Complex multicellular fungi from two major groups, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, have evolved similar traits using the same genes despite being separated for over 650 million years. These genes have duplicated in both groups, showing over 81% similarity. This suggests that the genetic makeup of early fungi was well-suited for developing complex multicellularity multiple times. This means that evolution can follow predictable paths even across large evolutionary distances, not just when organisms are closely related or face similar pressures.