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Question

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The molecular evidences suggest that the sister group of sponges is not choanoflagellates, but mesomycetozoa, a group of parasitic protists. So, can this hypothesis be correct given that these parasites lack collar cells?
Reason (R): The collar cells of sponges bear a significant resemblance to a choanoflagellate cell suggesting that the last common ancestor of animals and their protist sister group might have resembled a choanoflagellate. In this regard, mesomycetozoans could still be sister group of animals. The lack of collar cells in mesomycetozoans would indicate that over the time, their structure evolved in a way that it no longer resembled a choanoflagellate cell pointing out to convergent evolution.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

This question was previously asked in
CUET PG 2026 Agri-Business Management Question Paper (25-Mar-2026) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is
Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Evaluating Assertion (A) and Reason (R)

This question asks us to assess the validity of two statements regarding the evolutionary relationship between sponges, choanoflagellates, and mesomycetozoa, and whether the second statement correctly explains the first.

Analysis of Assertion (A)

Assertion (A) presents a hypothesis derived from molecular evidence. It suggests that mesomycetozoa, a group of parasitic protists, might be the sister group to sponges, challenging the traditional view that choanoflagellates are the sister group. The assertion highlights a key conflict: these proposed sister group, mesomycetozoa, notably lack the characteristic collar cells found in choanoflagellates. This raises a valid question about the hypothesis.

Analysis of Reason (R)

Reason (R) addresses the points raised in Assertion (A). It acknowledges the strong resemblance between the collar cells of sponges and choanoflagellates, which supports the idea that the common ancestor of animals and their protist sister group might have resembled a choanoflagellate. Crucially, it offers an explanation for how mesomycetozoa could still be the sister group despite lacking collar cells. This explanation invokes convergent evolution, suggesting that mesomycetozoans might have evolved in a way that led to the loss or modification of collar cell structures over time, making them appear different from choanoflagellates.

Connecting Assertion (A) and Reason (R)

Reason (R) directly tackles the question posed in Assertion (A). It provides a plausible evolutionary mechanism (convergent evolution) to explain the observed discrepancy (lack of collar cells in mesomycetozoa) while still allowing for the possibility that mesomycetozoa are indeed the sister group to animals, as suggested by some molecular data. Therefore, Reason (R) serves as a correct explanation for Assertion (A).

Conclusion

Both statements are biologically plausible, and the explanation offered in Reason (R) logically resolves the query presented in Assertion (A).

The most appropriate answer is that both (A) and (R) are correct, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

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