A is the right answer.Quote:
Recently, reviewers of patent applications decided against granting a patent to a university for a genetically engineered mouse developed for laboratory use in studying cancer. The reviewers argued that the mouse was a new variety of animal and that rules governing the granting of patents specifically disallow patents for new animal varieties.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the patent reviewers’ argument?
Breakdown of Argument
Conclusion: Recently, reviewers of patent applications decided against granting a patent to a university for a genetically engineered mouse developed for laboratory use in studying cancer.
Premise: The reviewers argued that the mouse was a new variety of animals and that rules governing the granting of patents specifically disallow patents for new animal varieties.
The conclusion is that the reviewers of patent applications decided against granting a patent to a university for a genetically engineered mouse that is developed for laboratory use in studying cancer. The grounds for the rejection is that the new mouse developed falls within a category of new animals for which rules governing the grant of patents is specifically disallowed. An assumption upon which this argument depends is that the specific rule that the reviewers have based their decision on applies to animals that are developed for laboratory purposes in studying cancer. If this rule does not apply to laboratory animals, then the argument will fall apart. Hence the greatest weakener to this argument must be one that suggests that the rules cited by the reviewers pertain to a different group of animals and not to animals genetically engineered for laboratory use. This is exactly what option A states, and hence must be the answer.
Quote:
(A) The restrictions the patent reviewers cited pertain only to domesticated farm animals.
This is the correct answer as per the reasoning above.
Quote:
(B) The university’s application for a patent for the genetically engineered mouse was the first such patent application made by the university.
Whether this is the first time that the university has applied for a patent or not for a genetically engineered mouse is irrelevant to the argument above. It does weaken the argument or strengthen the argument. Eliminate B.
Quote:
(C) The patent reviewers had reached the same decision on all previous patent requests for new animal varieties.
This does not weaken the argument above. In any case, it could be seen as a strengthener because it suggests that there is a precedence set for the rejection of such animals and that the rejection, in this case, cannot be misconstrued as a form of bias towards the university. C can be eliminated.
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(D) The patent reviewers had in the past approved patents for genetically engineered plant varieties.
This is out of scope. An approval for genetically engineered plant varieties may be justified and such approvals cannot be the basis to fault the reviewers for rejecting the patent request for a genetically engineered mouse. D can be eliminated.
Quote:
(E) The patent reviewers had previously decided against granting patents for new animal varieties that were developed through conventional breeding programs rather than through genetic engineering.
Animals developed through conventional breeding programs are not the same as those developed through genetic engineering. Hence a rejection of patents for such conventionally developed animals cannot form the basis or grounds for rejection or honoring a patent request for a genetically engineered animal. E can be eliminated.
close
24 Mar 2020, 02:24
45%
(medium)
37%
(02:05)
wrong 
