Chapter 20, Problem 1MCQ

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Evolutionary tree is also known as phylogenetic tree it is a branching diagram or "tree" showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species, based upon similarities and differences in their physical characteristics or genetic characteristics

Answer to Problem 1MCQ

Correct answer:

The ancestral fungus is similar to chytrid. Hence, option (d) is correct.

Option (d) is given as “Chytrid”.

Explanation of Solution

Justify reason for the correct statement:

The number of internodes present in phylogenetic tree determines the closeness between two species. As the number of nodes increases the dilution of the original gene also increases and the similarity between the two species decreases. In the given diagram there is a single node present between the Chytrid and the ancestral fungus so it is most similar

Hence, option (d) is correct.

Justify reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option (a) is given as “a bacterium”.

Bacterium is a prokaryotic cell and fungus is a eukaryotic cell and both of them belong to entirely different kingdoms. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (b) is given as “A plant”.

A plant belongs to the kingdom plantae and ancestral fungus belongs to the kingdom fungi. Since, both of them belong to separate kingdom the similarity is very less. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (c) is given as “an animal”

An animal belongs to the kingdom animalia and ancestral fungus belongs to the kingdom fungi. Since, both of them belong to separate kingdom the similarity is very less. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (a), (b), and (c) are incorrect.

Conclusion

The bacteria are prokaryotic organisms so they are nowhere similar to ancestral fungi. Plant and animal belongs to separate kingdoms so the similarity is very less. But chytrid belongs to the same kingdom fungus and is most similar to the ancestral fungus.