In: Biology
On the phylogenetic tree of life, the branch leading to animals is closer to fungi than it is to the branch leading to land plants. Given this fact, which of the following statements is correct?
a. Animals and fungi are more closely related to each other than either is to land plants.
b. Fungi and plants do not have a common ancestor.
c. Animals and land plants are more closely related to each other than either is to fungi.
d. Animals and plants do not have a common ancestor.
e. Animals are not related to either plants or fungi.
ans. A) Animals and afungi are more closely related to each other than either is to land plants
reason- in a study of 18s rna sequence of ribosome, it is seen that fungi and animal have more similar sequences than plants and protists.
they share same position in food chain
fungi and animal share a molecule called chitin which is not found in any plant
they use chitin to form exoskeleton (or cell wall)