The research team's 2019 study on CRISPR gene editing faced significant skepticism from the medical establishment due to its radical...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The research team's 2019 study on CRISPR gene editing faced significant skepticism from the medical establishment due to its radical departure from conventional therapeutic approaches. The methodology combined precise genetic modifications with novel delivery systems, creating possibilities that seemed almost science fictional to traditional researchers. Many established geneticists dismissed the work as overly ambitious when first published. Recently, however, major pharmaceutical companies have begun incorporating similar techniques into their drug development pipelines. Companies like Moderna and BioNTech have adapted the study's core principles for their mRNA vaccine platforms, while Vertex Pharmaceuticals has applied the editing techniques to treat sickle cell disease.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
It provides specific examples of companies that have implemented techniques from the 2019 study.
It explains why pharmaceutical companies were initially resistant to the research methodology.
It contrasts traditional therapeutic approaches with the study's innovative techniques.
It demonstrates the financial benefits that companies gained from adopting the new methods.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The research team's 2019 study on CRISPR gene editing faced significant skepticism from the medical establishment due to its radical departure from conventional therapeutic approaches." |
|
| "The methodology combined precise genetic modifications with novel delivery systems, creating possibilities that seemed almost science fictional to traditional researchers." |
|
| "Many established geneticists dismissed the work as overly ambitious when first published." |
|
| "Recently, however, major pharmaceutical companies have begun incorporating similar techniques into their drug development pipelines." |
|
| "Companies like Moderna and BioNTech have adapted the study's core principles for their mRNA vaccine platforms, while Vertex Pharmaceuticals has applied the editing techniques to treat sickle cell disease." |
|
Main Point: A 2019 CRISPR study that initially faced skepticism from the medical establishment is now being adopted by major pharmaceutical companies.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The function of the underlined sentence within the overall text structure
What type of answer do we need? A description of what role this specific sentence plays in the passage's organization and argument
Any limiting keywords? N/A
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The underlined sentence comes right after we learn that major pharmaceutical companies have begun incorporating similar techniques
- The underlined sentence then lists specific companies (Moderna, BioNTech, Vertex) and exactly what they're doing with these techniques
- So the right answer should recognize that this sentence is providing concrete, specific examples that illustrate the general claim made in the sentence before it
It provides specific examples of companies that have implemented techniques from the 2019 study.
- This perfectly captures what the sentence does - it names specific companies and describes exactly how they've implemented the 2019 study's techniques
It explains why pharmaceutical companies were initially resistant to the research methodology.
- The sentence discusses current adoption and implementation, not initial resistance
It contrasts traditional therapeutic approaches with the study's innovative techniques.
- The sentence doesn't contrast different approaches - it simply lists what companies are doing with the study's techniques
It demonstrates the financial benefits that companies gained from adopting the new methods.
- The sentence mentions what companies are doing but provides no information about financial benefits or profits