Which group includes mushrooms, yeasts, and molds?

• A. Fungi
• B. Bacteria
• C. Protozoa
• D. Viruses

Answer: (A)

Mushrooms, yeasts, and molds are all fungi. They are eukaryotic organisms with cells that contain a nucleus and organelles, and their cell walls typically contain chitin. Fungi obtain nutrients by absorption and include both multicellular forms (like mushrooms and molds) and unicellular forms (like yeasts), often reproducing by spores. This set of features distinguishes them from other groups: bacteria are prokaryotes without a nucleus and have peptidoglycan in their cell walls; protozoa are another group of single-celled eukaryotes that are not fungi; viruses are acellular particles that need a host to replicate. Recognizing that these organisms all fall under fungi helps separate them from the other categories, which is important in health and safety contexts such as cleanliness, mold prevention, and microbial risk assessment.