Fungi produce chemicals that can affect other organisms around them.
Examples:
- Breaking down dead material
- Preventing bacteria from growing nearby
- Interacting with plant roots
Why this matters:
Some of these chemicals are used by humans, including antibiotics.
Think about it:
Why would it be useful for a fungus to stop bacteria from growing nearby?
Learn more:
- Search: “fungi antibiotics penicillin discovery”
- Topic: secondary metabolites