Hacking the genome of fungi for smart foods of the future. With animal-free dairy products…
Browsing: Fungi
Fungi are a diverse kingdom of organisms distinct from plants, animals, and bacteria, playing critical roles in ecosystems as decomposers, pathogens, and symbionts. These organisms include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Fungi are characterized by their cell walls made of chitin, their method of obtaining nutrients through absorption, and their reproduction through spores. They thrive in a wide variety of environments, from soil and dead matter to living tissue and extreme habitats. Fungi are pivotal in nutrient cycling as they break down complex organic materials, releasing and redistributing essential elements to other organisms. Some fungi form symbiotic relationships, such as mycorrhizae with plant roots, enhancing nutrient absorption. However, they can also be pathogens, causing diseases in plants and animals, including humans. Additionally, fungi have significant applications in biotechnology, food production (e.g., cheese, bread, beer), and pharmaceuticals, including the production of antibiotics like penicillin.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have found how to produce different colors of blue…
Researchers have discovered the oldest multicellular eukaryotic fossils, dated at 1.63 billion years, in North…
Macau University researchers studied fungi behavior under hypergravity, revealing both the risks and potential benefits…
Researchers have found that the fungus Colletotrichum tofieldiae can both support and inhibit plant growth,…
Biodegradation of plastic at low temperatures can save money and energy. Researchers have discovered microbial…
A study in the forest on Laccaria bicolor mushrooms, a type of ectomycorrhizal fungi, has…
Pancakes won’t turn you into a zombie as in HBO’s ‘The Last of Us,’ but…
University of Alberta expert challenges popular claims about the “wood-wide web.” The idea that forest…
Plants Beyond Photosynthesis: The Mystery of Mycoheterotrophic Life It was once thought that green leaves…
New scientific review analyzes what we know about how fungi disperse. When you say “fungi,”…
New Research Examines Why Some Fungi Evolve Psychedelic Properties Psychedelic compounds found in ‘magic mushrooms’…
Researchers shed new light on how plant life became established on the surface of the…
Harnessing the strength of specialized sugar molecules found in mucus could help researchers develop new…
Substituting 20% of meat from cattle with microbial protein — a meat alternative produced in…
The fungus Rhizopus teams up with Ralstonia bacteria to defend itself against predators in the…
Scientists have uncovered evidence that a type of the antibiotic-resistant superbug MRSA arose in nature…
Root fungi can help or harm plants—depending on genes that control how aggressively they invade…