Assertion: Coacervates are believed to be the precursors of life.
Reason: Coacervates were self-duplicating aggregates of proteins surrounded by lipid molecules.

Options

A. If both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion
B. If both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
C. If Assertion is true but the Reason is false.
D. If both Assertion and Reason are false.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Assertion:**
- The assertion states that "Coacervates are believed to be the precursors of life." This statement is based on the coacervate hypothesis proposed by Alexander Oparin in the 1920s. Coacervates are thought to be early forms of life that eventually led to the development of living cells.

2. **Explaining Coacervates:**
- Coacervates are non-living aggregates of organic molecules, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. They are formed in aqueous environments and can concentrate these biomolecules, creating a primitive structure that resembles a cell.

3. **Understanding the Reason:**
- The reason states that "Coacervates were self-duplicating aggregates of proteins surrounded by lipid molecules." This statement is misleading. While coacervates can absorb materials from their surroundings and grow, they do not possess the ability to self-replicate or reproduce in a manner similar to living cells.

4. **Distinguishing Coacervates from Microspheres:**
- The ability to self-duplicate and show characteristics of life, such as motility and reproduction, is attributed to microspheres, which are another type of primitive structure. Microspheres can undergo processes like binary fission and budding, unlike coacervates.

5. **Conclusion:**
- Based on the analysis, the assertion is true (coacervates are believed to be precursors of life), while the reason is false (coacervates are not self-duplicating). Therefore, the correct answer to the assertion-reason question is that the assertion is true, but the reason is false.

**Final Answer:**
- Assertion is true, Reason is false.

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