Question

Select the group that shares maximum number of common characteristics
A. 2 individuals of species
B. 2 species of genus
C. 2 genera of a family
D. 2 genera of 2 families

Answer 1

The different types of living organisms are diverse and they are classified for the purpose of study, naming, defining and classification of the groups of the organism based on the shared characteristics. The organisms are grouped into various ranks.

Complete answer:
The hierarchical classification of the living organism based on the characteristics present is known as biological classification. In the taxonomic classification system, the organism is classified into groups which is known as taxa. The taxa are provided with the taxonomic rank. The organism of a given rank have more similar characters and are aggregated together. The groups of a given rank are further aggregated together to form higher rank. The different ranks of taxa that are used for the classification of organisms are domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.
Species is the lowest rank of taxa. It is considered as the basic hierarchical level or the basic classification unit. A species is defined as a group of individuals with similar characteristics and mating habits. The members of the species can reproduce within themselves and produce fertile individuals. The members share the maximum numbers of similar characteristics including the gene pool. Any two individuals of a species have or share the maximum numbers of common characteristics.
As the taxa of classification increases from the lower levels to the higher levels, the number of shared characteristics between the organisms decreases.
The different species of organism aggregate into genus. Further two or more genera that have characters that are less common than species level are grouped to form the family. Different types of families are then grouped to form an order. In this way, further, orders give rise to class and then into phylum. The number of characteristics that are common in organisms are thus found at the lowest level such as the species while as the levels of classification increases the common characters decrease.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: The classification of the organism is grouped under the classification system known as the taxonomic classification and the ranks are called taxa. Species is the lowest level of the taxonomic classification hierarchy and the members of the species share the most common characteristics with themselves. Thus, any two individuals of a species share the maximum numbers of related or common characters.