Q.

Given below are two statements :                                         [2025]

Statement I : In the RNA world, RNA is considered the first genetic material evolved to carry out essential life processes. RNA acts as a genetic material and also as a catalyst for some important biochemical reactions in living systems. Being reactive, RNA is unstable.

Statement II : DNA evolved from RNA and is a more stable genetic material. Its double helical strands being complementary, resist changes by evolving repairing mechanism.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

1 Both statement I and statement II are correct  
2 Both statement I and statement II are incorrect  
3 Statement I is correct but statement II is incorrect  
4 Statement I is incorrect but statement II is correct  

Ans.

(1)

In RNA world, RNA was the first genetic material as there are enough evidences to suggest that essential life processes (such as metabolism, translation, splicing, etc) evolved around RNA. RNA used to act as a genetic material as well as catalyst (there are some important biochemical reaction in living systems that are catalysed by RNA catalysts not by protein enzymes) so, statement I is correct statement II is also correct as DNA being double stranded and having complementary strands further resists changes by evolving a process of repair.