Evolution of Fungi

Abstract

Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants. The evolutionary origin of fungi is important in determining the phylogenetic relationships between fungi, animals, and plants, and in questioning a previous view of the origin of life, which stated that photosynthetic organisms were the first to evolve since they were utilized by heterotrophs as a food source. The key evidence in support of a fungi-animalia clade includes analysis of protein sequences biosynthetic pathways, cytochrome systems, mitochondrial genetic material, biochemical and structural cellular features, glycoproteins, mode of nutrition, and storage of nutritive materials. The hypothesis that fungi evolved from algae, the ancestor of photosynthetic plants is not well supported, The hypothesis that fungi evolved independently of both plants and animals is also not supported.