This book reviews how fungi function as individuals, populations, and members of the global economy of nature. The second edition follows in the footsteps of its highly-praised predecessor, presenting the latest information on fungal biology generated through the application of genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. The text covers such topics as scavenging and nutrient cycling, DNA-based identification, and circadian rhythms in fungi. A new chapter addresses alcoholic fermentation and founding of biotechnology, methods of identification of commercial yeast strains, large-scale...

Fungi are now at the forefront of research on mechanisms in gene silencing, biological rhythm, mating processes, biogenesis of intracellular organelles, adaptations to hostile habitats, structure of natural populations, and speciation. Because of their small genomes, fungi are being used in "systems biology" to understand the connections between genes, proteins, and metabolic and signaling pathways. The ease with which yeasts and fungi can be cultivated in simple nutritive media has also made these eukaryotic organisms the choice material for basic and applied research.

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