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What Defines the "Kingdom" Fungi?
Thomas A Richards1,2, Guy Leonard1, Jeremy G Wideman1
1Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Microbiology Spectrum
|June 24, 2017
Summary
The Fungi kingdom
Area of Science:
- Mycology and evolutionary biology.
- Genomics and bioinformatics.
- Microbial diversity and taxonomy.
Background:
- Modern molecular techniques challenge traditional taxonomic classifications.
- The definition and boundaries of the Fungi kingdom are in flux.
- Understanding fungal evolution requires integrating diverse data types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on the early evolution and definition of Fungi.
- To discuss the challenges in identifying a unique fungal synapomorphy.
- To highlight recent discoveries of taxa near the fungal clade.
Main Methods:
- Comparative genomics and analysis of cellular characteristics.
- Phylogenomic analysis of newly discovered taxa.
- Synthesis of multiple data streams for evolutionary insights.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests a lack of a single defining synapomorphic trait for Fungi.
- Novel microbial groups adjacent to the fungal clade have been identified.
- Genomic and cellular data necessitate reevaluation of fungal taxonomy.
Conclusions:
- The definition of Fungi remains dynamic and debated.
- Ongoing research integrates diverse data to refine fungal evolutionary understanding.
- Identifying the drivers of fungal diversification is a key future direction.
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