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Question #46429
The Question
Biologists often contrast the conditions required for the origin of life with those required for the preservation of complex biodiversity. Which of the following statements INCORRECTLY contrasts the primitive Earth conditions (simulated by the Miller-Urey experiment) with the ecological role of Sacred Groves?
Options
- A.
Chemical evolution required a highly volatile, reducing atmosphere lacking free O2 to synthesize monomers, whereas sacred groves rely on a stable, oxidizing environment to support complex aerobic ecosystems.
- B.
The Miller-Urey simulation utilized thermodynamic instability, including electric discharge and temperatures of 800°C, to drive abiogenesis, while sacred groves provide homeostatic stability to protect species from environmental volatility.
- C.
While the primitive Earth acted as a 'blank slate' where high-energy conditions favored the emergence of protobionts, sacred groves demonstrate that complex life requires established, protected niches to survive.
- D.
While the Miller-Urey experiment utilized a mixture of CH4, NH3, H2, and water vapor to simulate abiogenesis, sacred groves like those in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills represent ex-situ conservation strategies that buffer species against extreme volatility.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
Reducing_Environment|Genetic_Conservation|Refugia
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Cognitive Overload & Classification Trap.
The question builds a highly complex, synthesis-level narrative contrasting thermodynamic instability (early Earth) with ecological homeostasis (refugia).
Students are likely to get bogged down analyzing the complex ecological logic in A, B, and C, causing them to overlook a fundamental, foundational NCERT fact embedded in D: Sacred Groves are 'in-situ', not 'ex-situ' conservation.
This tests the student's ability to maintain basic taxonomic vigilance amidst advanced conceptual synthesis.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Evolution - Class 12 |
| Concept | Miller-Urey Conditions |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |