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555-605 (Medium)|   Science|   Short Passage|                     
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KarishmaB
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Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have 24 Aug 2020, 22:02
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Will2020
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Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have had to deal with many uncertainties. In the first place, most behaviors are governed by more than one gene, and until recently geneticists had no method for identifying the multiple genes involved. In addition, even when a single gene is found to control a behavior, researchers in different fields do not necessarily agree that it is a “behavioral gene.” Neuroscientists, whose interest in genetic research is to understand the nervous system (which generates behavior), define the term broadly. But ethologists—specialists in animal behavior—are interested in evolution, so they define the term narrowly. They insist that mutations in a behavioral gene must alter a specific normal behavior and not merely make the organism ill, so that the genetically induced behavioral change will provide variation that natural selection can act upon, possibly leading to the evolution of a new species. For example, in the fruit fly, researchers have identified the gene Shaker, mutations in which cause flies to shake violently under anesthesia. Since shaking is not healthy, ethologists do not consider Shaker a behavioral gene. In contrast, ethologists do consider the gene period (per), which controls the fruit fly’s circadian (24-hour) rhythm, a behavioral gene because flies with mutated per genes are healthy; they simply have different rhythms.
1. The passage suggests that neuroscientists would most likely consider Shaker to be which of the following?
A. An example of a behavioral gene
B. One of multiple genes that control a single behavior
C. A gene that, when mutated, causes an alteration in a specific normal behavior without making the organism ill
D. A gene of interest to ethologists but of no interest to neuroscientists
E. A poor source of information about the nervous system

Show Spoiler
A

2. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following, if true, would be most likely to influence ethologists’ opinions about whether a particular gene in a species is a behavioral gene?
A. The gene is found only in that species.
B. The gene is extremely difficult to identify.
C. The only effect of mutations in the gene is to make the organism ill.
D. Neuroscientists consider the gene to be a behavioral gene.
E. Geneticists consider the gene to be a behavioral gene.

Show Spoiler
C

The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. summarize findings in an area of research
B. discuss different perspectives on a scientific question
C. outline the major questions in a scientific discipline
D. illustrate the usefulness of investigating a research topic
E. reconcile differences between two definitions of a term

Show Spoiler
B



Note: Verbal OG 2019 question order is #3, #1, #2
RC00322-01
RC00322-02
RC00322-05

DmitryFarber VeritasKarishma mcelroytutoring Regarding question 2, I understand why C is the correct AC, but I can NOT understand why D is wrong? If ethologists and neuroscientists have contrasting definitions regarding behavioral gene, why the neuroscientists opinion can not influence the ethologists opinions about whether a particular gene in a species is a behavioral gene? Didn't we assume that to answer question 1? Many tks! :)
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Neuroscientists define the term "behavioral gene" broadly. But ethologists define a behavioural gene as that in which mutations alter normal behaviour, not just cause sickness.
So whether Neuroscientists consider the gene to be a behavioral gene is irrelevant to the ethologists. They have their own criteria.
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Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have 02 Jun 2021, 04:09
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Can someone please explain the 1st and 2nd Question,
For 1st Ques , I cannot arrive at the answer and For 2nd Que it is clearly mentioned in the passage that "and not merely make the organism ill" but still the answer choice is C.
Have you reviewed this explanation of the first question and this explanation of the second question?

Also, remember that an inference can be a fairly simple restatement of something given in the passage. For more on that point, check out this post.
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Hi GMATNinja

I chose option A for the 3rd question. It isn't a popular option, but I went with it because the passage, almost entirely, describes how Ethologists determine if a gene is Behavioural or not, using examples. There are hardly a few words describing other perspectives. So how can it be B?
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Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have 19 Jun 2021, 08:06
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Question 3


Vishalcv

Hi GMATNinja

I chose option A for the 3rd question. It isn't a popular option, but I went with it because the passage, almost entirely, describes how Ethologists determine if a gene is Behavioural or not, using examples. There are hardly a few words describing other perspectives. So how can it be B?
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To answer primary purpose questions, think about why the author wrote the passage in the first place.

Here, the author discusses two groups of researchers, and contrasts their definitions of a certain term. Then the author cites an example to further explain one of those definitions.

So yes, the author spends a good amount of time summarizing the ethologists' point of view. However, the purpose of that summary is to provide a contrast to the view of the neuroscientists. So, (A) really doesn't capture the author's primary purpose.

I hope that helps!
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Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have 12 Jul 2022, 18:15
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HI GMATNinja

What is wrong with option E of question 3? The passage does highlight the differences between how neurologists and ethologists DEFINE a particular term. So the definitions of that term are being discussed.
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Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have 23 Jul 2022, 16:13
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Question 3


Namangupta1997
HI GMATNinja

What is wrong with option E of question 3? The passage does highlight the differences between how neurologists and ethologists DEFINE a particular term. So the definitions of that term are being discussed.
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To answer primary purpose questions, think about why the author wrote the passage in the first place.

Here, the author discusses two groups of researchers, and contrasts their definitions of a certain term. Then the author cites an example to further explain one of those definitions.

Take another look at the exact wording of (E):
Quote:
E. reconcile differences between two definitions of a term
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Yes, the author discusses two definitions of a term, as you've mentioned.

However, the author never reconciles the differences between these two definitions. He/she just tells us how the two groups define the term, and never brings those two definitions together. That's why (E) is out for question 3.

I hope that helps!
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Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have 01 Nov 2022, 11:39
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I have a question.

From q1 i inferred within 20 seconds that neuroscientists view is opposite so what ethnologist will consider behavioral gene the same will not be considered by NS(means that Shacker is a behavioral gene),however in second question also if the viewpoint is opposite then why can't we say that if NS believes something to be a behavioral gene the EN will not.
Let's take a closer at what, exactly, question #2 is asking:

Quote:
2. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following, if true, would be most likely to influence ethologists’ opinions about whether a particular gene in a species is a behavioral gene?
The question isn't asking us to identify which of the choices is true according to the passage. Instead, we must find the choice that would most likely influence whether ethologists think a given gene is a behavioral gene.

We can eliminate (D) because nothing in the passage suggests that the opinion of neuroscientists influences the opinion of ethologists.

On the other hand, we are told that ethologists do not consider Shaker to be behavioral because shaking is not healthy. So if an ethologist were told that the only effect of a mutation is to make an organism ill, this new information would definitely have an impact on whether they classified the corresponding gene to be behavioral or not (they would classify it as not behavioral).

That's why (C) is the best answer choice, and (D) can be eliminated. Remember that the GMAT doesn't require you to connect every question for an RC passage to each other. You just need to answer the specific question being asked, then move on.

I hope this helps!
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GMATNinja - When this question says influence, does it mean an option that could weaken the perspective?
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Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have 17 Nov 2022, 09:03
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Question 2


HC1993
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himanshukamra2711

I have a question.

From q1 i inferred within 20 seconds that neuroscientists view is opposite so what ethnologist will consider behavioral gene the same will not be considered by NS(means that Shacker is a behavioral gene),however in second question also if the viewpoint is opposite then why can't we say that if NS believes something to be a behavioral gene the EN will not.
Let's take a closer at what, exactly, question #2 is asking:

Quote:
2. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following, if true, would be most likely to influence ethologists’ opinions about whether a particular gene in a species is a behavioral gene?
The question isn't asking us to identify which of the choices is true according to the passage. Instead, we must find the choice that would most likely influence whether ethologists think a given gene is a behavioral gene.

We can eliminate (D) because nothing in the passage suggests that the opinion of neuroscientists influences the opinion of ethologists.

On the other hand, we are told that ethologists do not consider Shaker to be behavioral because shaking is not healthy. So if an ethologist were told that the only effect of a mutation is to make an organism ill, this new information would definitely have an impact on whether they classified the corresponding gene to be behavioral or not (they would classify it as not behavioral).

That's why (C) is the best answer choice, and (D) can be eliminated. Remember that the GMAT doesn't require you to connect every question for an RC passage to each other. You just need to answer the specific question being asked, then move on.

I hope this helps!

GMATNinja - When this question says influence, does it mean an option that could weaken the perspective?
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In this context, "influence" doesn't mean "weaken the perspective." Instead, the question is just asking us which factor the ethologists would consider to be influential in deciding whether something is a behavioral gene.

Consider this example: maybe I think that the best brunch spots offer dosas. What would influence my opinion on a particular brunch spot? Well, if that spot doesn't offer dosas, that would definitely influence my opinion. I'd be influenced not to go to that place. My overall perspective isn't weakened -- I'm still committed to the idea that a good brunch spot is defined by the presence of dosas.

Similarly, ethologists believe that "mutations in a behavioral gene must alter a specific normal behavior and not merely make the organism ill." So, what would influence their opinion on whether a certain gene is behavioral? Well, if they learned the info in (C) ("The only effect of mutations in the gene is to make the organism ill,"), then they would definitely think that the gene in question is NOT a behavioral gene. So, that information would influence their assessment.

That's why (C) is the correct answer to question 2.

I hope that helps!
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KarishmaB GMATNinja Sir/madam can you help in Q3-Primary purpose question.

The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. summarize findings in an area of research
B. discuss different perspectives on a scientific question

I have doubt why Option A is incorrect. Summarize findings in an area of research that is how genes control animal behavior. We have 2 findings i.e. most behaviors are governed by more than one gene and researchers in different fields do not necessarily agree that it is a behavioral gene.

Whereas Option B is a derivative of passage it doesn't cover entirety. It just focuses on researchers in different fields do not necessarily agree that it is a behavioral gene.
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waytowharton
KarishmaB GMATNinja Sir/madam can you help in Q3-Primary purpose question.

The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. summarize findings in an area of research
B. discuss different perspectives on a scientific question

I have doubt why Option A is incorrect. Summarize findings in an area of research that is how genes control animal behavior. We have 2 findings i.e. most behaviors are governed by more than one gene and researchers in different fields do not necessarily agree that it is a behavioral gene.

Whereas Option B is a derivative of passage it doesn't cover entirety. It just focuses on researchers in different fields do not necessarily agree that it is a behavioral gene.
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The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. summarize findings in an area of research
B. discuss different perspectives on a scientific question
C. outline the major questions in a scientific discipline
D. illustrate the usefulness of investigating a research topic
E. reconcile differences between two definitions of a term


Here is the thing - the passage provides us no "findings"

What is a "finding" - Researchers have found that most behaviors are governed by more than one gene.

What does the passage say? "Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have had to deal with many uncertainties. In the first place, most behaviors are governed by more than one gene, and until recently geneticists had no method for identifying the multiple genes involved."

So it is given as a fact - that since behaviours are governed by more than one genes, and until recently, researchers didn't know how to identify those genes.
So perhaps now they are able to identify but what have they found using this tech, we are not given.

Then the entire rest of the passage talks about how researchers in different fields do not agree on how to define a “behavioral gene.”
There is no finding discussed here too. Hence answer is not (A).

By elimination of options, the best option is (B) since the passage, after its first two lines, focusses on explaining how researchers in different fields have different ideas on "what is a behavioral gene?”

Also note that there is no "outlining of major questions," no "illustrating" and no "reconciling" done.

Answer (B)
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Researchers studying how genes control animal behavior have 09 Jun 2026, 15:44
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Hi Bunuel,

This question is also available in Verbal Review 2025-26. You can add that tag too. Thank you!
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minionbaba
Hi Bunuel,

This question is also available in Verbal Review 2025-26. You can add that tag too. Thank you!
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Added the tag. Thank you!
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1. The passage suggests that neuroscientists would most likely consider Shaker to be which of the following?
A. An example of a behavioral gene
Fits perfectly.

B. One of multiple genes that control a single behavior
Passage never says this.

C. A gene that alters behavior without making the organism ill
Opposite. Shaker makes flies unhealthy.

D. Interest to ethologists but not neuroscientists
Opposite.

E. Poor source of information about nervous system
Unsupported.

Answer: A
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