Question

ASSERTION: Comparative biochemistry provides strong evidence in favour of common ancestry of living beings.
REASON: Genetic code is universal.
A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and the reason is the correct explanation for the assertion.
B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but the reason is not the correct explanation for the assertion.
C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect.

Answer 1

Hint: The evidence of common ancestry comes from the similarities in the biochemical compositions, reactions and physiological activities. Whereas, genetic code is a three-nucleotide codon applicable universally, i.e, every living organism has the same basic set of codons.

Complete step by step answer: Convincing evidence of common ancestry comes from the similarities in the biochemical composition, reactions and physiological activities of living beings, like metabolic process, enzymes, cytochrome C, insulin, haemoglobin, blood and lymph etc. Genetic code is the sequence of DNA nucleotides that determines the amino acid sequence of the translated protein. The genetic code is read in triplets of bases called codons. Genetic code is applicable universally i.e. a codon specifies the same amino acid from a virus to a tree to human beings. The mRNA from chick oviduct introduced in E. coli produces ovalbumin in the bacterium exactly similar to one formed in a chick.
Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Additional information: Biochemistry plays an important role in the field of forensic science, allowing criminal investigators to seek out criminals based on DNA evidence; the first person convicted of a crime through DNA evidence didn't take place until 1988.

Note: There are three codons that don’t code for an amino acid. These codons mark the end of the protein and stop the addition of amino acids to the end of the protein chain. These are UAA, UAG, and UGA.