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605-655 Level|   Non-Math Related|         
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 09:52
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­This is akin to a CR question where we need to find the strengthener and weakener for our argument.

Look at D. If vancomycin only works for a narrower range of bacteria, it weakens our conclusion that it should reduce build up of antibiotic agents.

Look at E. It further gives us a shortcoming of using the current chemicals and therefore, strengthens the argument for using vancomycin.


Therefore, strengthener - E and weakener -D 
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 10:02
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"­levels of the antibiotics in livestock have been found to be up to 100 times what is needed to break down the natural bacterial eco-system of the animal, an outcome that leads to poor health outcomes for the animal and increases the risk of anti-biotic resistant bacterial strains evolving within them."

This is the main problem. In order to advocate the giving up of the usage of Streptomycin and oxytetracycline, we need to find an option that talks about this issue.
Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.

Exactly what we were looking for. These chemicals further accumulate in humans thus leading to poor health. Thus Strengthener.

For weakener, we have 2 contenders.
1. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are fairly cheap to produce.
Our focus is not money rather health. Eliminate this.

2. Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are.
This is a problem. Vancomycin might not turn out  to be a good sustitute. Weakener.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 10:14
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Weakens- Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are. This is a weakener as if the new drug is not resistant against all types of bacteria, it wont be able to replace streptomycin and oxytetracycline

Strengthens- Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products. This further shows why it is imp to switch to the other drug which breaks down faster.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 10:21
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Bunuel
­Organic chemist: Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are two anti-bacterial agents used in commercial farming, and may pose a serious public health risk down the line. These anti-bacterial agents are liberally applied to crops grown for animal feed and, as a result, it is common to find livestock with a build up of the chemicals in their bodies. In fact, levels of the antibiotics in livestock have been found to be up to 100 times what is needed to break down the natural bacterial eco-system of the animal, an outcome that leads to poor health outcomes for the animal and increases the risk of anti-biotic resistant bacterial strains evolving within them.

A disease specialist intends to use the chemist’s observations to argue that vancomycin, a compound that breaks down much faster than streptomycin and oxytetracycline, should replace them in the production of livestock feed, reducing the build-up of anti-biotic agents in livestock. Select the information that, if true, would most strengthen the disease specialists’ position, and that which, if true would most weaken it. Make only two selections, one in each column.

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A high number of crop failures are attributed to bacterial infections each year.
Out of scope. Not relevant to comparing the chemicals

Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are fairly cheap to produce.
Could strengthen the point of view of specialist to switch to vancomycin but not talking about cost anywhere in passage. Eliminate.

Streptomycin and oxytetracycline runoff can damage water bodies.
Not talking about damage to water bodies anywhere, and not comparing the chemicals. Eliminate.

Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are.
If it is effective against a narrower range, then we may still have to use streptomycin and oxytetracycline to fully fight the bacteria, and specialist argument of replacing them with vancomycin falls apart. 
So Weakens argument

Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.
Increases harm regarding streptomycin and oxytetracycline to humans so strengthens specialist argument that chemical should be switched
Strengthens Argument
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 10:21
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1. A high number of crop failures are attributed to bacterial infections each year.

You need to find statements that challenge the new solution against the existing one not a broad statement. This statement only highlights the need for an anti-bacterial agent, which is something that the chemist does not argue with. 

2. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are fairly cheap to produce.

There is nothing said about the cost to produce vancomycin in contrast. We cannot conclude from the statement that they are more cost-efficient and, nothing in the text indicates that cost is a factor that either the organic chemist or the disease specialist are considering. We are only talking about health risks here. 

3. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline runoff can damage water bodies.

This is a new piece of information that adds to the negative effects of streptomycin and oxytetracycline which would only strenghten the need for an alternative, in this case vancomycin.

4. Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are.

This is a piece of information that works against the introduction of vancomycin as it is not as effective as its alternatives. The anti-bacterial agent must first perform its job before being considered as a legitimate alternative, which in this case is put into question with the information provided. 

5. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.

While this statement might be true, it is not new information that would strenghten the argument. This is something that would have already been accounted for when the search began for an alternative.

Therefore the answers are 4. most weaken and 3. most strengthen 
Bunuel
­Organic chemist: Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are two anti-bacterial agents used in commercial farming, and may pose a serious public health risk down the line. These anti-bacterial agents are liberally applied to crops grown for animal feed and, as a result, it is common to find livestock with a build up of the chemicals in their bodies. In fact, levels of the antibiotics in livestock have been found to be up to 100 times what is needed to break down the natural bacterial eco-system of the animal, an outcome that leads to poor health outcomes for the animal and increases the risk of anti-biotic resistant bacterial strains evolving within them.

A disease specialist intends to use the chemist’s observations to argue that vancomycin, a compound that breaks down much faster than streptomycin and oxytetracycline, should replace them in the production of livestock feed, reducing the build-up of anti-biotic agents in livestock. Select the information that, if true, would most strengthen the disease specialists’ position, and that which, if true would most weaken it. Make only two selections, one in each column.

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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 10:46
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Disease specialist's position is that vancomycin, a compound that breaks down much faster than streptomycin and oxytetracycline, should replace them in the production of livestock feed, reducing the build-up of anti-biotic agents in livestock.

Eventhough vancomycin reduces build-up of anti-biotic agents in livestock, anything which suggests that ­vancomycin is less effective in controling bacteria in farming feed for livestock limits the application of vancomycin and inturn weakens the disease specialist's position.
Such a statment is given in "Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are."- hence this weakens the disease specialist's position.

We have already established that Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in feed accumulates in livesstock. If any other potential dangers of Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are explained, it strengthen the disease specialists’ position. Such statements can be found in "Streptomycin and oxytetracycline runoff can damage water bodies" and Streptomycin and "oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products."

Since we dont have any information about Vancomycin effects on waterbodies we cannot establish that using Vancomycin will be better in avoiding water body damage. Where as since we know Vancomycin ​​​​​​​helps reduce the build-up of anti-biotic agents in livestock, it will prevent further transfer of accumulation of such chemicals in humans. Hence "oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.​​​​​​​"
strongtly strengthen the disease specialists’ position​​​​​​​.

 
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 10:57
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Bunuel
­Organic chemist: Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are two anti-bacterial agents used in commercial farming, and may pose a serious public health risk down the line. These anti-bacterial agents are liberally applied to crops grown for animal feed and, as a result, it is common to find livestock with a build up of the chemicals in their bodies. In fact, levels of the antibiotics in livestock have been found to be up to 100 times what is needed to break down the natural bacterial eco-system of the animal, an outcome that leads to poor health outcomes for the animal and increases the risk of anti-biotic resistant bacterial strains evolving within them.

A disease specialist intends to use the chemist’s observations to argue that vancomycin, a compound that breaks down much faster than streptomycin and oxytetracycline, should replace them in the production of livestock feed, reducing the build-up of anti-biotic agents in livestock. Select the information that, if true, would most strengthen the disease specialists’ position, and that which, if true would most weaken it. Make only two selections, one in each column.

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­Here we need to find the most strenghtening and the most weakening information for the use of vancomycin.

So, for the most strenghtening information: Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products. (This information if true will most support the use of vancomycin as it's reducing the build up of anibiotics in live stock.)

for the most weakening information: Streptomycin and oxytetracycline runoff can damage water bodies. (This information will most weaken the use if vancomycin as it is showing side effects of replacing Streptomycin and oxytetracycline)
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:01
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To analyze the argument and select the statement that both strengthens and weakens the specialist's argument effectively, let's break down the key points:

The specialist argues that vancomycin should replace streptomycin and oxytetracycline in livestock feed to reduce the build-up of antibiotics in animals, which can lead to health issues and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.

Strengthens the Argument:

A statement supporting the idea that reducing antibiotic build-up in livestock is beneficial would strengthen the argument. Option E directly supports this by stating that streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock can accumulate in humans who consume animal products. This highlights a potential human health risk associated with antibiotic accumulation in livestock, thereby strengthening the argument for using vancomycin, which breaks down faster.
Weakens the Argument:

The argument could be weakened by a statement that suggests vancomycin might not be an ideal replacement due to other drawbacks. Option D weakens the argument by pointing out that vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria compared to streptomycin and oxytetracycline. This implies that using vancomycin might not provide the same broad spectrum of bacterial protection, potentially leading to other health risks or reduced effectiveness in combating bacterial infections in livestock.
Therefore, the statements can be evaluated as follows:

Strengthens: Option E (Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.)
Weakens: Option D (Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are.)
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:08
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Bunuel
­Organic chemist: Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are two anti-bacterial agents used in commercial farming, and may pose a serious public health risk down the line. These anti-bacterial agents are liberally applied to crops grown for animal feed and, as a result, it is common to find livestock with a build up of the chemicals in their bodies. In fact, levels of the antibiotics in livestock have been found to be up to 100 times what is needed to break down the natural bacterial eco-system of the animal, an outcome that leads to poor health outcomes for the animal and increases the risk of anti-biotic resistant bacterial strains evolving within them.

A disease specialist intends to use the chemist’s observations to argue that vancomycin, a compound that breaks down much faster than streptomycin and oxytetracycline, should replace them in the production of livestock feed, reducing the build-up of anti-biotic agents in livestock. Select the information that, if true, would most strengthen the disease specialists’ position, and that which, if true would most weaken it. Make only two selections, one in each column.

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­Need to strengthen and weaken the specialists’ position, (vancomycin, a compound that breaks down much faster than streptomycin and oxytetracycline, should replace them in the production of livestock feed).

Strenghten : 

A. Irr
B.Irr but slightly weaken
C. +ve
D.Weaken
E.Strenghten.

So C,E can be the choice for strengthening.  E doesn't state that is a pblm. Where as C shows that the runoff is a pblm. 

Hence C. Strengthens
E. Weakens.

 
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:17
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Quite simple.

Just find major pro for using V.

Also find S & O cona that can be serious for human health or so.

Posted from my mobile device
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:17
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Organic chemist: Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are two anti-bacterial agents used in commercial farming, and may pose a serious public health risk down the line. These anti-bacterial agents are liberally applied to crops grown for animal feed and, as a result, it is common to find livestock with a build up of the chemicals in their bodies. In fact, levels of the antibiotics in livestock have been found to be up to 100 times what is needed to break down the natural bacterial eco-system of the animal, an outcome that leads to poor health outcomes for the animal and increases the risk of anti-biotic resistant bacterial strains evolving within them.

A disease specialist intends to use the chemist’s observations to argue that vancomycin, a compound that breaks down much faster than streptomycin and oxytetracycline, should replace them in the production of livestock feed, reducing the build-up of anti-biotic agents in livestock. Select the information that, if true, would most strengthen the disease specialists’ position, and that which, if true would most weaken it. Make only two selections, one in each column.

1. A high number of crop failures are attributed to bacterial infections each year.-Promotes use of antibacterial agents, but doesn't strengthen or weaken the specialist's argument.
2. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are fairly cheap to produce. Doesn't support or weaken the specialist's argument.
3. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline runoff can damage water bodies. -supports weaken the specialist's argument.
4. Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are. - weakens the specialist's argument.
5. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.- strongly supports the specialist's argument as humans are directly affected.­
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:29
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­In my opinion the answer should C and E 
 
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:33
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Most Strengthen :- Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.

explanation:-

1. If these antibiotics build up in humans, it means there could be direct health risks to people who eat meat from treated animals

2. This buildup could lead to humans developing antibiotic resistance, making it harder to treat infections in the future.

3. Showing a direct risk to human health makes a strong case for finding a safer alternative, like vancomycin, which breaks down faster and doesn’t          accumulate as much.


Most Weaken:- Vancomycin is effective against fewer types of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline

explanation:-

1. If vancomycin works against fewer types of bacteria, it might not be as effective in preventing infections in livestock.

2. This means using vancomycin could lead to more sick animals, potentially causing more problems for farmers and food safety.

3. Highlighting vancomycin’s limited effectiveness suggests it may not be a suitable replacement, weakening the specialist’s argument for switching         antibiotics.­
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:36
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­ED
E- Supports disease specialists’ position
D- if Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are then the crops will still get damaged .- weakens 

A- doesn't strengthen or weaken the argument 
B- makes sense but no economical factors are consisdered in the question 
C- it does not directly strengthen the argument for using vancomycin over streptomycin and oxytetracycline. 
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:38
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­Choice that most strengthens : Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.
­Choice that most weakens     : Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are.

Argument:

chemist
Streptomycin and oxytetracycline : two anti bacterial agents may pose serious threat to public health
These agents are applied to crops.
These are in turn eaten by live stock.
-ve side effects:
1. Antibiotic levels are found to be 100 times more than noremal levels, leading to poor health conditions
2. Increased risk of anti-biotic resistant bacterial strains evolving within them

Disease specialist

vancomycin : Recommended by the specialist
similar to above
Advantages:
1. Breaks down quickly, leading to less build up

Inorder to weaken Specialist stance, we need to find a factor that the new anti bacterial agent lacks.

To strengthen, we need to find a choice that tells us how it is beneficial to us/ public health.
 
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:49
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Most Strengthen:
Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.
This would strengthen the disease specialist’s argument by highlighting an additional public health risk associated with the current antibiotics, emphasizing the need for a safer alternative like vancomycin.

Most Weaken:
Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are.
This would weaken the argument by suggesting that vancomycin might not be as effective in preventing bacterial infections, thereby potentially leading to increased crop failures or health issues in livestock.

Ans E, D
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:52
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­Summary of Organic chemist's argument:
- Strepto.. and oxy...-anti-bacterial agents applied to animal feed
- Levels of the antibiotics up to 100 times what is needed to break down the natural bacterial eco-system of the animal
-  May pose serious public health risk and risk of anti-biotic resistant bacterial strains

Disease specialist: Compound V breaks down much faster than Strep & Oxy
 - should replace them in feed ->reducing the build-up of anti-biotic agents

Ans
Most Strengthen:E  Most Weaken: D


A) high number of crop failures are attributed to bacterial infections each year: Doesn't strengthen or weaken the Specialist's argument
B) Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are fairly cheap to produce: Doesn't say anything about compound V's production costs
C) Streptomycin and oxytetracycline runoff can damage water bodies: Doesn't say anything about compound V's impact on water bodies
D) Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are: This reduces attractiveness of V. Hence a weakener.
E) Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products: As per Specialist's argument Compound V breaks down faster and thus might not accumulate in humans
 
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 11:56
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­Organic chemist: Streptomycin (S) and oxytetracycline (O) are two anti-bacterial agents used in commercial farming, and may pose a serious public health risk down the line. These anti-bacterial agents are liberally applied to crops grown for animal feed and, as a result, it is common to find livestock with a build up of the chemicals in their bodies. In fact, levels of the antibiotics in livestock have been found to be up to 100 times what is needed to break down the natural bacterial eco-system of the animal, an outcome that leads to poor health outcomes for the animal and increases the risk of anti-biotic resistant bacterial strains evolving within them.

A disease specialist intends to use the chemist’s observations to argue that vancomycin (V) , a compound that breaks down much faster than streptomycin and oxytetracycline, should replace them in the production of livestock feed, reducing the build-up of anti-biotic agents in livestock.

Select the information that, if true, would most strengthen the disease specialists’ position, and that which, if true would most weaken it.

Lets check each option.

A. A high number of crop failures are attributed to bacterial infections each year. - Irrelevant.
Ok but our main concern is evaluating use of S & O which is missing in this statement.

B. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline are fairly cheap to produce. - Irrelevant.
This statement provides economic context but doesn't directly impact the argument for or against vancomycin's use based on effectiveness or environmental/health concerns.

C. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline runoff can damage water bodies. - Ok but not addressing main concern.
This highlights an environmental concern associated with streptomycin and oxytetracycline, supporting the argument for using vancomycin if it poses less risk to water bodies. But main issue is effectiveness or environmental/health concerns that is missing in this option.

D. Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are. - Weaken.
Showing limitation of V.

E. Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products. - Strengthen
This statement directly addresses the health risks to humans consuming animal products containing accumulated antibiotics. Further it highlights the potential human health benefits of switching to V, which breaks down faster and may reduce the risks associated with antibiotic accumulation in humans.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 12:02
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­The chemist's findings will be used by the disease specialist to support the idea that vancomycin, which breaks down far more quickly than oxytetracycline and streptomycin, should be used in place of these two compounds when making animal feed. This will prevent the accumulation of antibiotic agents in livestock.

Most Strengthen disease specialist- Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.
Reasoning: If true, would most strengthen the disease specialists’ position, as it poses harm to humans, and the two compounds need to be replaced.

Most Weaken- Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are.
Reasoning: If true, would most weaken the disease specialists’ position, as it is not effective against a wider range of bacteria.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 3): Organic chemist: Streptomycin and 10 Jul 2024, 12:49
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The disease specialist's goal is to argue that vancomycin should replace streptomycin and oxytetracycline due to its faster breakdown, thereby reducing the build-up of antibiotics in livestock and lowering the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

**Streptomycin and oxytetracycline present in livestock further accumulate in humans who consume animal products.**

This strengthens the disease specialist's position because it highlights an additional public health risk posed by streptomycin and oxytetracycline. If these antibiotics accumulate in humans through the consumption of livestock, the risk of antibiotic resistance and related health issues becomes more serious, supporting the argument for replacing them with vancomycin, which breaks down faster and thus would be less likely to accumulate.

**Vancomycin is effective against a narrower range of bacteria than streptomycin and oxytetracycline are.**

This weakens the disease specialist's position because it suggests that vancomycin may not be as effective in preventing bacterial infections in crops or livestock due to its narrower range of efficacy. If vancomycin is less effective overall, it may not be a viable alternative to streptomycin and oxytetracycline, despite its faster breakdown.­
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