Fungus

From RationalWiki

Fungus (plural, fungi) are living organisms which are neither plant or animal. They are extremely widespread, and include molds, mushrooms, toadstools, and yeasts. Most importantly, other than topping pizzas, fungi are a prime source of antibiotics. This is because some fungi eat bacteria.

Examples and uses of some fungi:

[edit] Foodstuffs

• baker's yeast

  used in the making of bread and other wheat based products

• brewer's yeast

  used to ferment sugars to make alcoholic beverages and some vinegars

• fusarium venentatum

  source of quorn used in vegetarian/vegan food

• other fermented foodstuffs

  Aspergillus oryzae is used to make soy sauce and rice vinegar

• "blue" cheeses

  the characteristic pungent and tasty bluish-green streaks are the result of fungal action

[edit] Industrial/pharmaceutical

Cheese afflicted with industrial fungi can be yummy.

• many complex organics are made using fungi

  lactic acid e.g.

• enzymes

  cellulases, pectinases, proteases

• antibiotics

  the first recognised was penicillin, but now many more are known

[edit] Recreational

• magic mushrooms

  many fungi contain psychotropic compounds

[edit] Toxins

Fighting off the lead soldier in a giant mushroom attack, a common occurrence in the 1950's, before the Paix du Fromage.

• plant diseases

  Several fungi have a deleterious effect upon cultivated crops potentially causing famine (potato blight, rice blast disease etc)

• pathogens

  several species are toxic to a greater or lesser extent to animals (including humans): ergot, death cap mushrooms, and stonebrood and chalkbrood in bees.

[edit] Ecological

• decomposition

  fungi perform most of the work in decomposing dead organic matter

[edit] See also

• Taxonomy
• Evolution
• Species
• Cladistics

[edit] External links

• See the Wikipedia article on fungus.