They are classified as eukaryotes , i.e., they have a diploid number of chromosomes and a nuclear membrane and have sterols in their plasma membrane. Genetic complexity allows morphologic complexity and thus these organisms have complex structural features that are used in speciation. Fungi can be divided into two basic morphological forms, yeasts and hyphae. Dimorphism is the condition where by a fungus can exhibit either the yeast form or the hyphal form, depending on growth conditions. Very few fungi exhibit dimorphism.
Most fungi occur in the hyphae form as branching, threadlike tubular filaments.
In some cases septate hyphae develop clamp connections at the septa which connect the hyphal elements. Reproduced with permission. Relatively large and complex conidia are termed macroconidia while the smaller and more simple conidia are termed microconidia . Asexual reproduction , via conidia formation, does not involve genetic recombination between two sexual types whereas sexual reproduction does involve genetic recombination between two sexual types. Metabolism All fungi are free living, i.e., they are not obligate intracellular parasites.