All living organisms are linked to one another because they :

Options

A. have common cellular organisation
B. have common genetic material of the same type
C. share common genetic material but to varying degrees
D. all of the above

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks why all living organisms are linked to one another. This implies that there are common characteristics or features that connect all forms of life.

2. **Option Analysis**:
- **Option 1: Have common cellular organization**:
- All living organisms are made up of cells. This is a fundamental characteristic of life. Whether unicellular (like bacteria) or multicellular (like plants and animals), all organisms share this cellular organization.

- **Option 2: Have common genetic material**:
- Living organisms use genetic material to store and transmit information. Most organisms use DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) as their genetic material, while some viruses use RNA (ribonucleic acid). This commonality in the type of genetic material indicates a link among living organisms.

- **Option 3: Share common genetic material but to varying degrees**:
- While all living organisms have genetic material, the specifics can vary. For example, bacteria have different genetic structures compared to plants and animals. However, the presence of genetic material itself is a unifying feature.

3. **Conclusion**:
- After analyzing the options, we can conclude that all the provided statements are correct. Therefore, the answer to the question is that all living organisms are linked to one another because they have common cellular organization, common genetic material, and share genetic material to varying degrees. Thus, the correct answer is **"All of the above."**