Q.126 Botany ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active

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NEET 2026 Botany Question 126 Solution

Topic: Cell: The Unit of Life · Official NTA Booklet Code 50

Question

Which of the following is not a prokaryote?

(1)Bacteria
(2)Blue green algae
(3)Mycoplasma
(4)Fungi

✓

Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key

Option (4) : Fungi

📚 Cell: The Unit of Life Easy

📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup

Criterion Organism that is NOT a prokaryote (i.e. is a Eukaryote)

Candidate Groups (1) Bacteria, (2) Blue green algae, (3) Mycoplasma, (4) Fungi

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The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Monera vs Fungi Test

⏱️ Save ~40 seconds

Kingdom Monera = Prokaryotes; Kingdom Fungi = EUKARYOTES!

1 Identify prokaryotic kingdoms: In Whittaker’s Five Kingdom system, ONLY Kingdom Monera consists of prokaryotes.

2 Evaluate: Bacteria (Monera - prokaryote), Blue-green algae / Cyanobacteria (Monera - prokaryote), Mycoplasma (Monera - prokaryote lacking cell wall).

3 Evaluate Fungi: Fungi possess a true membrane-bound nucleus, 80S cytosolic ribosomes, mitochondria, and chitinous cell walls -> EUKARYOTIC!

4 Therefore, Fungi is NOT a prokaryote.

5 Select Option (4) in under 5 seconds!

🛡️

Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: NCERT Biological Classification & Cell Biology: Fungi are multicellular/unicellular eukaryotes.

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Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Definition of Prokaryote and Eukaryote

Prokaryotes lack a membrane-delimited nucleus (their genetic material is an unclad circular naked DNA nucleoid) and lack membrane-bound cytoplasmic organelles (mitochondria, chloroplasts, Golgi, ER). In contrast, eukaryotes possess a double-membraned nucleus and compartmentalized membrane-bound organelles.

\text{Prokaryote} = \text{No nuclear membrane, no membrane-bound organelles}

• All prokaryotes belong to Kingdom Monera.

Step 2

Analyze Options (1), (2), and (3)

Bacteria, Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria, like Nostoc and Anabaena), and Mycoplasma (PPLO) are all definitive members of Kingdom Monera and are typical prokaryotic organisms.

\{\text{Bacteria}, \; \text{Blue green algae}, \; \text{Mycoplasma}\} \subset \text{Kingdom Monera (Prokaryota)}

• All three are prokaryotes.

Step 3

Analyze Option (4): Fungi

Fungi (e.g. Yeast, Rhizopus, Agaricus) constitute a separate eukaryotic kingdom of heterotrophic organisms characterized by chitinous cell walls, true nuclei, linear chromatin organized with histones, and 80S cytosolic ribosomes.

\text{Fungi} \in \mathbf{Eukaryota} \implies \text{Fungi is NOT a prokaryote}

• Matches official NTA final answer key Option D / (4).

⭐

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan

1 A

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Bacteria are the classic representative prokaryotes (Kingdom Monera).

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Misunderstanding prokaryotic definition.

2 B

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Blue-green algae are cyanobacteria (photosynthetic prokaryotes with 70S ribosomes and peptidoglycan cell walls).

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Deceived by the word "algae" into thinking they are eukaryotic green algae.

3 C

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Mycoplasma are the smallest living prokaryotes, lacking a cell wall.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Confusing wall-less nature with eukaryotic organization.

4 D

✓ 100% Correct

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

100% accurate. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms possessing true nuclei and membrane-bound organelles.

💡

Why this is airtight: None; immediate kingdom recognition.

⚠️

NTA Trap Alert: The "Blue-Green Algae" Misnomer Trap

Students often assume "Blue green algae" are eukaryotic algae like Spirogyra. Blue-green algae are actually Cyanobacteria, which are strictly PROKARYOTES!

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Remember: Blue-green algae = Cyanobacteria = Monera = Prokaryote; Fungi = Eukaryote.

📖

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

NEET Biology Core Syllabus · Cell: The Unit of Life Standard Benchmark

Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"Prokaryotes encompass bacteria, blue-green algae, mycoplasma, and PPLO. Fungi are eukaryotes."

Syllabus Focus: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

Monera has the Prokaryote run; Fungi is Eukaryotic having fun!

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NEET 2026 Botany Question 126 Solution

Question

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Monera vs Fungi Test

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Definition of Prokaryote and Eukaryote

Analyze Options (1), (2), and (3)

Analyze Option (4): Fungi

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

NTA Trap Alert: The "Blue-Green Algae" Misnomer Trap

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Ready to attempt under real exam pressure?

🔗 Related Questions — Cell: The Unit of Life

Definition and Scope of Reductionist Biology

Prokaryotic (70S) and Eukaryotic (80S) Ribosomes and Their Subunits

Centromere, Cilia, Cristae, and Biomembranes

Functions and Structure of Bacterial Mesosomes

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