Question 1

What are fungi?

Accepted Answer

Fungi are living things like mushrooms, mold, and yeast. They are neither plants nor animals but have their own group.

Question 2

Where do fungi live?

Accepted Answer

Fungi can live almost anywhere, like in soil, on plants, in water, or even on other living things, including humans.

Question 3

Why are fungi important?

Accepted Answer

Fungi help break down dead plants and animals, turning them into nutrients that make the soil healthy for plants to grow.

Question 4

How do fungi help plants?

Accepted Answer

Some fungi grow on plant roots and help them get water and nutrients from the soil, which helps the plants grow better.

Question 5

Can fungi be eaten?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some fungi, like mushrooms, are safe and tasty to eat, but others can be poisonous so you should never pick and eat wild fungi.

Question 6

What is mold?

Accepted Answer

Mold is a type of fungus that grows on food and other surfaces. It can look fuzzy or slimy, and sometimes it can be different colors.

Question 7

How do fungi grow?

Accepted Answer

Fungi grow from tiny spores that float in the air. When these spores land on something wet or damp, they start to grow.

Question 8

Do fungi help animals?

Accepted Answer

Yes, fungi help animals by breaking down dead plants and animals, which recycles nutrients and makes the environment clean.

Question 9

Are fungi used in food products?

Accepted Answer

Yes, fungi like yeast are used to make bread rise and to brew beer. Mold is used to make some cheeses like blue cheese.

Question 10

Can fungi make people sick?

Accepted Answer

Some fungi can make people sick, causing skin rashes or allergies, especially if they breathe in lots of mold spores.

Question 11

What do fungi eat?

Accepted Answer

Fungi eat by absorbing nutrients from other living or dead things. They break these things down to get their food.

Question 12

What do mushrooms do?

Accepted Answer

Mushrooms are the fruit of some fungi and they help spread spores to make more fungi.

Question 13

How are fungi and plants different?

Accepted Answer

Plants make their own food using sunlight, while fungi get their food by breaking down other things.

Question 14

Can fungi be helpful in medicine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, fungi have given us important medicines like antibiotics, which help fight infections and make people better.

Question 15

Why do fungi grow on food?

Accepted Answer

Fungi like mold grow on food because they find it a good source of nutrients and moisture they need to grow.

Question 16

What would happen if there were no fungi?

Accepted Answer

Without fungi, dead plants and animals wouldn’t break down, and the soil wouldn’t have enough nutrients for new plants to grow.

Question 17

Do fungi have seeds?

Accepted Answer

No, fungi do not have seeds. They have spores, which are tiny bits that help them spread and grow.

Question 18

Why do some fungi glow in the dark?

Accepted Answer

Some fungi glow in the dark to attract insects, which helps them spread their spores further away.

Question 19

What is yeast?

Accepted Answer

Yeast is a type of fungus that is used in baking to help bread rise by producing bubbles of gas.

Question 20

Do all fungi look like mushrooms?

Accepted Answer

No, not all fungi look like mushrooms. Some may look like mold on old bread or yeast used in baking.

The Science of Fungi: Role in Ecosystems and Human Life - 20 FAQs Explained Simply