If an organism is unicellular, in which kingdom could it most likely belong?

• A. Plantae
• B. Animalia
• C. Fungi
• D. Protista

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the characteristics of unicellular organisms. Unicellular organisms consist of a single cell that performs all necessary life functions, unlike multicellular organisms which have specialized cells.
2. Step 2: Review the characteristics of the kingdoms listed in the problem: Plantae, Animalia, Fungi, and Protista. Note that Plantae, Animalia, and Fungi are primarily composed of multicellular organisms, although there are exceptions in Fungi (e.g., yeast).
3. Step 3: Focus on the Protista kingdom. Protists are a diverse group of organisms that are primarily unicellular, though some are multicellular. They can be autotrophic (like algae) or heterotrophic (like protozoa).
4. Step 4: Compare the traits of unicellular organisms to the traits of the Protista kingdom. Protists are the most likely kingdom for unicellular organisms because they are known for their single-celled members and diverse lifestyles.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the Protista kingdom is the most likely classification for a unicellular organism based on its defining characteristics and the comparison to other kingdoms.