What are the distinct characters of fungi?

Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants. Fungi are heterotrophic: they use complex organic compounds as sources of energy and carbon, not photosynthesis. Fungi multiply either asexually, sexually, or both. The majority of fungi produce spores, which are defined as haploid cells that can undergo mitosis to form multicellular, haploid individuals. Fungi interact with other organisms by either forming beneficial or mutualistic associations (mycorrhizae and lichens ) or by causing serious infections. Fungal cell walls are rigid and contain complex polysaccharides called chitin (adds structural strength) and glucans. Ergosterol is the steroid molecule in the cell membranes that replaces the cholesterol found in animal cell membranes. Fungi can be unicellular, multicellular, or dimorphic, which is when the fungi is unicellular or multicellular depending on environmental conditions. Fungi in the morphological vegetative stage consist of a tangle of slender, thread-like hyphae, whereas the reproductive stage is usually more obvious. Fungi like to be in a moist and slightly acidic environment; they can grow with or without light or oxygen. Fungi are saprophyte heterotrophs in that they use dead or decomposing organic matter as a source of carbon. read less