To which kingdom do molds belong?

• A. Plants
• B. Fungi
• C. Bacteria
• D. Protists

Answer: (B)

Molds are classified in the fungi kingdom. This grouping is defined by organisms that are heterotrophic and absorb nutrients from their surroundings, and many molds grow as networks of threadlike hyphae that form a larger structure called a mycelium. They reproduce by spores, which helps them spread in damp environments. Fungi also have cell walls made of chitin, not cellulose like plants, and they are eukaryotic, unlike bacteria.

This combination of filamentous growth, chitin cell walls, and a lifestyle of external digestion and nutrient absorption distinguishes molds from plants (which photosynthesize), bacteria (which are prokaryotes with peptidoglycan walls), and protists (a diverse group that generally lacks the characteristic mycelial form of molds). Common examples include molds such as Aspergillus and Rhizopus.