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?

Sclerotium Signup and view all the answers

Where are fungi most commonly found in the environment?

In air, water, soil, and decaying organic matter. Signup and view all the answers

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

Decomposing cellulose to glucose Signup and view all the answers

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

Photosynthetic pigments Signup and view all the answers

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

Environmental Biotechnology Signup and view all the answers

What does the enzyme nitrate reductase produced by fungi do?

Converts nitrate into nitrite and ammonium Signup and view all the answers

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

Blue Signup and view all the answers

Which types of drugs can be developed from medicinal fungi?

Cholesterol and ergosterol inhibitors Signup and view all the answers

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

Fungi Signup and view all the answers

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

Bioprocess Technology Signup and view all the answers

What is one characteristic of fungi?

Fungi are multicellular and unicellular eukaryotes. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes dimorphic fungi?

They can switch between yeast and mold forms based on environmental factors. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the role of heterotrophs among fungi?

They absorb food in solution directly through their cell walls. Signup and view all the answers

What is thermally dimorphic fungi known for?

Changing their growth form from mold to yeast during infection. Signup and view all the answers

How do fungi primarily reproduce?

Through spores. Signup and view all the answers

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

Candida sp. Signup and view all the answers

What are the long filaments in molds called?

Hyphae. Signup and view all the answers

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

Candida sp. Signup and view all the answers

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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Description

Explore the fascinating world of fungi in this quiz based on the SSCY 2613/SSCG 2633 course. From the characteristics and classification of fungi to their roles in biotechnology and agriculture, test your knowledge of these unique organisms. Understand the importance of fungi in various fields and their contribution as decomposers in the ecosystem.