Question

which characteristic most likely describes a mushroom but not thermus aquaticus?
cell wall

eukaryotic

unicellular

prokaryotic

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• Cell wall: Both mushrooms (fungi) and Thermus aquaticus (bacteria) have cell walls, so this is not unique to mushrooms.
• Eukaryotic: Mushrooms are fungi, which are eukaryotic (have a nucleus and membrane - bound organelles). Thermus aquaticus is a bacterium, which is prokaryotic (lacks a nucleus and membrane - bound organelles). So being eukaryotic is a characteristic of mushrooms but not of Thermus aquaticus.
• Unicellular: Thermus aquaticus is unicellular (bacteria are typically unicellular), while mushrooms are multicellular (fungi, in the case of mushrooms, are multicellular organisms). So this characteristic does not describe mushrooms but does describe Thermus aquaticus.
• Prokaryotic: Mushrooms are eukaryotic, not prokaryotic. Thermus aquaticus is prokaryotic. So this is the opposite of what we want.

Answer:

B. eukaryotic