By definition, organisms in the same are more closely related than are those in the same a. Order, family b. Class, phylum c. Phylum, division d. Family, genus By definition,organisms in the same are more closely related than are those in the same
a.Order,family
b.Class,phylum
.d. Family,genus
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: d. Family, genus
By definition, organisms that belong to the same genus are more closely related to one another than those that belong merely to the same family. In biological classification, the hierarchy of taxonomic ranks from the broadest to the most specific is: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. As you move from kingdom toward species, each rank represents a more closely related grouping of organisms.
The genus is a narrower category than the family. A family may contain several different genera (plural of genus), and each genus may contain one or more species. Since genus is a smaller and more specific grouping, members within the same genus share a more recent common ancestor and more similar genetic and morphological traits than those only sharing the same family.
For example, the lion (Panthera leo) and the tiger (Panthera tigris) are both part of the genus Panthera, and therefore are closely related. In contrast, the domestic cat (Felis catus) is in the same family (Felidae) but in a different genus (Felis), making it less closely related to lions or tigers than they are to each other.
Understanding this hierarchy is essential in taxonomy and evolutionary biology. It helps scientists classify organisms, predict characteristics, and understand evolutionary relationships. The closer two organisms are on the taxonomic tree, the more traits they share and the more recent their common ancestor is. Hence, organisms in the same genus are always more closely related than those merely in the same family.