Question

Given below are two statements : one is labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Australopithecines revealed an adaptive radiation of early hominins. Reason (R): Australopithecines show intergenic difference. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
• C. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
• D. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct

Hint:

Adaptive radiation refers to diversification into multiple ecological niches and is a key feature in early hominin evolution.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Assertion and Reason questions test:
• Factual correctness,
• Logical relationship between statements,
• Scientific interpretation. Australopithecines were early hominins that exhibited important evolutionary diversification.

Step 1: Analyzing Assertion (A). Adaptive radiation refers to: \[ \text{Evolutionary diversification of organisms into different ecological niches} \] Australopithecines included several species such as:
• Australopithecus afarensis
• Australopithecus africanus
• Robust australopithecines These forms showed:
• Different dental adaptations,
• Different cranial characteristics,
• Different ecological adaptations. Therefore: \[ \boxed{\text{Australopithecines indeed revealed adaptive radiation}} \] Hence Assertion (A) is correct.

Step 2: Analyzing Reason (R). The statement: \[ \text{Australopithecines show intergenic difference} \] is scientifically vague and not considered the explanation for adaptive radiation. Adaptive radiation is primarily related to:
• Ecological diversification,
• Morphological adaptation,
• Evolutionary branching. The given reason neither properly explains adaptive radiation nor represents the standard evolutionary basis. Thus: \[ \boxed{\text{Reason (R) is incorrect}} \]

Step 3: Final conclusion. Assertion (A) is correct but Reason (R) is not correct. Hence, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{\text{(C) (A) is correct but (R) is not correct}} \]