Laura Smith
Mushrooms, which are a type of fungus, possess DNA that is surprisingly similar to that of humans, sharing nearly 50% of the same genetic material. This is a fascinating discovery, as it places mushrooms closer to animals than plants in terms of genetic relationships. Recent research has delved into the unique genetic mechanisms of mushrooms, revealing that paternal and maternal DNA in mushrooms are active at different times during development, a phenomenon not previously understood. Furthermore, mushrooms exhibit alternative splicing, a process where a single gene can produce different proteins, which has been linked to various health conditions in mammals. The study of mushroom DNA not only enhances our understanding of their genetic individuality or mosaicism but also holds potential for breeding new strains to improve edible mushroom cultivation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| DNA similarity | Mushrooms share more DNA with humans than with plants |
| Genetic composition | Mushrooms have two different nuclei in their cells, each with different genetic material |
| Vitamin D production | Mushrooms produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, similar to humans |
| Carbohydrate energy storage | Mushrooms store carbohydrate energy as glycogen, similar to humans |
| Cell wall composition | Fungi, including mushrooms, use the polysaccharide chitin to build cell walls, similar to insects |
| Motility | Some fungi can move or crawl, a characteristic not observed in plants |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms and humans share nearly 50% of their DNA
Mushrooms, which are a type of fungus, share nearly 50% of their DNA with humans. This means that mushrooms are more closely related to humans than to plants. Fungi and animals share genetic characteristics that plants do not have. Scientists first began to suspect this relationship in the 1950s, and have since confirmed it.
The discovery that mushrooms and humans share so much DNA has implications for medicine and mental health treatments. For example, fungi have developed immunities to some viruses that affect humans and animals. By studying this, we may be able to strengthen our defences against these viruses. Additionally, mushrooms (specifically Psilocybin) are believed to be useful in the treatment of mental health conditions like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression.
Research into the DNA of fungi has also revealed that they have two different nuclei in their cells, each with different genetic material. A mushroom inherits DNA from both parents, but this is not mixed in a single nucleus as in humans. Instead, genes on both parental DNAs are expressed at different times in the development process. This discovery has implications for the breeding of new strains of edible mushrooms.
Despite the close relationship between mushrooms and humans, there are still some key differences. For example, fungi like Cordyceps, or Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, can live as parasites in the brains of various animals and insects, posing a threat to human health. Additionally, while mushrooms may share more DNA with humans than plants, it is important to note that DNA is complex, and the specific genes shared between species can vary.
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Mushrooms are part of the Kingdom Fungi
Mushrooms are indeed part of the Kingdom Fungi, which is composed of seven phyla: Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, Glomeromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Microsporidia. Fungi, including mushrooms, are more closely related to animals than to plants, sharing genetic characteristics that plants do not have.
The word "fungus" is derived from the Latin "fungus" (mushroom), which was used in the writings of Horace and Pliny. The English word is directly adopted from this Latin term, which in turn comes from the Greek "sphongos" ("sponge"), referring to the macroscopic structures and morphology of mushrooms and molds. The study of fungi is known as mycology, derived from the Greek "mykes" ("mushroom") and "logos" ("discourse").
The classification of Kingdom Fungi is the result of collaborative research by dozens of mycologists and other scientists working on fungal taxonomy. It recognizes seven phyla, two of which—the Ascomycota and the Basidiomycota—are contained within the subkingdom Dikarya, which includes all the mushrooms. Fungi are some of the most widely distributed organisms on Earth and are of great environmental and medical importance. They are primarily composed of water (69–90%), carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.
Mushrooms have DNA that is closer to humans than to plants. Fungi share around 50% of their DNA with humans, with only a few tiny changes in DNA structure setting them apart. This genetic relationship may be responsible for the meaty taste of mushrooms, although this has not been proven. Mushrooms inherit DNA from both parents, but this is not mixed in a single nucleus as in humans. Instead, genes from the parental DNAs are expressed at different times in mushroom development.
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Mushrooms have two nuclei in their cells, each with different genetic material
Mushrooms are a member of the fungi group, which also includes yeasts and moulds. Fungi are distinct from plants, bacteria, and some protists due to the presence of chitin in their cell walls. They are more closely related to animals than plants, sharing nearly 50% of their DNA with humans. This genetic overlap is responsible for the meaty taste of mushrooms.
Fungi, including mushrooms, have a unique life cycle. They begin as spores, which are single cells, each with one nucleus containing one set of chromosomes, known as haploid. When a spore germinates, it forms a network of threads called a monokaryon, which is short-lived and requires merging with another spore or monokaryon to survive. The resulting cells contain two nuclei, forming a dikaryon with two distinct haploid nuclei.
The two nuclei in the dikaryon work together, and when the conditions are right, they can form mushrooms through genetic recombination, or the reshuffling of parental genetic material. This process occurs in the basidia, the special cells on the gills or branches of certain mushroom species. The two nuclei of the dikaryon fuse to form one nucleus with two sets of chromosomes, becoming a diploid cell, and two new nuclei are formed.
Additionally, mushrooms exhibit nucleus-specific gene expression, with paternal and maternal DNA active at different times during development. This discovery has important implications for understanding mushroom formation and breeding new strains of edible mushrooms. Furthermore, mushrooms may have between two and 25 nuclei per cell, and these nuclei contribute differently to the regulation of fungal cells and their environment.
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Mushrooms and humans produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight
Mushrooms are part of the Fungi kingdom and are more closely related to animals than plants. Genetic comparisons have revealed that mushrooms share nearly 50% of their DNA with humans.
Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for calcium absorption, bone health, and immune function. Exposing mushrooms to sunlight or UV light increases their vitamin D content. This occurs because mushrooms contain high concentrations of the vitamin D precursor, provitamin D2, which is converted to previtamin D2 when exposed to UV radiation.
Similarly, humans also produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. When sunlight hits human skin cells, vitamin D is synthesized. This is why people living in the northern hemisphere tend to have lower levels of vitamin D during the fall, winter, and spring, as they receive less sunlight.
It is important to note that while mushrooms exposed to sunlight can increase their vitamin D content, the process requires specific conditions, including the right intensity and duration of UV exposure. Commercial settings can optimize vitamin D synthesis in mushrooms by regulating UV exposure.
Vitamin D is also available through dietary sources such as fatty fish, fortified dairy products, eggs, and fortified plant-based foods.
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Mushrooms are more closely related to animals than plants
Mushrooms, which are a type of fungus, share more DNA with humans than with plants. Fungi and animals share genetic characteristics that plants do not have. In fact, humans and mushrooms are nearly 50% similar in their DNA composition. This is because animals and fungi share a common ancestor, and only later did they branch away from plants about 1.1 billion years ago. Fungi split from animals about 1.538 billion years ago, whereas plants split from animals about 1.547 billion years ago, making fungi more closely related to animals than to plants.
Fungi also have unique characteristics that set them apart from plants. Some fungi can move or seem to crawl, an ability known as motility, which is achieved through flagella, a tail that whips like a sperm cell. This characteristic is shared by animals, but no plant can do that.
Genetic studies have further supported the idea that animals and fungi are each other's closest relatives. In 1993, researchers Baldouf and Palmer published a paper titled 'Animals and fungi are each other's closest relatives: congruent evidence from multiple proteins'. They compared 25 proteins and their DNA sequences, finding congruent evidence that placed animals and fungi as sister groups, while plants constituted an independent evolutionary lineage.
Additionally, mushrooms have paternal and maternal DNA that is active at different times in their development. This phenomenon was discovered by TU Delft doctoral candidate Thies Gehrmann, who found that genes on both parental DNAs are expressed at different times in the mushroom formation process. This new understanding of mushroom DNA can have practical applications, such as breeding new strains to improve the cultivation of edible mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mushrooms have DNA. Mushrooms are part of the fungal kingdom and have a genetic composition that is more similar to humans than plants.
Humans share nearly 50% of their DNA with fungi, according to mycologist and author Paul Stamets.
One implication is that oral antifungals can be dangerous for humans. Another implication is that mushrooms, like humans, produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
Mushrooms inherit DNA from both parents, but this is not mixed in a single nucleus as in humans. Instead, genes on both parental DNAs are expressed at different times in the development process.
