Unit 10: The simplest living beings                                       1   2   3   4  

 

 

1. Fungi

 

Fungi are unicellular or multicellular organisms (without real tissues)

 

They have eukaryotic plant cells, but their cellular wall is made of chitin, not cellulose.

 

These cells are joined together forming threads, called hyphae. The vegetative body of fungus is the mycelium that is formed by the mass of hyphae. This mycelium lives under the soil.

 

a) Vital functions

 

     Nutrition

 

Fungi are heterotrophs. They feed on organic matter. There are three types of fungi:

 

- Saprophytes. They feed on decomposed matter.

 

- Parasites. They feed on other living being that is harmed.

  These fungi produce diseases.

 

  - Symbionts. They live with other living being and both obtain benefits.

             The most important symbiotic fungi are:

- Liquens (formed by a fungus and an alga)

- Mycorrhizas (formed by a fungus and a conifer)

 

     Reproduction

 

They have sexual and asexual reproduction.

 

When they reproduce sexually, they produce spores.

When a spore germinates, it produces a mycelium that grows and produce a structure called the fruiting body (mushroom)

 

Animation: Structure of a mushroom (University of Manchester)


 

Animation: Life cycle of a mushroom (University of Manchester)



b) Classification

 

     We can classify fungi in three groups without scientific value:


-      Yeasts

They are unicellular fungi.

Many are parasites, but others are very useful for us.

Yeasts perform fermentation that transforms certain substances into food such us bread, wine and beer.

 



-       Moulds

They are multicellular and microscopic fungi.

Many are parasites and others are decomposers,

such as bread mould or fruit mould.

 



-       Mushrooms and toadstools

They are multicellular.

Some are edible (mushrooms) and other poisonous (toadstools)

 

Animation: What are fungi? (University of Manchester)


READING ACTIVITIES

 

After reading the text, copy and answer the following questions into your notebook:

Remember: you must make complete sentences.

 

1.1. Relate and order the pictures and the labels that correspond

        to a fungus life cycle.

1.2. Listen and indicate which type of fungi is described:

a. Saprophytes

b. Parasites

c. Symbionts

 


1.3. Fungi and plants have eukaryotic plant cells. What characteristics allow

 us to distinguish between them?

 

 

Now,

check

your

answers!


   

1   2   3   4


   

  Wordreference

  (Diccionario Ing-Esp)

  

  Wordreference games 

  (Juegos de vocabulario)

  

  Merrian Webster

  (Visual dictionary)

 

  Infovisual

  (Visual dictionary)

  

  Eduplace

  (Glosario de C. Naturales)

 

  Linguaframe 1ESO

  (Science audio-glossary)

 

  Linguaframe 2ESO 

  (Science audio-glossary)

  

  Oodcast

  (Pronunciación)

  

  Glossopedia

  (Enciclopedia de C. Naturales)

 

  Web elements 

  (Tabla periódica)

 

 

  Eva Mª

  López Rodríguez

 

  Departamento

  Biología y Geología

 

  IES " J. S. Elcano"

  Sanlúcar de Barrameda