellular (mycelium, sclerotium).

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Fungi Nutrition

Fungi can be saprophytes (decomposers), symbionts (mutually beneficial relationships), or parasites (feeding on a host).

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Fungal Habitat

Fungi are found virtually everywhere, including air, water, soil, and decaying matter. Exceptions exist, with some fungi being part of the human body's natural flora and potentially causing opportunistic infections.

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Hyphae

Thread-like structures that make up the body of a fungus. They aggregate to form mycelium.

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Fungi Decomposition

Fungi break down lignin (hard wood component) and cellulose into glucose, a crucial part of the global carbon cycle.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- Red

Fungi are used in health, medical, and diagnostic biotechnology applications.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- Yellow

Fungi are part of food biotechnology, especially concerning nutrition.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- Blue

Fungi play a role in aquatic environments, particularly in aquaculture and marine biotechnology.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- Green

Fungi are used in agricultural and environmental biotech, including biofuels, fertilizers, and bioremediation.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- Brown

Fungi are researched for their use in arid and desert environments.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- Purple

Fungi are studied for patent applications, inventions and Intellectual properties.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- White

Fungi are used in gene-based and industrial biotechnology.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- Gold

Fungi are employed in bioinformatics and nanobiotechnology.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- Grey

Fungi are used in classical fermentations and bioprocess technology.

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Fungi in Biotechnology- Black

Fungi have been investigated in the context of bioweapons (negative application).

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Fungi Medicinal Compounds

Some fungi produce metabolites (chemicals) used in, or researched for, prescription drugs like antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, and more.

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Fungi in Nanotechnology

Fungi can be used to create nanoparticles using enzymes like nitrate reductase, which converts nitrate to useable forms of nitrogen.

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Study Notes

Overview of Mycology - Past and Future

  • Course: SSCY 2613/SSCG 2633
  • Instructor: Assoc. Prof Dr Madihah Md Salleh, Dr Zarita Zakaria

Topics

  • The Six Kingdom of Life
  • Classifying Life's Diversity
  • What are Fungi
  • Classification of Fungi
  • Fungi Characteristics
  • Source of Fungi
  • Role of Fungi
  • Fungi Role as Decomposers
  • Fungi Role in Nanotechnology
  • Beneficial vs Harmful Fungi
  • Role of Fungi in Biotechnology
  • Role of Fungi in Agriculture
  • Role of Fungi in Medical and Pharmaceutical

The Six Kingdoms of Life

  • Scientists group organisms based on similarities.
  • Six kingdoms: Archaea, Bacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia

Classifying Life's Diversity

  • Each kingdom is categorized based on cell structure, into one of three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

What are Fungi?

  • Kingdom of eukaryotic organisms
  • Lack chlorophyll
  • Cells are bound by rigid walls.
  • Absorb food through their cell walls
  • Reproduce via spores.
  • Do not conduct photosynthesis.
  • Fungi are either unicellular (yeast) or multicellular (moulds).

Fungi Characteristics

  • Body form: Unicellular or filamentous (hyphae/hyphae). Mycelium is an aggregate of hyphae. Sclerotium is a hardened mass of mycelium, serving as an overwintering stage, Some multicellular fungi have rhizomorphs and fruit bodies (mushrooms).
  • Heterotrophy: Obtaining nutrients from other organisms (saprotrophic/saprobe (feed on dead organic waste eg, decomposers), symbiotic (mutually beneficial relationship with other organism), parasitic (feed on a living host. Pathogens are parasitic fungi that cause disease)
  • Plant-like: Lacking chlorophyll.
  • Cell wall: Constructed of chitin.
  • Free-living: Heterotrophs.
  • Nutritional needs: Require carbon and nitrogen sources.
  • Cellular structure: Eukaryotic, highly developed.
  • Metabolic type: Facultatively anaerobic/strict aerobic; non-photosynthetic or non-chlorophyll containing organisms.

Source of Fungi

  • Ubiquitous in nature (air, water, soil, decaying organic matter, insect gut, bird nests, biomass waste) and are part of endogenous flora (like Candida, found in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, skin, etc.)
  • Opportunistic pathogens: Can cause infections in weakened or immunocompromised individuals.
  • Endemic mycoses: Fungi, existing in certain environments, that cause diseases in immunosystems.

Role of Fungi in Biotechnology

  • Various types of applications (highlighted by colors):
  • Health, medical and diagnostics
  • Food biotechnology
  • Aquaculture and marine biotechnology
  • Agriculture, environmental biotechnology, biofuels
  • Arid zone and desert biotechnology
  • Patent inventions publications and Intellectual properties
  • Gene-based biotechnology
  • Bio informatics and nanobiotechnology
  • Classical fermentation and bioprocesses
  • Bioweapons

Role of Fungi in Agriculture

  • Beneficial role: induced resistance, growth enhancement (e.g. mycorrhizae in plant roots) can reduce symptoms and improve growth.
  • Pathogenic role: competition for space and nutrients, plant diseases (e.g., basal stem rots).

Role of Fungi in Medical and Pharmaceutical

  • Fungi produce metabolites for developing drugs. Various examples are given of antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, and other compounds involved in the treatment of other diseases.

Fungi Role as Decomposers

  • Fungi are essential decomposers, breaking down lignin (component of wood).
  • Breaking down lignin and cellulose are key in releasing nutrients and recycling organic matter.
  • Fungi play a significant role in the global carbon cycle.

Fungi Role in Nanotechnology

  • Scientists use fungi, specifically hyphae (special filaments), for producing nanoparticles with ease.
  • Fungi's biomolecules in enzymes like nitrate reductase can be exploited for nanoparticles.

Beneficial vs Harmful Fungi

  • Fungus can be beneficial (used in food, medicine, etc.) and harmful (cause disease)

What is the difference between spores and yeast?

  • Mold spores are unique, hard, and generally resistant to environmental conditions.
  • Yeast cells are delicate, sensitive to conditions, reproduce by budding, and are single-celled. Mold cells have multiple-cells.

List of Additional Topics

  • Yeast vs Molds

Classifications of Fungi

  • Yeast
  • Dimorphic fungi
  • Moulds

Life Cycle of Dimorphic Fungi

  • Cycle between mold and yeast is a tightly regulated process
  • Fungi can switch from mold (multicellular) to yeast (unicellular) forms in response to environmental conditions.

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