Question

Assertion: According to Oparin, coacervates are the precursors of life.
Reason: Coacervates were self-duplicating aggregates of proteins surrounded by lipid molecules.

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

Answer 1

The correct option is C Assertion is true but the reason is false

Oparin gave a hypothesis that coacervates are the precursors of life (prebionts). He speculated that a prebiont consists of carbohydrates and proteins.

Coacervate is an aggregate of macromolecules, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, that form a stable colloid unit with properties that resemble living matter. So it resembles prebionts or precursors of life. Hence assertion is a true statement.

The coacervates were surrounded by a thin water film which act as a physical barrier between the organic molecules and their surroundings. It is not surrounded by lipid molecules. Hence reason is a false statement.

Coacervates had the ability to take materials selectively from their surroundings and incorporated them into their structure.

Figure : Coacervates