Among the organisms listed here, which are thought to be the closest relatives of fungi?

Options

A. Vascular plants
B. Mosses
C. Brown algae
D. Slime molds

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Fungi**: Fungi belong to their own kingdom and are characterized as eukaryotic organisms that are typically multicellular (except for yeast). They lack chlorophyll (achlorophyllous) and have a cell wall that is not made of cellulose.

2. **Nutritional Mode**: Fungi primarily exhibit a saprophytic mode of nutrition, meaning they obtain their nutrients by decomposing dead and decaying organic matter.

3. **Analyzing the Options**:
- **Vascular Plants**: These are photosynthetic organisms that belong to the plant kingdom and perform autotrophic nutrition. They are not closely related to fungi.
- **Mosses**: Mosses are also photosynthetic and belong to the bryophytes group, which means they too perform autotrophic nutrition and are not closely related to fungi.
- **Brown Algae**: Similar to vascular plants and mosses, brown algae are photosynthetic and perform autotrophic nutrition, making them unrelated to fungi.
- **Slime Molds**: Slime molds are unique in that they are saprophytic like fungi, feeding on decaying organic matter. They share a closer evolutionary relationship with fungi compared to the other options.

4. **Conclusion**: Based on the analysis, the organism that is thought to be the closest relative of fungi among the listed options is **slime molds**.