Did you know that fungi are more similar to the human genome than to plants, and there is a genetic relationship between fungi and humans? It may sound unbelievable at first, but the truth is that fungi and humans share many similarities at the genetic level.
At the most basic level, fungi and humans are eukaryotic organisms, which basically means we are both made up of cells that have a nucleus and complex structures that perform specific functions, called organelles. This distinguishes us from prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria, which do not have a nucleus.
What’s more intriguing is that we actually share many of the same genes. To be more specific, according to a study published in the journal Nature in 2012, over 90% of fungal genes have a human homolog, which means they have a corresponding gene in the human genome.
Now, you may be wondering: what exactly do these shared genes mean for human health? In fact, the implications are significant. For example, the genes regulating the immune system are common between fungi and humans. This means that studying how fungi interact with the immune system can provide valuable insights into how the human immune system works, and may lead to the development of new treatments for immune-related disorders.
This evolutionary affinity gives mushrooms an important role in medical research. Many pharmaceuticals are derived from fungal origins, including penicillin, cholesterol-lowering statins, ergot alkaloids, cyclosporine and many more.
Perhaps just as fascinating is how humans have also benefitted from fundamental differences between fungi and humans at the genetic level. Fungi have a cell wall made up of chitin, a molecule not found in human cells. This makes it possible to develop drugs that target the fungal cell wall without harming human cells, leading to the development of a number of anti-fungal drugs.
While it may seem surprising at first, the genetic relationship between fungi and humans is a fascinating area of research that has the potential to provide important insights into human health and disease. This relationship may be a key for researchers unlock insights to develop treatments for conditions ranging from infectious diseases to immune-related disorders improving the lives of people around the world.