MICOLOGY

Did you know that fungus is of great use to mankind? From the formulation of new drugs like Penicillin to the production of edible items like cheese, mushrooms and of course wine, fungi is put to use for a plethora of purposes.
If facts about fungus interests you then opting for a course in Mycology can certainly give you the required edge. By now, it is definitely clear that Mycology is branch of science that involves the study of fungi. The subject was originally a part of Botany. However, from an evolutionary aspect, fungi were closely related to animals and did carry a few similar traits like that of animals, compared to plants.

Eminent scientists and biologists like Anton de Bary, Elias Magnus Fries, Lewis David von Schweinitz and Christian Hendrik Persoon are rightly known as ‘Fathers of Mycology‘.

Do you remember reading about fungi in the biology books at school? If yes then you would certainly reckon that fungi are better known as symbionts. Studies even show that they play a cardinal role in the global carbon cycle. Lichens and Mycorrhizae are examples of such symbiotic fungi. These species are worth a mention because organic biomolecules like lignin, usually present in woods and harmful pollutants like petroleum, hydrocarbons and Xenobiotics are easily decomposed by fungi.