AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Of all the bryophytes, mosses are most similar to vascular plants. Presumably, they share the most recent common ancestor with vascular plants.

Detailed explanation-2: -Mosses and liverworts are small, primitive, non-vascular plants. They lack the conductive tissue most plants use to transport water and nutrients.

Detailed explanation-3: -bryophytes: Bryophyta refers to the moss division, and bryophytes refers to the broader group which includes the division Bryophyta, liverworts, and hornworts. Contrary to previous hypotheses, contemporary botanists believe that bryophytes are most closely related to vascular plants.

Detailed explanation-4: -Closely related means spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, or siblings.

Detailed explanation-5: -By modelling the molecular sequences of modern plants the researchers have shown that liverworts are more closely related to mosses than hornworts. The liverworts and mosses are now united in a new group, which the team named ‘Setaphyta’.