24-25 Varsity Microbe Mission - SciOly

What are the characteristics of fungi?

Fungi are heterotrophic eukaryotes that can be unicellular or multicellular, morphologically similar to plants, and related to animals as opisthokonts.

What are the main phyla of fungi?

Originally, fungi were divided into 5 phyla: Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, and Zygomycota. Now, there are 13 phyla recognized in total.

What type of cell wall do fungi have?

Fungi have cell walls composed mainly of chitin, a polysaccharide made of N-acetylglucosamine monomers.

What is the function of the fungal cell wall?

The fungal cell wall provides structural support, protects against osmotic stress, and maintains the cell's shape and integrity.

What do fungi use for nutrient absorption?

Fungi obtain nutrients through extracellular digestion by secreting enzymes into the environment, which break down large molecules.

What is mycelium in fungi?

Mycelium is the mass of hyphae that form the body of a fungus, facilitating nutrient absorption and growth.

What is a fruiting body in fungi?

The fruiting body, or sporocarp, is the multicellular structure where spores are produced during the sexual phase of the fungal life cycle.

What are dimorphic fungi?

Dimorphic fungi can exist in two forms depending on environmental conditions, being either unicellular (like yeast) or multicellular (like molds).

What is mycosis?

Mycosis is any disease caused by a fungus.

What is the most common sterol found in fungal membranes?

Ergosterol is the most common sterol found in the membranes of fungi.

What is the process of hydrolyzing ATP in fungi?

Fungi hydrolyze ATP to ADP + P to power active transport of protons (H+) across the plasma membrane, establishing a chemiosmotic gradient for nutrient absorption.

Describe the reproductive strategies of fungi.

Fungi reproduce asexually through methods like budding and fragmentation, and sexually through the formation of spores.

What are the components of a bacterial cell wall?

Bacterial cell walls are primarily composed of peptidoglycan, providing shape and protection.

What is the difference between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria?

Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer that stains purple, while Gram-negative bacteria have a thinner wall and an outer membrane that stains pink.

How do bacteria reproduce?

Bacteria reproduce asexually through a process called binary fission, where a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

What are extremophiles?

Extremophiles are organisms, often archaea, that thrive in extreme environments, such as hot springs or highly saline waters.

What is methanogenesis?

Methanogenesis is a unique metabolic process in some archaea that produces methane as a byproduct of metabolism.

How do archaea differ from bacteria in cell wall composition?

Unlike bacteria, archaea do not have peptidoglycan in their cell walls; they may have S-layers or pseudopeptidoglycan instead.

What is the endosymbiotic theory?

The endosymbiotic theory posits that eukaryotic cells evolved from prokaryotic cells through symbiotic relationships, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts originating from engulfed bacteria.

What is the primary function of carboxysomes in cyanobacteria?

Carboxysomes concentrate CO2 for more efficient carbon fixation during photosynthesis.

What adaptations do psychrophiles have for low-temperature environments?

Psychrophiles have unsaturated fatty acids in their membranes and produce cold-active enzymes to maintain function in cold conditions.