Syestmatics and Fungi

Why do we classify organisms?

To know what is edible, useful, and to order our understanding of the world.

Who is Karl von Linné?

A Swedish botanist known for developing scientific nomenclature, giving every species a two-part Latin name.

What is the structure of a scientific name?

It consists of a genus name (capitalized) and a species name (lowercase), e.g., Homo sapiens.

What is the 7-level hierarchy in taxonomy?

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

What is systematics?

The study of the diversity of organisms and their evolutionary relationships.

What is phylogeny?

The evolutionary history and relationships among species.

What does a cladogram represent?

A diagram that depicts evolutionary relationships based on shared derived characteristics.

What are synapomorphies?

Shared derived characteristics that are used to determine evolutionary relationships.

What is the difference between ancestral and derived characters?

Ancestral characters are present in a common ancestor, while derived characters are unique to a particular lineage.

What is cladistics?

A method of classifying organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.

What is homology?

Structures derived from a common ancestor, e.g., dolphin flipper and horse leg.

What is homoplasy?

A shared character state not inherited from a common ancestor, often due to convergent evolution.

What is the principle of parsimony?

The idea that the simplest explanation, requiring the least number of changes, is preferred in phylogenetic trees.

What is a monophyletic group?

A group that includes a common ancestor and all of its descendants.

What is a paraphyletic group?

A group that includes a common ancestor but not all of its descendants.

What is a polyphyletic group?

A group that does not include the most recent common ancestor of its members.

What is a molecular clock?

A method that uses the rate of molecular evolution to estimate the time of divergence between species.

What is the significance of HIV evolution?

HIV evolved from SIV and has multiple strains that can rapidly mutate, complicating treatment and understanding of its phylogeny.

What is comparative biology?

The study of similarities and differences in the biology of different organisms to understand evolutionary relationships.

What is the role of outgroup comparison in cladistics?

Outgroup comparison helps to determine character polarity, identifying which traits are ancestral.

What are multistate characters?

Complex characters that evolve through a sequence of changes, represented in a range of states.

What is the evolutionary significance of teeth in mammals?

Teeth are considered an ancestral feature, while their absence in birds and turtles is a derived feature.

What does a simple cladogram illustrate?

A nested set of clades showing evolutionary relationships among species.

What is the importance of phylogenetic analysis in understanding diseases?

It helps trace the evolution and transmission pathways of pathogens like HIV and SARS-CoV-2.

How does convergent evolution relate to homoplasy?

Homoplasy results from convergent evolution where unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.

What is the significance of the derived characters in a cladogram?

They are shared by all organisms above the branch points and absent in those below, indicating evolutionary relationships.

What is the estimated number of fungal species identified by mycologists?

Over 1.5 million species.

What are the two main forms of fungi?

Single-celled and multicellular.

How do fungi primarily obtain nutrients?

By extracting and absorbing nutrients from their surroundings.

From which group did fungi likely evolve?

Protists.

When did animals and fungi last share a common ancestor?

Approximately 460 million years ago.

What significant evolutionary event occurred for fungi during the Devonian period?

All four major groups of fungi evolved.

What is the significance of the Rhynie Chert?

It contains the oldest known fungal hyphae and evidence of early plant-fungi relationships.

What adaptive advantages does multicellularity provide fungi?

Large size, specialized cells, and integrated cell functions.

What is the largest living organism known?

A fungus in the Blue Mountains, Oregon, covering 900 hectares.

What is the common reproductive method for fungi?

Spores, which can form from sexual or asexual processes.

What type of digestion do fungi utilize?

External digestion through the secretion of digestive enzymes.

What is the primary component of fungal cell walls?

Chitin.

What are the two types of nuclei found in fungi?

Monokaryotic (1 nucleus) and dikaryotic (2 nuclei).

What is mycoremediation?

The use of fungi to degrade environmental pollutants.

What economic roles do fungi play?

They are important as fermenters in food production, such as bread, beer, and cheese.

What disease is caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis?

Chytridiomycosis, an infectious disease affecting amphibians.

What are mycorrhizae?

Symbiotic associations between fungi and plant roots that enhance nutrient absorption.

What are lichens?

Symbiotic associations between fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria.

What is the role of fungi in ecosystems?

They act as decomposers, breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients.

What are some common diseases caused by fungi in humans?

Athlete's foot, ringworm, and yeast infections.

What is the significance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae?

It is one of the most important yeasts used in fermentation.

What is the ecological importance of fungi in wood degradation?

They are the only organisms capable of breaking down lignin, a major component of wood.

What type of fungi are known to be pests and cause dry-rot?

Butt-rot fungi.

What is the role of fungi in mutualistic relationships with animals?

They provide food for animals, such as leaf-cutter ants, which cultivate fungi.

What is the unique diploid state of fungi that allows for increased genetic recombination?

Heterokaryotic state, where nuclei from genetically distinct individuals intermingle.

What are aflatoxins?

Carcinogenic compounds produced by strains of Aspergillus flavus, often found on crops like corn and peanuts.

What is the function of the polar tube in Microsporidia?

It is used to infect host cells by injecting spores.

What phylum do aquatic, flagellated fungi belong to?

Chytridiomycota

What disease is caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis?

Chytridiomycosis

What is the haploid phase structure that produces gametes called?

Gametophyte

What is the diploid phase structure that produces spores called?

Sporophyte

What type of life cycle does Allomyces exhibit?

Haplodiplontic life cycle

What is the primary role of Neocallimastigomycota?

Digest plant biomass in mammalian herbivore rumens

What is a common example of Zygomycota?

Rhizopus

What process in Zygomycota involves the fusion of two hyphae?

Conjugation

What type of mycorrhizae is associated with Glomeromycota?

Arbuscular mycorrhizae

What are the fruiting bodies of Basidiomycota called?

Basidiocarps

What is the deadly poisonous mushroom known as the 'Death Angel'?

Amanita bisporigera

What is the principal psychoactive component found in 'Magic Mushrooms'?

Psilocybin

What is the fruiting body of Ascomycota called?

Ascocarp

What is the common name for the fungus that causes Dutch Elm disease?

Ophiostoma ulmi

What is the most expensive truffle ever sold?

A 1.5 kg Italian White Truffle sold for $330,000

What is the name of the fungus that produces a distinct whistle sound when releasing spores?

Chorioactis geaster

What is the term for the burning sensations caused by ergotism?

Holy Fire

What is the common name for the bioluminescent mushroom known as the 'Jack o' lantern'?

Omphalotus olearius

What is the primary method of reproduction for yeast?

Asexual reproduction by budding

What is the economic significance of Penicillium?

Source of penicillin and blue cheeses

What is the largest living organism known as?

Armillaria gallica

What is the term for the phenomenon where large numbers of people exhibit symptoms of ergotism?

St. Anthony's Fire

What are the tiny, monophyletic fungi that form arbuscular mycorrhizae?

Glomeromycota

What is the primary characteristic of Fungi Imperfecti?

No observed sexual reproduction

What type of fungi are included in the phylum Deuteromycota?

Economically important molds like Penicillium and Aspergillus

What is the common name for the mushroom that is often mistaken for edible species but is deadly?

Amanita muscaria

What is the primary function of yeast in fermentation?

To break down glucose into ethanol and CO2

Where did HIV evolve from?

HIV evolved from a monkey (CSIV)