Question

Assertion (A): The estimates of the total number of species on Earth includes the number of prokaryotic species that exist

Reason (R): All prokaryotic species can be easily cultured in laboratories

• A. Both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation for the assertion
• B. Both assertion and reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation for the assertion
• C. Assertion is true but reason is false
• D. Both assertion and reason are false

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both assertion and reason are false

According to the IUCN (2004), the total number of plant and animal species described is more than 1.5 million.

But these numbers do not include the number of prokaryotic species. This is because -

• the conventional taxonomic methods are unable to identify and classify prokaryotic species.
• many prokaryotic organisms are not culturable under laboratory conditions and hence cannot be studied properly.

Thus, both assertion and reason are false.