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submitted 9 months ago by Maxxus@sh.itjust.works to c/196

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[-] Flumpkin@slrpnk.net 25 points 9 months ago

So I guess the advantage is that they can produce tons of "genetic" variations very quickly and adapt to new environments within one generation?

[-] hglman@lemmy.world 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Correct, the downside is lots of nonviable offspring. I would guess the fungus needs to be able to colonize widely without sexual reproduction as well in order to take advantage of that rapid adaptation.

[-] niktemadur@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago

Fascinating, I feel like I just caught a good glimpse of how fungus paved the way for the rest of life on Earth - wherever plant and animal life arrive, the fungus got there first.