LESSON 8: KINGDOM FUNGI
Background Information
This kingdom shows incredible amounts of biodiversity through varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies ranging from single-celled organisms to multicellular large mushrooms. They can be found in soil, air, water, and on or in plants and animals. It has been estimated that there are about 1.5 million to 5 million species with only about 5% of these have been formally classified.
Cells have cell walls that contain chitin, unlike plants which contain cellulose. Are more similar to animals than to plants.
Fungi excrete enzymes into the environment into order to absorb food. They cannot make their own food. Through this they perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange.
Some fungi can cause disease to both plants and animals, including humans. Some are toxic to animals as they produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides.
They have long been used as a direct source of food, such as mushrooms and truffles, as a leavening agent for bread, and in fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests.
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the systematic study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy, and their use to humans as a source of medicine, food, psychotropic substances, as well as their dangers through poisoning or infection.
Examples: yeast, mould, mushrooms, toadstools, mildew
Cells have cell walls that contain chitin, unlike plants which contain cellulose. Are more similar to animals than to plants.
Fungi excrete enzymes into the environment into order to absorb food. They cannot make their own food. Through this they perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange.
Some fungi can cause disease to both plants and animals, including humans. Some are toxic to animals as they produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides.
They have long been used as a direct source of food, such as mushrooms and truffles, as a leavening agent for bread, and in fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests.
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the systematic study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy, and their use to humans as a source of medicine, food, psychotropic substances, as well as their dangers through poisoning or infection.
Examples: yeast, mould, mushrooms, toadstools, mildew
Lesson Outline
HOOK
Video: Cordyceps fungi attacking insects
ACTION
Observations of mold to examine on bread of berries
Defining characteristics of the kingdom and different types.
Lab looking at the effect of temperature on baking yeast.
CONSOLIDATION
Positive, minus, interesting
Video: Cordyceps fungi attacking insects
ACTION
Observations of mold to examine on bread of berries
- Conducted as predict, explain, observe, explain
- Series of pictures showing the growth of the mold
- Students will be able to take a closer look at the full growth of the mold using microscopes
Defining characteristics of the kingdom and different types.
Lab looking at the effect of temperature on baking yeast.
- Yeast is exposed to different temperatures of water: cold, warm, hot. Students will determine ideal growing conditions.
- Conducted as a predict, explain, observe, explain
CONSOLIDATION
Positive, minus, interesting
- Conducted as a think-pair-share
- Handed in as an exit slip
Additional Teaching Resources
- Video: Overview of Fungi
- Video: The Good, The Bad, and the Deadly on Mushrooms
- Video: Fungi Reproductive Structures
- Video: Fungi are heterotrophic
- Video: Slime mold growing time lapse (first 30 seconds are slime molds, the last 1.5 minutes are fungi)
- Lab: Grow your own Fungi Kit- Oyster Mushrooms. Students will be able to grow mushrooms out of a box in the classroom. They will be able to track growth, and then look at all the different parts, once they are fully grown.
- Lab: Growing fungi on petri-dishes. Keeping the petri-dish open for one hour in different areas of the school. They are then sealed and incubated. One week later, studetns will be able to see the different type sof gungi that grow just from the spores in the air.
References
All images are from wikipedia.org unless otherwise stated.
Giuseppe, M., Fraser, D, LeDrew, B, & Roberts, J. (2003). Biology 11: College Preparation. Nelson, Canada.
Ellis, C., Muller, M.R., Panayiotou, H. E., Sharp, J. C., Webb, P. (2011). Biology Source 11. Pearson Investigating Science, Toronto.
Amazon.com "Oyster Growing Kit" . Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.amazon.com/Back-Roots-Oyster-Mushroom-Kit/dp/B0052Z92WA
BBC. "Cordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlife - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8
"Fascinating World of Fungi - Activities & Information." Home Science Tools | Microscopes, Chemistry Supplies, Biology Supplies.Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.hometrainingtools.com/fungi-science-article/a/1312/
"Fungi - Part Two - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETRX1-3fqRo
"Fungi - Part Two - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETRX1-3fqRo
Great Pacific Media. "Fungi are Heterotrophic | Biology - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeCVdLHB5dY&
Mind Tools "Plus, Minus, Interesting - Decision-Making Tools" Mind Tools - Management Training, Leadership Training and Career Training. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_05.htm
"Slime mold - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GScyw3ammmk
Smarter Science. "P.E.O.E Steps | Smarter Science." Smarter Science. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://smarterscience.youthscience.ca/peoe-steps
StoryTeller Media. "Planet Wild - Fungi | Storyteller Media - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_rprVa-RY4
"The Good the Bad and the Deadly." YouTube. Mushroom Pro. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m4QQ_n6bq0
Giuseppe, M., Fraser, D, LeDrew, B, & Roberts, J. (2003). Biology 11: College Preparation. Nelson, Canada.
Ellis, C., Muller, M.R., Panayiotou, H. E., Sharp, J. C., Webb, P. (2011). Biology Source 11. Pearson Investigating Science, Toronto.
Amazon.com "Oyster Growing Kit" . Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.amazon.com/Back-Roots-Oyster-Mushroom-Kit/dp/B0052Z92WA
BBC. "Cordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlife - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8
"Fascinating World of Fungi - Activities & Information." Home Science Tools | Microscopes, Chemistry Supplies, Biology Supplies.Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.hometrainingtools.com/fungi-science-article/a/1312/
"Fungi - Part Two - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETRX1-3fqRo
"Fungi - Part Two - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETRX1-3fqRo
Great Pacific Media. "Fungi are Heterotrophic | Biology - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeCVdLHB5dY&
Mind Tools "Plus, Minus, Interesting - Decision-Making Tools" Mind Tools - Management Training, Leadership Training and Career Training. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_05.htm
"Slime mold - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GScyw3ammmk
Smarter Science. "P.E.O.E Steps | Smarter Science." Smarter Science. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://smarterscience.youthscience.ca/peoe-steps
StoryTeller Media. "Planet Wild - Fungi | Storyteller Media - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_rprVa-RY4
"The Good the Bad and the Deadly." YouTube. Mushroom Pro. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2013 from: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m4QQ_n6bq0