Which of the following best describes a characteristic that distinguishes fungi from other kingdoms?

• A. Fungi have cell walls made of chitin.
• B. Fungi possess chloroplasts in their cells.
• C. Fungi are capable of photosynthesis.
• D. Fungi store energy as glycogen, like plants.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the question: The problem asks for a characteristic that distinguishes fungi from other kingdoms. This requires knowledge of fungal biology and comparison with other kingdoms like plants, animals, and protists.
2. Step 1: Recall the structure of fungal cell walls. Fungi have cell walls made of chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural support. This is distinct from plants, which have cell walls made of cellulose, and animals, which lack cell walls entirely.
3. Step 2: Evaluate the statement 'Fungi possess chloroplasts in their cells.' Fungi do not have chloroplasts because they are not photosynthetic organisms. Chloroplasts are characteristic of plants and some protists.
4. Step 3: Evaluate the statement 'Fungi are capable of photosynthesis.' Fungi are heterotrophic organisms, meaning they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter from their environment. Photosynthesis is a process unique to autotrophic organisms like plants and algae.
5. Step 4: Evaluate the statement 'Fungi store energy as glycogen, like plants.' This is incorrect because plants store energy as starch, while fungi store energy as glycogen, which is similar to animals. This is not a distinguishing characteristic of fungi.