Ascomycetes: Unicellular & Multicellular — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2018Which among the following is not a prokaryote? NEET 2018
Which among the following is not a prokaryote? NEET 2018
Answer & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: A — Saccharomyces
Saccharomyces (yeast) is not a prokaryote as it's a eukaryotic fungus with membrane-bound nucleus and organelles. Mycobacterium, Nostoc, and Oscillatoria are all prokaryotic bacteria/cyanobacteria lacking membrane-bound nucleus. Yeasts are unicellular fungi belonging to eukaryotes.
Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ
Commonly known as sac-fungi, the ascomycetes are mostly multicellular, e.g., Penicillium, or rarely unicellular, e.g., yeast (Saccharomyces). They are saprophytic, decomposers, parasitic or coprophilous (growing on dung). Mycelium
NTA focuses on the dual nature of ascomycetes—most are multicellular (Penicillium) but yeast (Saccharomyces) is uniquely unicellular, making it eukaryotic despite being single-celled. Students often confuse unicellular organisms with prokaryotes, incorrectly classifying yeast as bacteria. The key distinction: yeast has a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, so it's a eukaryotic fungus, not a prokaryote. Remember—unicellular doesn't mean prokaryotic; yeast cells contain all eukaryotic features packed into one cell.
What does NCERT say about Commonly known as sac-fungi?
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