Fungi share a distant ancestor with humans, communicate chemically, move, and defend themselves with powerful toxins and strategies.
Humans and fungi share a distant ancestor, a single-celled organism resembling an amoeba. This early creature, capable of movement and heterotrophic feeding, eventually diverged into two major evolutionary lines—one leading to fungi, the other to animals. While humans and fungi have differences, like fungi’s cell walls versus human cell membranes, they still share similarities, such as storing energy as glycogen and fat.
Fungal Communication and Movement
Fungi are more dynamic than commonly thought. Some species can move, either through slime-like stages or via flagella, propelling themselves in water or soil. They also communicate chemically, sending signals to find mates, sometimes having two or even four sexes. This chemical dialogue enables them to coordinate behaviors, such as sexual reproduction.
Fungal Defenses
Fungi defend themselves with chemical weapons, like penicillin, to protect against bacteria and other threats. They also produce toxins, with some species being deadly to humans, while others, like the world’s largest fungus in Oregon, conquer vast forest territories.