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Question #47638
The Question
Cyanobacteria and higher plants both perform oxygenic photosynthesis, yet their light-harvesting systems exhibit significant differences. Based on evolutionary principles and the structure of their photosynthetic apparatus, which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
Options
- A.
The core reaction centers containing Chlorophyll-a are evolutionarily conserved across both groups.
- B.
The peripheral antenna complexes in both groups are homologous structures derived from a common Chlorophyll-b containing ancestral complex.
- C.
Cyanobacteria utilize phycobilins as accessory pigments to adapt to specific spectral niches, unlike the Chlorophyll-b found in higher plants.
- D.
The divergence in their accessory pigments illustrates how peripheral systems adapt to environmental constraints while the core photochemical mechanism remains conserved.
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
Chlorophyll-a|Phycobilins|Cyanobacteria|Homologous Ancestry
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often assume that because cyanobacteria and higher plants share the same fundamental process (oxygenic photosynthesis) and the primary pigment (Chlorophyll-a), their entire photosystem, including accessory pigments, must be homologous.
The trap relies on failing to distinguish between the highly conserved core reaction center (homologous) and the structurally distinct, divergently evolved peripheral antenna complexes (analogous adaptations to spectral niches).
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Photosynthesis in Higher Plants - Class 11 |
| Concept | Chlorophyll-a vs Accessory Pigments |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |