Answer: They are prokaryotes (no membrane-bound nucleus) unlike plants which are eukaryotes.
- A They are sometimes mistakenly thought to be incapable of carrying out oxygenic photosynthesis
- B They are prokaryotes (no membrane-bound nucleus) unlike plants which are eukaryotes
- C They are sometimes mistakenly thought to largely lack chlorophyll a, the pigment required for light absorption
- D They are sometimes mistakenly thought to reproduce mainly through sexual fusion of differentiated gametes
Correct answer: B. They are prokaryotes (no membrane-bound nucleus) unlike plants which are eukaryotes
Explanation: Cyanobacteria are prokaryotes: no membrane-bound nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles, no true chloroplasts (photosynthetic membranes are in the cytoplasm). All true plants are eukaryotes. Hence cyanobacteria belong to Monera.
Plants evolved from water-dependent algae through increasingly land-adapted groups, gaining vascular tissue (Pteridophyta), then seeds (Gymnosperms), and finally fruit-enclosed seeds (Angiosperms) - each step reducing dependence on water for reproduction.
Concept context
Classification of plants from algae to angiosperms. Understanding plant diversity is essential for NEET.