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Multiple Choice
Which group of organisms is most closely related to plants?
A
Fungi
B
Animals
C
Algae
D
Bacteria
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the evolutionary relationships among different groups of organisms. Plants, fungi, animals, algae, and bacteria are all part of the tree of life, but they belong to different branches.
Recognize that plants and algae share a common ancestor. Both are part of the group known as 'Archaeplastida,' which is characterized by having chloroplasts derived from a primary endosymbiotic event with cyanobacteria.
Consider the characteristics of algae. Algae are photosynthetic organisms, like plants, and they can be unicellular or multicellular. They are found in various environments, primarily aquatic.
Compare the evolutionary lineage of fungi, animals, and bacteria with that of plants. Fungi and animals are more closely related to each other than to plants, as they belong to the group 'Opisthokonta.' Bacteria are prokaryotes and are not closely related to eukaryotic plants.
Conclude that algae are the group most closely related to plants due to their shared evolutionary history and similar photosynthetic capabilities, distinguishing them from fungi, animals, and bacteria.