White paper: Genomics for filamentous fungi

Fungi are a large and diverse group of eukaryotes characterized by spore formation, efficient secretion of extracellular enzymes, and an absorptive mode of nutrition. They are classified by modern taxonomists in their own kingdom on equal footing with plants and animals. Most fungi are filamentous, aerobic, and terrestrial. They are the most resilient of eukaryotes, capable of undergoing severe desiccation, living at extreme pHs, and surviving other environmental stresses. Biochemically versatile, fungi produce a wide array of acids and degradative enzymes to support their absorptive life style, as well as an astonishing array of low-molecular-weight primary and secondary metabolites. Many of these metabolites have industrial and pharmaceutical applications. The best studied fungus is the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is not only economically important because of its use in baking, brewing, and fermentation processes, it is also one of the best understood species on the planet earth and the premier eukaryotic model organism. Three other ascomycetes are important genetic models, two filamentous species - Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa - and the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Many fundamental discoveries in biology have come from studying these ascomycetes, and the genetic versatility of these fungal models remains unsurpassed.