Difference Between Yeast and Fungus

Yeast vs Fungus

Fungus belongs to the fungi kingdom. Yeast, which is somewhat related to a mushroom, is unicellular fungi.

Fungus is made up of hyphae. These are long tubes that form branches and cover many areas.

In the fungus kingdom, there are over 80,000 known species. As there are thousands of species, it is hard to tell about the general characteristics of the fungus. A fungus comes with many features including a lack of vascular tissues and chlorophyll. As it does not contain chlorophyll, fungi cannot prepare their own food thorough photosynthesis. And as they do not contain vascular tissues, they have certain restrictions to the nutrients that they get.

Yeasts reproduce through budding. Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually. Some fungi reproduce through spores and some others by producing clones of themselves.

Yeasts and fungi have been known for very long years. Archaeologists have discovered the presence of yeast in breweries and bakeries in Egypt that date back to about 4,000 years ago. It was only in the 19th century that people could have some thoughts about what yeast is. Louis Pasteur was the first to proclaim that yeast was a living organism. The foaming and rising of food items was because of the fermentation process undergoing due to the presence of yeast.

Fungus plays an important role in the nutrient cycling and also in the decomposition of organic matter. They are also used as food, such as truffles and mushrooms. The fungus, especially yeast, is used in the fermentation process of various food products. Fungus is also used for producing antibiotics. They also function as biological pesticides.

Summary:

1.Fungus is made of hyphae. These are long tubes that form branches and cover many areas.
2.Yeast, which is somewhat related to the mushroom, is unicellular fungi.
3.In the fungus kingdom, there are over 80,000 known species and yeast is one of them.
4.The fungus comes with many features including lack of vascular tissues and chlorophyll.
5.Yeasts reproduce through budding. Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually. Some fungi reproduce through spores and some others by producing clones of themselves.
6.Archaeologists have discovered the presence of yeast in breweries and bakeries in Egypt that date back to about 4,000 years ago.
7.It was only in the 19th century that people could have some thoughts about what yeast is. Louis Pasteur was the first to proclaim that yeast was a living organism.

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