[Campbell Biology P.714] The passage highlights that both Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes hav... | Practice Question

The passage highlights that both Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes have an extended dikaryotic stage compared to Mucoromycetes. What is the primary evolutionary advantage of this extended dikaryotic stage?

  • A: It allows for more efficient asexual reproduction through spore dispersal.
  • B: It increases the organism's resistance to extreme environmental conditions.
  • C: It provides additional opportunities for genetic recombination, multiplying the results of a single mating event.
  • D: It enables the formation of multicellular fruiting bodies, which are absent in Mucoromycetes.

Explanation

The passage explicitly states: 'the extended dikaryotic stage of ascomycetes and also basidiomycetes provides additional opportunities for genetic recombination.' This increased genetic diversity is a significant evolutionary advantage, effectively multiplying the results of a single mating event.