BROOKS BIODIVERSITY UNIT 3
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULLY SOLVED QUESTION SET
◉Dikaryon. Answer: Dikaryon hyphae - possess 2 genetically
different nuclei in each cell (n + n)
◉What is the difference between heterokaryon and dikaryon?.
Answer: The number of nuclei. Heterokaryon can have more than
two nuclei, however dikaryon is precisely two.
◉Plasmogamy. Answer: fusion of the cytoplasm
Plasma membrane of the hyphae fuse
Comes first before dikaryotic stage and karyogamy
Two different n's come together to form n + n
First Part of Syngamy
◉Dikaryotic Stage. Answer: Stage between Plasmogamy and
Karyogamy
,Plasma membrane and cytoplasm have fused, but nuclei have not
joined yet
(n + n)
◉Karyogamy. Answer: The different nuclei within the same hyphae
fuse
2n
Second Part of Syngamy
◉Phylum Zygomycota. Answer: We don't know if their cells are
haploid or diploid
Mostly Terrestrial
Spores dispersed by air
Coenocytic with few or NO septa, meaning that they are
multinucleate with no cell wall
Possesses a Fruiting Body called Zygosporangium
Ex: Rhizopus (Genus)
Pilobolus (genus)
◉Rhizopus. Answer: Genus
Black Bread mold
Responsible for mold growth on peaches, sweet potatoes, and bread.
Reproduction carried out by zygospores
, ◉Pilobolus. Answer: Genus
Shotgun Fungi
Uses air to disperse spores
◉Fruiting Body. Answer: Something that houses seeds or spores
◉Dispersion Spores. Answer: Asexual
◉Survival Spores. Answer: Sexual
◉Phylum Zygomycota Reproduction. Answer: 1. Pheromones
released start sexual reproduction ( "+" and "-" come together)
2. Gametangia are created on each side of the hyphae that join
together
3. In plasmogamy, gametangia fuse their cytoplasm, and young
heterokaryotic zygosporangium are produced (n + n)
4. Each pair of hyphae produced one sporangium - in this case a
zygosporangium
◉Phylum Ascomycota. Answer: Largest class/group of fungi
Free living & symbiotic
Unicellular (yeasts) to large fungus
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULLY SOLVED QUESTION SET
◉Dikaryon. Answer: Dikaryon hyphae - possess 2 genetically
different nuclei in each cell (n + n)
◉What is the difference between heterokaryon and dikaryon?.
Answer: The number of nuclei. Heterokaryon can have more than
two nuclei, however dikaryon is precisely two.
◉Plasmogamy. Answer: fusion of the cytoplasm
Plasma membrane of the hyphae fuse
Comes first before dikaryotic stage and karyogamy
Two different n's come together to form n + n
First Part of Syngamy
◉Dikaryotic Stage. Answer: Stage between Plasmogamy and
Karyogamy
,Plasma membrane and cytoplasm have fused, but nuclei have not
joined yet
(n + n)
◉Karyogamy. Answer: The different nuclei within the same hyphae
fuse
2n
Second Part of Syngamy
◉Phylum Zygomycota. Answer: We don't know if their cells are
haploid or diploid
Mostly Terrestrial
Spores dispersed by air
Coenocytic with few or NO septa, meaning that they are
multinucleate with no cell wall
Possesses a Fruiting Body called Zygosporangium
Ex: Rhizopus (Genus)
Pilobolus (genus)
◉Rhizopus. Answer: Genus
Black Bread mold
Responsible for mold growth on peaches, sweet potatoes, and bread.
Reproduction carried out by zygospores
, ◉Pilobolus. Answer: Genus
Shotgun Fungi
Uses air to disperse spores
◉Fruiting Body. Answer: Something that houses seeds or spores
◉Dispersion Spores. Answer: Asexual
◉Survival Spores. Answer: Sexual
◉Phylum Zygomycota Reproduction. Answer: 1. Pheromones
released start sexual reproduction ( "+" and "-" come together)
2. Gametangia are created on each side of the hyphae that join
together
3. In plasmogamy, gametangia fuse their cytoplasm, and young
heterokaryotic zygosporangium are produced (n + n)
4. Each pair of hyphae produced one sporangium - in this case a
zygosporangium
◉Phylum Ascomycota. Answer: Largest class/group of fungi
Free living & symbiotic
Unicellular (yeasts) to large fungus
