Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Cereals are consumed with pulses to improve the protein quality due to mutual supplementation.
Reason (R): Cereals are deficient in lysine and rich in methionine, while pulses are deficient in methionine and rich in lysine.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct
• B. Both (A) and (R) are incorrect
• C. (A) is correct but (R) is incorrect
• D. (A) is incorrect but (R) is correct

Hint:

Think of "Cereals = Low Lysine, High Methionine" and "Legumes = High Lysine, Low Methionine." Together, they form a complete protein.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Protein quality is determined by its essential amino acid profile. Plant-based proteins often have specific limiting amino acids, which can be balanced by combining different food groups.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Assertion (A): Consuming cereals (such as rice or wheat) together with pulses (such as beans or lentils) improves the overall protein quality of the meal. This synergy is referred to as mutual supplementation. Thus, Assertion (A) is correct.
- Reason (R): Cereals are limiting in the essential amino acid lysine but contain sufficient amounts of methionine. Conversely, pulses are rich in lysine but are limiting in methionine. Eating them together allows their amino acid profiles to complement each other, providing a complete and balanced protein profile. Thus, Reason (R) is correct and provides the direct biological explanation for the Assertion.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Both (A) and (R) are correct, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).