Question

Assertion (A): Bacteria that can withstand heat have better chances of survival in a heat wave.

Reason (R): Accumulation of variations in a species increases the chances of its survival in changing environment.

Options

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (А).

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).

• Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

• Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Answer 1

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (А).

Explanation:

Heat-tolerant bacteria are more likely to survive a heat wave than heat-sensitive ones, a result of natural selection acting on existing differences. The accumulation (or presence) of genetic variation in a species means that some individuals may possess traits (such as heat tolerance). When the environment changes (e.g., during a heat wave), those individuals that survive and reproduce increase the population’s chances of persisting.