what group (in terms of evolution) did fungi break off of?

Question

I've been having such a hard time figuring out phylogeny and I've been doing a lot of research but I just can't find the answer. Does anyone know/understand this and can they explain it to me? what group did fungi break off us and what were the mafor developments/features make it a new taxon? Also, what groups broke off of fungi and why. This all has to do with the theory that all organisms evolved from a single organism.

Answer 1

Fungi are eukayotes, just as we are, so the split occurred sometime after the first eukaryotes appeared, which many feel occurred perhaps 1.2 billion years ago. The split off of fungi probably occurred at the amoeboid stage, after green plants split off, also in the amoeboid stage, before the green plants swallowed chloroplasts, i.e. before they were "green". Our kind went on to become jellyfishes and sponges, then worms, and so on. I think you should read the very fascinating book: "The Ancestor's Tale" by Richard Dawkins, a great read if you are interested in this stuff, as I am.