After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from hu

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After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from human mitochondria and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA, geneticists have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA.


Sentence Structure
• After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from human mitochondria and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA, geneticists have found
• that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA.
Meaning
• Geneticists compared the Neanderthal DNA to the human DNA and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA.
• Now the way this sentence is written, we can infer two meanings here:
o Meaning 1: Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than was the chimp DNA. Entities compared Neanderthal DNA and chimp DNA.
o Meaning 2: Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than to the chimp DNA. Entities compared human DNA and chimp DNA.



Error Analysis
• After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from human mitochondria and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA, geneticists have found
• that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA.

As we saw in the meaning analysis, the way this sentence is written, it presents ambiguous comparison.
If the intended comparison is between Neanderthal DNA and chimp DNA, then we need to repeat “was” before “the chimp DNA” to clarify the comparison.
If the intended comparison is between human DNA and chimp DNA, then we need to repeat preposition “to” before “the chimp DNA” to clarify the comparison.
We will do the PoE to find out the correct answer.

PoE

A. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp DNA : Incorrect for the reasons stated above.

B. might find that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp : Incorrect.

Error 1: Use of “might” is incorrect as it denotes that there is possibility that the geneticists may find the stated similarity. However, the original sentence says that geneticists have already found the similarity.
Error 2: This choice illogically compares Neanderthal DNA to “human” and “chimp” and not their DNAs.

C. have found that the Neanderthal’s was more similar to human’s than chimp’s : Incorrect.
This choice repeats the error of choice A. The only difference is that the entities have been written using possessive case. Neanderthal’s (DNA), human’s (DNA), and chimp’s (DNA). Hence, this choice also presents ambiguous comparison.

D. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than to chimp DNA : Correct Answer
This choice clarifies the comparison by repeating preposition “to” before “chimp DNA”. Hence, the intended comparison is between human DNA and chimp DNA.

E. found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar than human DNA and chimp DNA: Incorrect.

Error 1: This choice does not have “to”. This removal leads to distorted meaning. Now we don’t know that the similarity of Neanderthal’s DNA is measured to who or what.



1. Word/words can be omitted as long as their removal does not make the sentence ambiguous.
2. Repeat the already present words if removal of those words leads to ambiguity in comparison.

Thanks.
Shraddha
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Started with identifying the splits and understanding the meaning of the sentence.

1. have found vs found
Spotted comparing in the previous clause, implying ongoing action
Present perfect > simple past
E can be crossed out.

2. Neanderthal DNA vs Neanderthal's
In the unclear in the latter what is being compared.
Neanderthal DNA > Neanderthal's
C can be crossed out

3. more similar to vs more similar than
Idiom demands similar to
Similar to > Similar than
Than should come later to express comparison.
E can be crossed out

4. It is the DNA being compared only
A. DNA similar to Human than Chimp DNA. Wrong comparison
B. DNA Similar to Human than Chimp. Wrong comparison
A & B can be crossed out

5. Meaning
E. fails to establish the comparison.
E Can be crossed out

You are left with only D, the best answer in my opinion.

Cheers

Was confused between C and D but finally chose D .

Only D addresses the Parallelism structure fault in the original stem.
A has parallel structure issues - DNA was more similar TO human DNA than Chimp DNA - INCORRECT
B tense change not required - INCORRECT
C incorrect comparison - Neanderthal's similar to human's than chimp's (What are we comparing is not mentioned at all) - INCORRECT
D rectified the parallelism issue in the original stem by adding to before Chimp DNA - BINGO!!!!
E same problem as in the stem - INCORRECT
(I am not very good at explaining SCs since i lack the Grammar Vocab required )

Neanderthal = A
Human= B
Chimp = C

A. Geniticists have found that A DNA was more similar to B than C DNA
(DNA compared to human and chimp DNA)

B. Geniticists might find
(After so much research Geniticists should find at least something)

C. Geneticists have found that the A's was more similar to B’s than C’s
(A's head was more similar to B's leg than C's brain???)

D. Geneticists have found that the A DNA was more similar to B DNA than to C DNA
(Perfect!!!, A was similar to both B & C, but it resembles more to B or its properties matches more with properties of B than with the properties of C)

E. Geneticists found that the A DNA was more similar than B DNA and C DNA
(To whom or to what? Similar to something......)

My Answer

The correct comparaison should ressemble to :
After comparing X to Y and to Z, geneticists have found that X was more similar to Y than to Z
Answer : D

After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from human mitochondria and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA, geneticists have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA.

A. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp DNA
B. might find that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp
C. have found that the Neanderthal’s was more similar to human’s than chimp’s
D. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than to chimp DNA
E. found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar than human DNA and chimp DNA

Meaning -
Geneticists compared 3 types of DNA- Neanderthal's DNA : Human DNA: Chimp DNA
after comparing, they found out that - N's DNA is similar to Human DNA rather than Chimps's DNA

C1- geneticists have
C2 -Neaderthal DNA was

Usage of That- Object of Verb - Found
SV Agreement - Correct
Pronoun Mismatch - No
Modifier - NO

Parallelism - Ambiguity -

the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA.

Two Meanings- Is it

a)the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA (was)
or
b) the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than (to)chimp DNA.

The correct answer choice must be either of the above forms -

Lets analyze answer choices-


A. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp DNA - Comparison Error
B. might find that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp - incorrect comparison( N's DNA to Human to Chimp)
C. have found that the Neanderthal’s was more similar to human’s than chimp’s - Same Error as that in original choice; the only thing is the choice used possessive case
D. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than to chimp DNA - Answer - correct structure (meets choice b)
E. found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar than human DNA and chimp DNA - Again , What is this comparing - N's DNA to both H and C DNA combined)


Thanks

Meaning :- geneticists after doing an experiment have found that the Nean DNA is more similar to Hum DNA than to chimp DNA

Error Analysis :- The underlined portion is different from choice A, however there is an ambiguous comparison in the underlined part
a. Nean DNA was more similar to Hum DNA than to Chimp DNA
Or
b. Nean DNA was more similar to Hum DNA than Chimp DNA was more similar to Hum DNA

POE :-
Option A :- this option is different from the underlined part in the original sentence. this option has a comparison error wherein we compare the Nean DNA with Human.
Option B :- Same error as in option A. Also this option changes the intended meaning per this option the geneticists perform some experiment, they might find something, whereas per the original option the experiment has already been performed and the results published.
Option C :- The compared entity is not specified, what of Nean`s is more similar to hum`s than chimp`s ? also same ambiguous comparison error as in underlined part.
Option D :- Correct
Option E :- using simple past tense indicates that the action is completed in the past and its effects are no longer valid. Also the comparison is not correct, the nean DNA was more similar than hum`s and chimp`s but similar to what ?

IMO :- D

OA:D...

Pretty easy one Shradhha I think...

Please get us through some really challenging ones...

btw, look forward to seeing a detail discussion on idioms and their usage in GMAT from e-GMAT

After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from human mitochondria and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA, geneticists have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA.

A. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp DNA
B. might find that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp
C. have found that the Neanderthal’s was more similar to human’s than chimp’s
D. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than to chimp DNA
E. found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar than human DNA and chimp DNA

Meaning - The geneticists compared the N-DNA to the equivalent of Human DNA and Chimp DNA. They found that N DNA was similar to Human DNA than to Chimp DNA

Error Analysis
Changed the color of sub and verb in original sentence

The comparison is incorrect

POE
Have found - recently past discovered this fact
Found - happened in the past and no bearing in the current state
might find - possibility - not talked in the sentence

So the perfect comparison and correct verb is used in D. Rest all have incorrect verb or Comparison.

Hey e-GMAT,
Any update on this guys ? I mean do you have any plan to come up with an article on idioms and their usage and application in GMAT...It would be really helpful I think.

Much appreciate your feedback.

A. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp DNA-not parallel. to human than chimp DNA
B. might find that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp.-Wrong. Again comparing Neanderthal DNA to human and chimp.
C. have found that the Neanderthal’s was more similar to human’s than chimp’s.Wrong. Not clear what is being compared
D. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than to chimp DNA.- Correct. All parts are parallel and comparison is also correct.
E. found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar than human DNA and chimp DNA. wrong Neanderthal DNA was more similar than human DNA and chimp DNA. what is more similar to Neanderthal DNA. Not clear.

IMO D,

After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from human mitochondria and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA, geneticists have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA.

A. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp DNA- incorrect comparison.
B. might find that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp
C. have found that the Neanderthal’s was more similar to human’s than chimp’s
D. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than to chimp DNA- Correct comparison
E. found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar than human DNA and chimp DNA

D: Not too difficult..

Compare between/among Neanderthal DNA and human DNA and chimp DNA

That's only in D.....

After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from human mitochondria and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA, geneticists have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA.

A. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp DNA
B. might find that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human than chimp
C. have found that the Neanderthal’s was more similar to human’s than chimp’s
D. have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than to chimp DNA
E. found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar than human DNA and chimp DNA

The short cut to solve this problem is to go throeugh the idiom route. The correct idiom is x is more similar 'to y' than 'to z'. No choice other than D has the 'to y' and 'to z' structure.
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Hi...looking at option C. If it were reframed as :

have found that the Neanderthal’s DNA was more similar to human’s than to chimp’s.

Would it be correct?

great ! E-Gmat's sentence break up is also insightful. But i think applying the idiom "x is more similar to y than to z" is much easier here.

After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from human mitochondria and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA, geneticists have found that the Neanderthal DNA was more similar to human DNA than chimp DNA.
suppose
Neanderthal DNA = N
human DNA = H
chimp DNA = C

After comparing the Neanderthal DNA to the same stretch of DNA from human mitochondria and to equivalent chimpanzee DNA.
This say N comapre to H & to C
So N --> H
N --> C

So the result should also be N --> H & N --> C
B & E rejected wrong choice of verb tense might find & found
A & C are same. Just removed the term DNA. says H --> N & H --> C
so both A & C are wrong

Hence answer is D, which says N --> H & N --> C

The sentence presents comparison. It says that after comparing the NDNA to the same stretch of HDNA and to equivalent CDNA, geneticists have found that the NDNA was more similar to HDNA than CDNA.

Error Analysis: There are no SV / Pronoun/ Idioms/ Other errors. This sentence has Parallelism error and it resembles the core structure of an Ellipsis. The way this sentence is written, we can infer two meanings:

Meaning 1: Geneticists have found that the NDNA was similar to both HDNA and CDNA. But they were more similar to HDNA. So the entities compared here are HDNA and CDNA.

Meaning 2: Both NDNA and CDNA are similar to HDNA. But NDNA were more similar to HDNA than were CDNA. So the entities compared here are NDNA and CDNA.

Both these comparisons would be possible, but we know that the results were obtained after comparing the NDNA to the HDNA and to equivalent CDNA. There is no information about CDNA being compared to HDNA. So we can say that the intended comparison is between HDNA and CDNA, and hence all we need to do to clarify the comparison is add the preposition 'to' before CDNA. The answer is D.