Humans Share Mushroom DNA

It might be surprising to learn that your closest non-animal relative isn't a towering oak tree or a delicate flower, but the humble mushroom. For centuries, scientists classified fungi in the plant kingdom, a logical assumption given they are stationary and grow from the ground. However, modern genetic analysis has completely redrawn that family tree. The key difference lies in how they get energy. Plants are producers, making their own food via photosynthesis. Fungi and animals, on the other hand, are consumers; they must absorb nutrients from other organic matter. This fundamental similarity is reflected in our DNA, where we share a significant portion of the genes responsible for basic cellular function, metabolism, and structure.

This deep evolutionary connection places both animals and fungi into a biological supergroup named Opisthokonta. The name, meaning "rear flagellum," points to a specific trait of our last common ancestor, which lived over a billion years ago. This single-celled organism propelled itself through water with a single, tail-like flagellum at its rear. While most fungi have since lost this feature, it is still visible today in the reproductive spores of some fungal species and, remarkably, in the tails of human sperm cells. This shared microscopic trait is powerful evidence of a shared heritage, cementing the mushroom's place as a much closer cousin to humanity than any plant.