The kingdom of fungi
The fungal kingdom includes all the organisms that are commonly known as fungi (a large group of multi-cellular organisms that also includes edible mushrooms), yeast (unicellular organisms responsible for fermentation) and mildews (organisms of microscopic size, such as the green-coloured Penicillium). This kingdom is composed of heterotrophic organisms, because they feed themselves by absorbing organic matter from the environment. Fungi produce molecules, the so-called digestive enzymes, which are used to degrade the organic matter so that it can be absorbed.
Fungi are mainly multi-cellular organisms composed of masses of threads and living virtually anywhere. A group of fungi, commonly known as yeast, includes unicellular organisms, such as, for instance, Saccaromyces cerevisiae.
Some fungi are parasites of animals, plants, protista and even of other fungi, while others are saprobic (they live by decomposing dead organic matter) and are essential for the degradation of the matter. Some species have developed complex symbioses with photosynthetic organisms, as in mycorrhizas or lichens.
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Charles Darwin was just 22 years old when he set sail on board HMS Beagle...
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8 March 2022
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DNA was first isolated by Friedrich Miescher, a Swiss biochemist in 1869. It was a brilliant, but not complicated operation:…
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27 February 2022
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International Polar Bear Day, set up by Polar Bears International, a non-profit organisation, was held on 27 February. The aim…
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From the Multimedia section
Facts
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Bread and cheese, wine or beer
Yeast is used to make wine, beer and bread. When mixed with the bread dough...
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Who lives well with low oxygen?
<i><span style="font-style: normal; " class="Apple-style-span"><i><em>Aquandriella fermentas</em> </i>lives in stagnant waters and can stand complete anaerobiosis...</span></i>
Responsible for fish-plagues
<em>Sporolegnia parasitica</em> is widely present in estuaries and fish tanks and that...
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Fish are champions migrators
Migratory fish are true athletes: some of them swim thousands of kilometres during their migration from their birthplace to the…
-
Bread and cheese, wine or beer
Yeast is used to make wine, beer and bread. When mixed with the bread dough...
-
Who lives well with low oxygen?
<i><span style="font-style: normal; " class="Apple-style-span"><i><em>Aquandriella fermentas</em> </i>lives in stagnant waters and can stand complete anaerobiosis...</span></i>
Responsible for fish-plagues
<em>Sporolegnia parasitica</em> is widely present in estuaries and fish tanks and that...
-
Bread and cheese, wine or beer
Yeast is used to make wine, beer and bread. When mixed with the bread dough...