Written by Merel Dagher (PEACE Advisor)

Which of the following is the basal member of Archaeplastida?

a.     Glaucophytes

b.     Red Algae

c.     Chlorophytes

d.     “Charophytes”

e.     Land Plants


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The correct answer is a. Both Chlorophytes and “Charophytes” belong to the informal group Green Algae. “Charophytes” are semi-terrestrial, making them the transitional group between the aquatic chlorophytes and land plants. Red algae make up nori (ie. seaweed), agar, and carrageenan (which is a milk substitute). Glaucophytes are said to be the basal member of archaeplastida (which contains choices b, c d and e) which have peptidoglycan (a polysaccharide only found in bacteria) around their chloroplasts and chlorophyll a (a pigment in their chloroplasts that reflects green).

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