Which of the following categories possesses maximum number of related characters ?

Options

A. Order
B. Phylum
C. Class
D. Species

Explanation

To solve the question "Which of the following categories possesses maximum number of related characters?" we need to analyze the taxonomic hierarchy and understand how relatedness works within it. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the solution:

### Step 1: Understand Taxonomic Hierarchy
The taxonomic hierarchy is a system used to classify and organize living organisms. It includes several levels: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. Each level represents a different degree of relatedness among organisms.

**Hint:** Remember that the taxonomic hierarchy starts from broad categories (like Kingdom) and narrows down to specific categories (like Species).

### Step 2: Analyze the Levels of Classification
- **Kingdom**: The broadest category, includes a wide variety of organisms with very few similarities.
- **Phylum**: A step down from Kingdom, still includes diverse organisms but with some shared characteristics.
- **Class**: More specific than Phylum, but still encompasses a variety of organisms with significant differences.
- **Order**: Further narrows down the classification, showing more relatedness among organisms.
- **Family**: Even more specific, organisms in the same family share many characteristics.
- **Genus**: A group of closely related species.
- **Species**: The most specific category, consisting of individuals that can interbreed and share the maximum number of related characteristics.

**Hint:** As you move down the hierarchy from Kingdom to Species, the organisms become more similar to each other.

### Step 3: Identify the Category with Maximum Related Characters
Since the question asks for the category that possesses the maximum number of related characters, we need to focus on the most specific level of classification, which is **Species**. Organisms within the same species share the most characteristics and are the most closely related.

**Hint:** Think about which category would have the least variation among its members.

### Step 4: Conclusion
Based on the analysis, the category that possesses the maximum number of related characters is **Species**. This is because species are defined by their ability to interbreed and share a high degree of genetic similarity.

**Final Answer:** The category that possesses the maximum number of related characters is **Species**.