Biology / Unit 9 Bio 2023 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Fungal Characteristics: Heterotrophic Absorption and the Chitin Wall
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The idea
Fungi are heterotrophic, absorbing nutrients after digesting them externally, and build cell walls from chitin, the polymer found in arthropod exoskeletons.
In practice
A fungus secretes exoenzymes into its surroundings, breaking down organic matter into small molecules before absorbing them through the wall.
Where people slip
Fungal digestion runs opposite to animal digestion — a fungus digests its food before ingesting it, not after.
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