Discover the 3 Key Characteristics of Fungi

Learn about the three defining characteristics that set fungi apart from other organisms in this insightful video.

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Three defining characteristics of fungi are: 1) Cell walls made of chitin: Unlike plants, fungi have cell walls composed of chitin, not cellulose. 2) Heterotrophic nutrition: Fungi obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter from their environment, rather than photosynthesizing like plants. 3) Spore production: Fungi reproduce by producing spores that can disperse and grow into new organisms.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What are the main differences between fungi and plants? Fungi have cell walls made of chitin and are heterotrophic, while plants have cell walls of cellulose and perform photosynthesis.
  2. How do fungi reproduce? Fungi reproduce through the production of spores that can disperse and create new fungal organisms.
  3. What is chitin and why do fungi have it? Chitin is a tough, flexible compound that provides structural support in fungi, distinguishing their cell walls from those of plants.
  4. Why are fungi considered heterotrophic? Fungi obtain their nutrients by absorbing organic matter from their environment instead of creating their own food through photosynthesis.