WHAT best describes one way that both plants and animals fight pathogens?

Both plants and animals have immune systems that help them fight pathogens. This is the best way to describe how they both combat disease-causing organisms.

Here's a bit more detail:

* Plants: While they don't have a complex immune system like animals, plants possess a sophisticated network of defenses. These include:

* Physical barriers: Tough cell walls and waxy cuticles act as barriers.

* Chemical defenses: Plants produce toxins, enzymes, and antimicrobial compounds to kill or inhibit pathogens.

* Hypersensitive response: This involves programmed cell death around the infection site, preventing the pathogen from spreading.

* Systemic acquired resistance (SAR): This involves a signaling pathway triggered by a pathogen that enhances resistance throughout the plant.

* Animals: Animals have a more elaborate immune system with two main branches:

* Innate immunity: This is the first line of defense, including physical barriers like skin, mucous membranes, and antimicrobial proteins.

* Adaptive immunity: This is a more specific and powerful response. It involves specialized cells like lymphocytes that target specific pathogens and develop memory for future encounters.

While the specifics of their immune systems differ, both plants and animals use a combination of physical barriers, chemical defenses, and cellular responses to fight pathogens and stay healthy.