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Multiple Choice
Study the cladogram below. Which two organisms would be the least related?A cladogram shows the following branching order: (A) Bacteria branches off first, followed by (B) Fungi, (C) Plants, and (D) Animals.Which pair of organisms is least closely related?
A
Bacteria and Animals
B
Fungi and Animals
C
Fungi and Plants
D
Plants and Animals
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of a cladogram. A cladogram is a diagram that shows evolutionary relationships among organisms based on shared traits and common ancestry. Organisms that branch off earlier are less closely related to those that branch off later.
Step 2: Analyze the branching order in the cladogram provided. The order is: Bacteria branches off first, followed by Fungi, then Plants, and finally Animals. This indicates the evolutionary distance between these groups.
Step 3: Determine the least related organisms. Organisms that branch off earlier (e.g., Bacteria) are less closely related to those that branch off later (e.g., Animals). Compare the evolutionary distance between each pair of organisms listed in the options.
Step 4: Evaluate the options. For example, Bacteria and Animals are the least related because Bacteria branched off first, indicating a significant evolutionary distance. Fungi and Animals, Fungi and Plants, and Plants and Animals are more closely related due to their later branching points.
Step 5: Conclude that the least related pair of organisms is Bacteria and Animals, based on their position in the cladogram and evolutionary distance.