Q.96 Botany ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active

NEET 2025 Botany Question 96 Solution

Topic: Molecular Basis of Inheritance · Official NTA Booklet Code 45

Question

Given below are two statements: Statement I: In the RNA world, RNA is considered the first genetic material evolved to carry out essential life processes. RNA acts as a genetic material and also as a catalyst for some important biochemical reactions in living systems. Being reactive, RNA is unstable. Statement II: DNA evolved from RNA and is a more stable genetic material. Its double helical strands being complementary, resist changes by evolving repairing mechanism. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

(1)Both statement I and statement II are correct
(2)Both statement I and statement II are incorrect
(3)Statement I is correct but statement II is incorrect
(4)Statement I is incorrect but statement II is correct

✓

Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key

Option (1) : Both statement I and statement II are correct

📚 Molecular Basis of Inheritance Easy

📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup

Statement I In the RNA world, RNA is considered the first genetic material evolved to carry out essential life processes. RNA acts as a genetic material and also as a catalyst for some important biochemical reactions in living systems. Being reactive, RNA is unstable.

Statement II DNA evolved from RNA and is a more stable genetic material. Its double helical strands being complementary, resist changes by evolving repairing mechanism.

⚡

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ NCERT RNA World Verbatim Verification

⏱️ Save ~30 seconds

Statement I is NCERT verbatim: "RNA was the first genetic material... acts as catalyst... being reactive, RNA is unstable" (TRUE)! Statement II is NCERT verbatim: "DNA evolved from RNA... complementary strands resist changes by evolving repair mechanism" (TRUE)! Both statements are CORRECT!

1 Check Statement I: Molecular evidence confirms essential processes (splicing, translation) evolved around RNA. RNA functioned as both hereditary material and catalytic ribozymes (e.g., 23S rRNA peptide bond formation). Due to its 2'-OH group and catalytic nature, RNA is chemically reactive and unstable. Statement I is TRUE.

2 Check Statement II: To store information securely without degradation, DNA evolved chemically from RNA (loss of 2'-OH to deoxyribose, replacement of uracil with 5-methyluracil/thymine). Complementary base-pairing allows the undamaged strand to template error-free repair of mutations. Statement II is TRUE.

3 Conclusion: Both statement I and statement II are correct.

4 Select Option (1) in under 10 seconds!

🛡️

Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: RNA as First Genetic Material & Ribozymes (NCERT Biology · Molecular Basis of Inheritance).

📐

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Evaluate Statement I (Hypothesis of the RNA World)

Analyze the canonical principles of the RNA World hypothesis from NCERT Chapter 6:

\text{RNA} = \text{First genetic material} + \text{Biocatalyst (Ribozyme)} \implies \text{Reactive and chemically unstable}

• Prebiotic evolution centered around RNA performing both informational storage and enzymic catalysis.
• The reactive 2'-OH group on ribose makes RNA labile and prone to alkaline hydrolysis.
• Statement I is verbatim accurate from NCERT and completely TRUE.

Step 2

Evaluate Statement II (Evolution and Stability of DNA)

Analyze the structural adaptations that favored DNA as the permanent repository of genetic information:

\text{RNA} \xrightarrow{\text{Deoxygenation (2'-H) + Methylation (Thymine)}} \text{DNA (Chemically unreactive and physically stable)}

• Double-stranded DNA with complementary base-pairing provides redundancy: if one strand is damaged, the complementary strand directs high-fidelity enzymatic repair.
• Statement II is verbatim accurate from NCERT and completely TRUE.

Step 3

Select Matching Option

Both statements are true and accurate:

\text{Statement I: True}, \quad \text{Statement II: True} \implies \text{Option (1)}

• Matches Option (1) perfectly.

⭐

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan

1 A

✓ 100% Correct

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

100% correct. Verbatim quotes from NCERT Molecular Basis of Inheritance Section 6.2.2.

💡

Why this is airtight: None; flawless mastery of molecular biology.

2 B

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Both statements represent core biological facts.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Doubting whether RNA was the first genetic material.

3 C

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Statement II is correct.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Unaware of DNA repair mechanisms based on complementary strands.

4 D

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Statement I is correct.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Believing DNA was the primordial genetic material.

⚠️

NTA Trap Alert: Thinking Proteins Were the First Biocatalysts

Students sometimes assume all biological catalysts are proteins. The discovery of ribozymes proved that RNA can act as an enzyme, solidifying RNA’s role as the first genetic and catalytic molecule in prebiotic evolution!

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Remember: RNA was BOTH the first genetic material AND the first catalyst!

📖

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

NEET Biology Core Syllabus · Molecular Basis of Inheritance Standard Benchmark

Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"RNA was the primordial genetic material; DNA evolved from RNA with greater stability and repair mechanisms."

Syllabus Focus: The RNA World & Stability of Genetic Material

✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

RNA came first (reactive catalyst), DNA evolved later (stable double-strand with repair) ⟹ Both TRUE!

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NEET 2025 Botany Question 96 Solution

Question

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ NCERT RNA World Verbatim Verification

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Evaluate Statement I (Hypothesis of the RNA World)

Evaluate Statement II (Evolution and Stability of DNA)

Select Matching Option

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

NTA Trap Alert: Thinking Proteins Were the First Biocatalysts

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Ready to attempt under real exam pressure?

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