Final answer:
It is true that plants and most organisms cannot metabolize opines. Opines are used by certain bacteria, but other organisms lack the pathways to utilize them as nutrients. Also, non-photosynthetic organisms evolved before photosynthetic ones due to the absence of oxygen in the early atmosphere. The correct option is a. true
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that plants and most organisms are not able to metabolize opines as a nutrient source is true. Opines are a group of compounds found in nature mainly as a result of the interaction between certain plants and bacteria, such as the relationship between leguminous plants and Rhizobium. Opines are used by these bacteria as a nutrient source, but most organisms, including plants, do not have the metabolic pathways to use opines as a nutrient source and therefore cannot metabolize them.
Regarding the evolution of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic organisms, non-photosynthetic organisms evolved before photosynthetic organisms because no oxygen was present in the atmosphere when life began. Oxygen started to accumulate in the atmosphere as a result of the activity of photosynthetic organisms, which evolved later. The correct option is a. true