Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are known to have a staggering number of sexes, with estimates ranging from 17,000 to 36,000. This is because, unlike animals, mushrooms don't have distinct genders and instead have what are known as 'mating types'. They have two points in their genetic structure that come in different forms, leading to this extreme variation. Mushrooms can swap any sort of genetic material, so the concept of gender is not necessary for them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sexes | 36,000 |
| Number of mating types | 23,328 |
| Species | Schizophyllum commune |
| Shape | White and fan-shaped |
| Reason for multiple sexes | Widespread differentiation in the genetic locations that govern sexual behavior |
| Reason for multiple sexes | Underground fronds |
| Reason for multiple sexes | Keeping mitochondria separate |
| Reason for multiple sexes | Bumping into another member of its species and exchanging genes |
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What You'll Learn
Fungi have a different mating process to animals
Fungi have a vastly different mating process to animals. While humans have two sexes, certain fungi species can have thousands or even tens of thousands of biological sexes. For instance, Schizophyllum commune has been reported to have over 23,000 sexes.
Fungi have a unique sexual reproduction process. The process of sexual reproduction among fungi involves the fusion of two protoplasts (plasmogamy), bringing together two compatible haploid nuclei. However, the nuclear membrane remains intact throughout the process, which is not the case with other eukaryotes, such as animals. The two nuclei fuse (karyogamy), resulting in a diploid nucleus with two sets of chromosomes. This is followed by meiosis, where the diploid state is broken down into two haploid nuclei, each containing a single set of chromosomes.
Fungi have different mating types, and they must procreate with a partner of a different type. The concept of gender is not relevant, as fungi can swap any sort of genetic material. Instead, fungi form a clamp connection, allowing their nuclei to pass from one cell to another. This coupling can be thought of in terms of mating types rather than sexes. Some fungi species are bipolar, with two mating types, while others, like Schizophyllum commune, have thousands of mating types.
The mating process in fungi involves the development of complementary organs, resembling gametangia, which contain only nuclei. A bridge, called a trichogyne, forms between the "male" antheridium and the "female" ascogonium, allowing the passage of nuclei. This process is observed in the red bread mold, Neurospora crassa, which is used as a model organism for its simplicity in genetic analysis.
Some fungi are hermaphroditic, bearing both male and female gametangia, while others are dioecious, with separate individuals producing gametangia of different sexes. Self-fertilization is rare in fungi, as most species have genetic barriers to prevent selfing. Instead, they employ various methods to bring together compatible nuclei, including the production of specialized sex cells (gametes) and the use of pheromones and pheromone receptors to recognize potential mates.
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Fungi can swap any type of genetic material
Mushrooms have been found to have a wide range of sexes, with estimates ranging from 17,000 to 36,000. This is because, unlike animals, fungi can swap any type of genetic material.
Fungi have what are called "mating types" or "sexes" that are determined by the different forms of two points in their genetic structure. This means that the concept of gender is not necessary for fungi, as it is for animals. Instead, they form a ""clamp connection" that allows their nuclei and genetic information to pass from one cell to another.
The number of mating types varies across different species of fungi. For example, some species are bipolar, with two mating types, while others, like Schizophyllum commune, have thousands or even tens of thousands of mating types. S. commune is a white, fan-shaped mushroom that has been found to have over 23,000 different sexual identities due to widespread differentiation in the genetic locations that govern its sexual behavior.
The benefit of having multiple mating types is that it reduces inbreeding and increases genetic diversity. This may be why S. commune is one of the most widespread fungi in the world, growing everywhere except Antarctica.
The process of mating in fungi is also very different from that of animals. Instead of requiring specialized sexual organs, fungi simply need to bump into another member of their species and let their cells fuse together. This casual approach to reproduction means that a potentially huge number of sexes is possible.
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Fungi have multiple mating types
Fungi have no specific sexual organs to distinguish potential partners for sexual reproduction. Instead, they rely on mating types to control mating and sexual reproduction. Most lineages of fungi possess only two alternate mating types, but up to thousands of multiple mating types have evolved per species within the Basidiomycetes. For example, the mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea has an estimated 12,000 distinct mating types, and Schizophyllum commune has over thousands upon thousands of mating types. The mushroom Coprinellus disseminatus is another example of a fungus with multiple mating types, exhibiting bipolar mating systems ruled by a single allelic mating locus.
The presence of multiple mating types in fungi is believed to be related to their method of sexual reproduction. Unlike humans, who reproduce by fusing cells together, fungi keep their partners' cells separate during mating. This allows them to have a diverse sex life while avoiding the competition between mitochondria that can occur when two sets of mitochondria occupy the same cell space. By keeping their mitochondria separate, fungi prevent the spread of harmful mitochondrial mutations through the population. This strategy, known as the "Berlin Wall" strategy, is used by many lower species with multiple sexes, including ciliate bacteria.
The evolution of multiple mating types in fungi is influenced by the presence of paralogous sets of HD and PR genes, which have evolved through gene duplications and sequence diversification. These paralogous genes are freely interchangeable, allowing for the generation of a large number of distinct mating types. The mating type genes are located in the homeobox and encode enzymes responsible for producing pheromones and pheromone receptors. The pheromone perception triggers sexual development, and the N-terminal dimerization domain allows homeodomain proteins to choose compatible partners.
The concept of gender is not as relevant in the fungi world, as they can swap any sort of genetic material. Instead, the focus is on mating types and ensuring that mating occurs between genetically diverse individuals. Fungi form a clamp connection that enables their nuclei to pass from one cell to another during reproduction. This reciprocal fertilization contributes to the increasing number of possible distinct mating types.
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Mushrooms have a sex gene
Mushrooms have what is known as a "mating type". They have two points in their genetic structure that come in different forms, leading to a staggering variation of potential mates. Mushrooms reproduce by forming a clamp connection, which allows their nuclei to pass from one cell to another. This means that the fungi must procreate with another fungus of a different type.
The number of sexes is determined by the method of sexual reproduction. The mitochondria, which sit outside the nucleus and generate energy for the cell, play a crucial role. In mushrooms, the mitochondria from the two parents never enter the same cell space, creating a Berlin Wall strategy that prevents harmful mutations from spreading through the population.
The Schizophyllum commune, a white, fan-shaped mushroom, is a notable example of a mushroom with a high number of sexes. It has over 23,000 different sexual identities due to widespread differentiation in the genetic locations governing its sexual behaviour. This mushroom grows all over the world, except for Antarctica, and might be one of the most widespread fungi globally.
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Fungi's method of reproduction allows for a huge number of sexes
Mushrooms have a very different method of reproduction compared to humans and other animals. Fungi can swap any sort of genetic material, so the concept of gender becomes irrelevant. Instead, they have what are called "mating types". These mating types are determined by two points in their genetic structure that come in different forms, leading to a staggering variation in the number of sexes.
The white, fan-shaped mushroom Schizophyllum commune, for example, has more than 23,000 different sexual identities, a result of widespread differentiation in the genetic locations that govern its sexual behaviour. This mushroom uses a special kind of structure called a ""clamp connection" that allows their nuclei to pass from one cell to another, along with the genetic information inside.
Other species of fungi also have multiple mating types. The main requirement is that the fungi must procreate with a fungus of a different type. This means that a potentially huge number of sexes is possible. For split gills, while not every combination is fertile, each mating type still has 22,960 possible mates, so the chances of finding a compatible partner are very good.
The number of sexes in fungi is determined by their method of sexual reproduction. In particular, it depends on the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell that sit outside the nucleus and generate energy for the cell. The difference with mushrooms is that they never allow the two sets of mitochondria to come into the same cell space to compete. This means that while a mushroom can have sex with almost every companion it meets, harmful mitochondrial mutations are restricted to the parent carrying them and cannot easily spread through the population.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms have what we call 'mating types' instead of genders. They have two points in their genetic structure that come in different forms, leading to this staggering variation.
Mushrooms mate by bumping into another member of their species and fusing their cells together. This is made possible by a structure called a "clamp connection", which allows their nuclei and genetic information to pass from one cell to another.
More mating types mean less inbreeding, which results in greater genetic diversity. This might explain why certain types of mushrooms, like Schizophyllum commune, are so widespread.
