Download KINGDOM PROTISTA

2/24/2011
OVERVIEW
KINGDOM
FUNGI

Cell type: Eukaryotic

Cell type: uni- or multicellular

Nutrition: Heterotrophic ALWAYS (they absorb
nutrients)

Habitat: moist environment

Cell walls made of chitin (a tough polysaccharide)
STRUCTURE
 Hyphae—hair-like
filaments of
fungi that can group together to form
larger structures called mycelium—
a cluster of hyphae
USES OF FUNGI

Decomposers for the environment

Make foods & medicine
Edible mushrooms, truffles
Bleu cheese
 Breads and alcohols are made with yeast
(a single celled fungus)
 Medicines (ex: antibiotic Penicillin)


HOW THEY EAT
1.
2.
Saprophyte—lives on dead
organic (carbon-containing) matter
Parasite—absorbs nutrients from
living cells
OBTAINING NUTRIENTS
3.

Mutualistic—lives in a symbiotic (mutually
beneficial) relationship with another organism
ex: Lichens—organisms made of both an algae
(protist) and a fungus.
 Algae - provides energy through
photosynthesis
 Fungi - provides moisture/place to grow
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2/24/2011
FUNGUS REPRODUCTION
1. Asexually
A. Fragmentation—part of hyphae breaks off and
grows into a new mycelium
B. Budding—cells replicate their DNA, split into two
identical cells

Ex: yeast
C. Spores—reproductive cells that can develop into
new organisms (are NOT true seeds, but they act in a
similar way)
FUNGAL INFECTIONS/
DISEASES
1. Lungs: can cause
allergies and severe
respiratory illnesses
 Body: hair, skin,
nails

2. Sexually

Can happen occasionally; when hyphae from
two different fungi meet and fuse together to
make spores
FUNGAL INFECTIONS/DISEASES
2. Aspergillosis
Most humans inhale Aspergillus spores every day so
it develops mainly in individuals who are
immunocompromised; it’s a leading cause of death in
acute leukemia
 Also make aflatoxin, the most toxic mycotoxin
known which is also a potent carcinogen (liver
cancer)
 are largely associated with products from the tropics
and subtropics, such as cotton, peanuts, spices, and
pistachios
Athlete's foot, jock
itch, and ringworm
are caused by the
same fungus that
can grow in various
locations
FUNGAL INFECTIONS/
DISEASES
3. Death Cap


Scientific name:
Amanita phalloides
It has been involved in
the majority of human
deaths from mushroom
poisoning
 FYI: This possibly
includes the deaths of
Roman Emperor
Claudius and Holy
Roman Emperor
Charles VI.

FUNGAL INFECTIONS/DISEASES
4. Plants
 Some “blights” are caused by fungi
 Almost all chestnut trees have
been infected with a blight
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