Which of the following is a characteristic shared by all fungi?

• A. They have cell walls containing chitin
• B. They are photosynthetic autotrophs with chloroplasts
• C. They are prokaryotic and lack a nucleus
• D. They reproduce only by producing seeds

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the basic characteristics of fungi. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms, meaning they have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
2. Step 2: Recall that fungi are heterotrophic organisms; they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic material rather than producing their own food through photosynthesis.
3. Step 3: Identify the composition of fungal cell walls. Unlike plants, which have cell walls made of cellulose, fungi have cell walls made of chitin, a strong, flexible polysaccharide.
4. Step 4: Consider the modes of reproduction in fungi. Fungi reproduce through spores, not seeds, which distinguishes them from plants.
5. Step 5: Evaluate each option based on these characteristics: fungi are not photosynthetic autotrophs, they are eukaryotic (not prokaryotic), and they do not produce seeds. Therefore, the shared characteristic is that fungi have cell walls containing chitin.