[Campbell Biology P.683] Which of the following is NOT a derived trait that distinguishes pl... | Practice Question

Which of the following is NOT a derived trait that distinguishes plants from their closest algal relatives, the charophytes?

  • A: A protective layer of sporopollenin
  • B: The alternation of generations life cycle
  • C: Presence of chlorophyll a and b
  • D: Multicellular dependent embryos

Explanation

Both plants and charophyte algae possess chlorophyll a and b, indicating their shared evolutionary ancestry. Derived traits specific to plants that distinguish them from charophytes include sporopollenin, alternation of generations, multicellular dependent embryos, walled spores produced in sporangia, cuticles, stomata, and apical meristems.