Fungi are not, as commonly thought, more closely related to plants than to animals. Genetic analyses have repeatedly placed fungi within a branch of life that diverged from a common ancestor with animals later than either branched off from plants. Mushrooms, in evolutionary terms, are nearer cousins to humans than to oak trees.
Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence in the text?
- A
It defines the term 'fungus'.
- Bcheck_circle
It supports the corrective claim by citing genetic evidence.
- C
It supports the popular belief introduced in the first sentence.
- D
It introduces an unrelated taxonomic group.
Explanation
Genetic-divergence findings ground the corrective opening claim. B captures the supporting function.