Question

How are fungi useful to human beings?

Answer 1

Fungi:

1. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that do not have chlorophyll in them.
2. They are saprophytic as they derive their nutrients from dead and decaying animals.
3. They include certain parasites.
4. Most fungi are multicellular, except yeast, which is the only unicellular fungus.
5. Some fungi live in symbiotic (mutually dependent) relationships with blue-green algae as in lichens.

Fungi are useful to human beings in the following ways:

1. Fungi are an important source of food.
2. Yeast, a unicellular fungus, is important in bakeries as it is used in the making of bread.
3. Yeast also produces vitamin B.
4. Penicillin an important antibiotic is obtained from a fungus called Penicillium notatum.
5. They are an important part of the nutrient cycle in the ecosystem.