Dimorphic fungi are capable of shifting from a mold to a yeast.

• A. False
• B. It is always mold
• C. True
• D. It depends on species

Answer: (C)

Dimorphism means a fungus can exist in two forms depending on conditions, most often related to temperature. In the environment, these fungi grow as mold with hyphae and spores; once they infect a host and encounter body temperature, they switch to a yeast form. This mold-to-yeast transformation in the host is the classic demonstration of dimorphism, so the statement is true. It’s not that these fungi are always mold, and while there are species-specific nuances, the temperature-driven switch to yeast in the host is the defining feature of dimorphic fungi.