Genetic manipulation of fungi has been perhaps one of the most useful and powerful tools in deciphering biochemical pathways, developing new pharmaceutical drugs, determining the roles of certain fungal genes in human and plant parasitism, and increasing the vigor and productivity of fungi involved in industrial processes. Fungi are haploid which makes them ideal tools for genetic analysis. They have asexual and sexual reproduction and some have their meiotic products arranged in an orderly fashion that reflects the precise order of meiotic events, and their biochemical pathways and cellular organization are virtually identical to those of higher eukaryotes. In addition, they have alternative genetic systems called heterokaryosis and parasexuality. Many human mascular diseases can also be studied indirectly because of the fact that fungi possess a similar organization of their cytoskeleton as do human cells.
Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually.
In general, asexual reproduction is more important for the propagation of the species because it results in the production of numerous individuals. Sexual reproduction, on the other hand, occurs less frequently than asexual reproduction. It is a means of generating genetic variability that can help the fungus survive by adapting to new environments. The generalized life cycles of the different groups of fungi are shown in the handout. Study the cycling from asexual to the sexual phases in some of the groups.