Dikarya
Dikarya
Dikarya (pronounced: di-kar-ya) is a subkingdom of the kingdom Fungi that includes two of the most familiar phyla, the Ascomycota and the Basidiomycota. These two phyla are distinguished by a unique characteristic: the presence of dikaryotic cells, which contain two genetically distinct nuclei.
Etymology
The term "Dikarya" is derived from the Greek words "di", meaning two, and "karyon", meaning nucleus. This refers to the defining characteristic of organisms in this subkingdom, which have cells with two distinct nuclei.
Characteristics
Dikarya fungi are characterized by a unique cellular organization. In the dikaryotic phase, each cell contains two genetically distinct nuclei, a condition known as dikaryosis. This is a result of a sexual reproduction process where the nuclei from two parent cells do not immediately fuse after cell fusion, but coexist in the same cell.
Classification
Dikarya is a subkingdom within the kingdom Fungi. It is further divided into two phyla: Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. These two phyla encompass a wide variety of fungi, including yeasts, molds, and mushrooms.
Ascomycota
Ascomycota, commonly known as sac fungi, is one of the largest phyla within the kingdom Fungi. They are characterized by the presence of a sac-like structure, the ascus, which contains the spores.
Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota, commonly known as club fungi, is another large phylum within the kingdom Fungi. They are characterized by the presence of a club-shaped structure, the basidium, which produces the spores.
Related Terms
- Fungi: The kingdom to which Dikarya belongs.
- Ascomycota: One of the two phyla within the subkingdom Dikarya.
- Basidiomycota: One of the two phyla within the subkingdom Dikarya.
- Dikaryosis: The condition of having two genetically distinct nuclei in a single cell, characteristic of Dikarya.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dikarya
- Wikipedia's article - Dikarya
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