In humans, fungi can only infect the skin.

A. It has sterols (like cholesterol) in its membrane: Sterols insert themselves between phospholipids in the cell membrane, preventing tight packing of fatty acid chains. This helps maintain fluidity even in cold environments, allowing essential processes like transport and signaling to continue.

B. It has a higher amount of protein in its membrane: While membrane proteins are crucial for transport and enzymatic functions, they do not significantly impact the bilayer’s ability to remain fluid in near-freezing temperatures.

C. It has a thicker glycocalyx: The glycocalyx primarily aids in protection, adhesion, and biofilm formation. It does not play a major role in maintaining membrane fluidity under cold stress.

D. It has a thick cell wall: A thick cell wall protects against osmotic lysis and provides shape, but it does not regulate the lipid bilayer’s flexibility or prevent rigidity in freezing conditions.

True: Fungi have versatile reproductive strategies. They can reproduce asexually through methods such as budding, fragmentation, and spore formation, which allows rapid population increase. They can also reproduce sexually through the fusion of specialized cells, promoting genetic diversity and adaptation to changing environments.