Recombinant DNA technology allows scientists to cut segments of DNA fr

Recombinant DNA technology allows scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism, also called genetic engineering.

A. Recombinant DNA technology allows scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism, also called genetic engineering.

B. Allowing scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism, recombinant DNA technology is also called genetic engineering.

C. Recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering, allows scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism.

D. Recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering, allows scientists the cutting of segments of DNA from one type of organism and the combination of them with the genes of a second organism.

E. Recombinant DNA technology, which is also known in more familiar terminology as genetic engineering, allows scientists the opportunity to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism.

C is the best answer.

The first concept tested in this question is modifier placement. The modifier "also called genetic engineering" should be placed as close to "Recombinant DNA technology" as possible. This eliminates option A, as it is not clear what the participle modifier "also called genetic engineering" modifies - "organism"/"technology"/"genes"?

E is unnecessarily wordy - "which is also known in more familiar terminology as genetic engineering" can be constructed more concisely as "also called genetic engineering". Eliminate

B - Now this is an interesting constructing as the phrase "Allowing scientists..." is acting as a modifier describing "Recombinant DNA technology"; ADDITIONALLY "is also called.." is acting as a verb for "RDT". However, if we remove the initial modifier from option B, the main sentence essentially becomes "recombinant DNA technology is also called genetic engineering", which is significant distortion wrt the original meaning of the question prompt. The modifier in option B should be an essential part of the main subject "RDT", and should not be a non-essential modifier offset by commas. The main intent of writing the sentence is to illustrate what "RDT" allows scientists to do - B makes it sound as if the main idea of the sentence is to give an alternate name for "RDT". Eliminate

Between C and D -

Both options have the modifier "also called GE" placed right next to "RDT", which is correct. The only difference is D uses two noun/gerund forms - "the cutting.." AND "the combination..", whereas B uses 2 verb forms : "to cut.." and "to combine...". On the GMAT, PROVIDED that both options are grammatically and logically correct, the verb form is almost always the way to go, as the noun form results in an extremely indirect/awkward/unnecessarily wordier construction. This makes option D inferior to C.

Hence C is the best answer.

Recombinant DNA technology allows scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism, also called genetic engineering.

A. Recombinant DNA technology allows scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism, also called genetic engineering. -- this cause should be near Recombinant DNA

B. Allowing scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism, recombinant DNA technology is also called genetic engineering. -- not flowing

C. Recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering, allows scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism. -- perfect

D. Recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering, allows scientists the cutting of segments of DNA from one type of organism and the combination of them with the genes of a second organism. -- to cut is better

E. Recombinant DNA technology, which is also known in more familiar terminology as genetic engineering, allows scientists the opportunity to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism. the opportunity is irrelevant

The right answer is option C.

Options A and B have misplaced modifiers. In A, also called genetic engineering is intended to modify Recombinant DNA Technology and not the genes of a second organism. Option B on the hand is structured in an awkward manner that when option B is compared with option C, option C is far better in terms of the placement of the modifier and what it is intended to modify.

In option D, Recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering, allows scientists the cutting of segments of DNA from one type of organism and the combination of them with the genes of a second organism. The wording of the cutting of segments of DNA does not signify explicit purpose per the intended meaning, hence incorrect. It should have been: to cut segments of DNA, which signifies explicit purpose.

Option E is excessively wordy compared with option C, which is more concise.

Recombinant DNA technology allows scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism, also called genetic engineering.

A. Recombinant DNA technology allows scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism, also called genetic engineering. ---Wrong modification. Also called GE wrongly modifies 'a second organism '

B. Allowing scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism, recombinant DNA technology is also called genetic engineering. --altered intent of the focus shifting from describing the process of RDNA tech to its other name

C. Recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering, allows scientists to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism--- the best

D. Recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering, allows scientists the cutting of segments of DNA from one type of organism and the combination of them with the genes of a second organism.-- 'the cutting of' is unidiomatic

E. Recombinant DNA technology, which is also known in more familiar terminology as genetic engineering, allows scientists the opportunity to cut segments of DNA from one type of organism and combine them with the genes of a second organism.-- too wordy

MEANING
R-DNA tech, aka genetic engineering, allows scientists to cut… and [to] combine.

A. "second organism, also called GE", misplaced mod and unintended;
B. "allowing scientists to…, r-DNA technology is also called GE" this imps that r-DNA is also called GE whilst allowing scientists to do something, nonsense;
D. "allows scientists the cutting… and the combination" we need the infinitive to show intent, not verb-ing, unintended;
E. "which is also known in more familiar terminology as GE" not concise; "the opportunity to cut" is nonsense;

Answer (C)

Official Explanation

Correct Answer: C

Choice a misplaces the modifier also called genetic engineering, which should immediately follow recombinant DNA technology. Choice b turns what should be the predicate of the sentence (the main action and focus of the sentence) into a huge introductory phrase, shifting the emphasis onto also called genetic engineering, which becomes the new predicate. Choice d incorrectly uses the wordy and indirect phrases the cutting of instead of the infinitive to cut and the combination of them with instead of combine them with. Choice e is wordy.