Question

Conclusion of fungal organisms ​

Answer 1

Explanation:

Conclusion

Hallucinogenic mushrooms have the caught the eye of many individuals in society but also have become an interesting research topic for many researchers in the scientific community. Though the exact mechanisms of hallucinogenic mushrooms are unclear, numerous scientists are conducting numerous experiments in efforts of trying to unravel the “magic” behind these fungal species. Throughout this portfolio, the general theme examines and focuses on the effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms and the mechanisms behind their psychedelic effects.

This portfolio focuses strictly on Kingdom Fungi thoroughly examining fungal organisms. We thoroughly developed a deep level of learning and understanding on various levels of fungal organisms including their classification, development, and evolution. Fungal species are a diverse group of organisms that are surprisingly more closely related to Kingdom Animalia than they are to Kingdom Plantae. This close phylogenetic relationship among fungi and animals can be reasoned due to their mode of eating: heterotrophy. Unlike plants, fungi do not have the capacity to transform inorganic compounds such as CO2 into organic compounds such as glucose. Rather, fungi release enzymes to break down food and once the food is broken down they proceed to absorb the nutrients into themselves (Raven et al., 2014).

Due to the extreme diversity in Kingdom Fungi, there are seven distinct phyla that compose this kingdom. These phyla consist of Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, Microspodia, Neocallimastigomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. All of these phyla have distinguishing features that characterize the species that compose these groups. To begin with, microspodia are known for their parasitic nature via a polar tube and their lack of mitochondria, which is a derived characteristic of the phyla implying that microspodia lost mitochondria rather than never having it to begin with. Phylum Chytridiomycota consists of the three monophyletic groups: blastocladiomycetes, chytridiomycetes, and neocallimastigomycetes. The motile zoospores are the key distinguishing characteristic of the phylum. Phylum Zygomycota is the only group of fungal species that is not monophyletic and could be reasoned due to the fact the zygomycetes are the most diverse fungal species. Zygomycetes are known for the fact that the zygospores produced by members of this phylum have a diploid nuclei that are highly adapted and resistant for environmental stress conditions. Phylum Glomeromycota is known for its symbiotic relationship with plants, specifically the glomeromycetes arbuscular mycorrhizae associations. Phylum Basidiomycota is known for its club-shaped reproductive structure and hallucinogenic mushrooms are classified under this phylum. This phylum consists of the most familiar fungi that are known today such as mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs, and many other fungal species. Lastly, Phylum Ascomycota have both economically beneficial species such as bread yeasts and common molds along with parasitic species such as plant pathogens that trigger chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease. In addition, ascomycetes have fungal species that produce Penicillin. Members of this phylum are known for the sac-like reproductive structure (Raven et al., 2014).

The development of fungi is very unique in the sense that cell division does not always follow mitosis thus cells often lack definite entities. Interestingly, cells contain many nuclei and cell division can proceed without destroying the nuclear envelope unlike in animals. In addition, in some fungal species there is a stage called dikaryon where the nuclei of gametes do not fuse and in a sense rest next to each other forming a dikarytoic cell consisting of (1n+1n). Sexual reproduction via the dispersal of spores is the most common reproductive method in fungal species. Due to their small size, these spores are easily dispersed via wind and spread over many other organisms and habitats. Hallucinogenic mushrooms are categorized under the Phylum Basidiomycota thus their mode of development resembles closely to basidiomycetes. Thus species of hallucinogenic mushrooms contain a basidium, the club-shaped reproductive structure, which is the phylum’s distinguishing feature. In these mushrooms, the only diploid cell in the entire mushroom life cycle is the zygote, which is produced after the fusion of two nuclei in the basidium. After karyogamy, meiosis begins and creates basidiospores that spread to various areas and repeat this process of development. Lastly, members of Phylum Ascomycota are capable of producing both sexually and asexually. However, it should be noted that ascomycetes are more commonly known for producing asexually by means of conidia, which are asexual spores. Conidia allow for rapid colonization of new food sources and have a rapid rate for reproduction (Volk, 2008).

Answer 2

Fungi can be incredibly sophisticated multicellular creatures or single-celled critters.

• They may be found in almost any location, although the majority of them prefer to dwell on land, mostly in soils or even on plant matter, as opposed to the ocean or freshwater habitats.
• The organisms are a group that thrives in the soil or on decaying organic material and is crucial to the recycling of carbon & various substances.
• A few are parasitic in crops that spread illnesses including blight, rust, crusts, and mildew.
• Fungal infections in plants can cause the farmers to lose a lot of money.
• A relatively tiny percentage of fungus can make animals sick.
• These include skin conditions that affect people including athletes foot, ringworm, and thrush.
• The kingdom "Chromista" has a large number of such fungus-like creatures.
• Fungi remain amongst the greatest common creatures in the Planet and are crucial to both the ecosystem and human well-being.

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