Final answer:
True, mushrooms, molds, mildew, and yeast are all fungi, which are heterotrophic eukaryotes. They play essential roles in decomposition and medicine, and have diverse structures, ranging from visible mushrooms to microscopic yeasts.
Step-by-step explanation:
True. Mushrooms, molds, mildew, and yeast are indeed all types of fungi. The kingdom Fungi encompasses a vast array of organisms that are eukaryotic, which means their cells contain a true nucleus and various membrane-bound organelles. While commonly known fungi include mushrooms and molds, yeasts are also a significant part of this kingdom.
Among the estimated 1.5 million species of fungi, some are visible to the eye, such as mushrooms and bread mold, and others are not, being microscopic or hidden within their environments like soil or decaying organic matter.
Fungi are heterotrophs, meaning they do not make their own food but instead absorb it from their surroundings. This includes decomposing organic materials or living as symbionts with plants or animals. Their structures are diverse, ranging from unicellular yeasts to multicellular molds and mushrooms. Fungi have cell walls made of chitin rather than cellulose, which is distinct from plants. This kingdom plays an essential role in ecosystems, as they are critical for the decomposition process and have various applications, including in medicine, where certain molds like Penicillium notatum have been used to produce antibiotics such as penicillin.