While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: Dr. Sarah Chen's research team at Stanford University developed...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Dr. Sarah Chen's research team at Stanford University developed a gene therapy approach to treat sickle cell disease in 2019.
- Chen's team used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit defective genes in patients' bone marrow cells.
- In 2020, Dr. Michael Rodriguez's laboratory at Johns Hopkins University created a gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease.
- Rodriguez's team also employed CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to correct genetic mutations in bone marrow tissue.
- Both research groups achieved significant success in clinical trials.
- The FDA approved both treatments for widespread use in 2021.
The student wants to emphasize a similarity between Chen's approach and Rodriguez's approach. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Both Chen's team and Rodriguez's team used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit genes for treating sickle cell disease.
Dr. Sarah Chen's research team at Stanford University used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to treat sickle cell disease.
In 2020, Rodriguez's laboratory created a gene therapy treatment, while Chen's team developed their approach in 2019.
Chen's team, not Rodriguez's team, was the first to develop a successful gene therapy approach.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dr. Sarah Chen's research team at Stanford University developed a gene therapy approach to treat sickle cell disease in 2019." |
|
| "Chen's team used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit defective genes in patients' bone marrow cells." |
|
| "In 2020, Dr. Michael Rodriguez's laboratory at Johns Hopkins University created a gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease." |
|
| "Rodriguez's team also employed CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to correct genetic mutations in bone marrow tissue." |
|
| "Both research groups achieved significant success in clinical trials." |
|
| "The FDA approved both treatments for widespread use in 2021." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Two independent research teams developed similar CRISPR-based gene therapy approaches to treat sickle cell disease, both achieving regulatory approval.
Argument Flow: The notes present Chen's team first, establishing their 2019 gene therapy work using CRISPR-Cas9. Then Rodriguez's parallel 2020 work is introduced, with "also" highlighting the methodological similarity. Finally, the notes emphasize that both approaches succeeded equally in trials and regulatory approval.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The most obvious similarity between the two approaches is that both Chen's team and Rodriguez's team used CRISPR-Cas9 technology
- The notes specifically use "also" when describing Rodriguez's method, signaling this parallel
- The right answer should mention both teams by name and highlight their shared use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology
Both Chen's team and Rodriguez's team used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit genes for treating sickle cell disease.
✓ Correct
- Perfect match for emphasizing similarity - uses "Both" to directly compare the teams
- Mentions the key shared technology (CRISPR-Cas9)
- Includes their shared goal (treating sickle cell disease)
Dr. Sarah Chen's research team at Stanford University used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to treat sickle cell disease.
✗ Incorrect
- Only mentions Chen's team - completely ignores Rodriguez
- Cannot emphasize similarity when only discussing one team
In 2020, Rodriguez's laboratory created a gene therapy treatment, while Chen's team developed their approach in 2019.
✗ Incorrect
- Emphasizes timing differences (2020 vs 2019) rather than similarities
- Uses "while" to contrast the teams instead of showing what they share
Chen's team, not Rodriguez's team, was the first to develop a successful gene therapy approach.
✗ Incorrect
- Emphasizes that Chen was "first" - highlighting a difference, not similarity
- Creates contrast rather than showing similarity