Question

59. Which phylum of fungi contains organisms that form lichens? What is a lichen? Why are lichens considered ‘environmental indicator organisms’? (5)

60. Which phylum of fungi contains the species that produces penicillin? We use penicillin as an antibiotic, but why would a fungus produce penicillin? (4)

61. List and describe two economically important functions of fungi and two ecologically important functions of fungi. (4)

62. The diploid (2n) portion of an animal’s life cycle is the most prevalent.

a. true

b. false

Answer 1

Answer-

A lichen is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an algae or cyanobacteria, algae are photosynthetic and prepares food to share with fungi and goves it shelter and the fungus in return absorbs water and minerals from soil and provides it to the algae or cyanobacteria. Most of the fungus forming lichen association come under ascomycota.

Lichens are considered environmental indicators since they do not grow in polluted areas .

60. The species of fungi producing penicillin is penicillium notatum which is of the phylum ascomycota. Penicillium produces penicillin to inhibit the growth of bacteria by interfering with its cell wall forming mechanism ,this is because bacteria is a competitor for fungi for nutrients and other limited resources .

Economically important uses of fungi.

1- many fungi are edible to humans ,like mushrooms belong to phylum basidiomycota.

2- some fungi are used commercially for antibiotics and cheese , citric acid , lactic acid etc

Ecologically -

1- acts as decomposers , as fungus is heterotrophs and are saprophytes which derive their nutrition from dead and decaying matter amd makes them simple and soluble for use by other plants .

2- helps in nutrient recycling and forms symbiotic relationship with other organisms .

62. True

In multicellular animals , diplontic life cycle is seen . Haploid phase is only during gamete formation , after which gametes fuse and form a zygote which is diploid and then fetus which is again diploid. Animals cells undergo mitosis and remain diploid in growth . Only form haploid gametes.

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