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Multiple Choice
The closest algal relatives of land plants are _____.
A
chlorophytes
B
red algae
C
charophytes
D
brown algae
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the question: The problem is asking about the closest algal relatives of land plants. This requires knowledge of evolutionary relationships in biology.
Review the key groups of algae: Chlorophytes, red algae, charophytes, and brown algae are all groups of algae, but they differ in their evolutionary relationships to land plants.
Recall the evolutionary connection: Land plants evolved from a group of green algae. Among green algae, charophytes are the closest relatives to land plants due to shared traits such as similar cell wall composition, flagellated sperm structure, and specific details of cell division.
Eliminate incorrect options: Chlorophytes are green algae but are more distantly related to land plants than charophytes. Red algae and brown algae are not closely related to land plants and belong to different evolutionary lineages.
Conclude the answer: Based on evolutionary evidence, the closest algal relatives of land plants are charophytes.