Telomerase is an enzyme that is produced only in cells that are active

Question

Telomerase is an enzyme that is produced only in cells that are actively dividing. Thus, as a rule, it is not present in adult tissue. Bone marrow is an exception to this rule, however, since even in adults bone marrow cells continually divide to replace old blood cells. Cancers are another exception, because their cells are rapidly dividing.

The information provided most strongly supports which of the following?

A. Telomerase is the only enzyme that is present in cancerous cells but absent from cells that are not actively dividing.
B. Embryonic tissue is less likely to become cancerous than tissue that has ceased to actively divide.
C. The presence of telomerase in bone marrow is no indication of bone marrow cancer.
D. Cancer of the bone marrow develops more rapidly than cancer growing in any other kind of adult tissue.
E. The level of telomerase production is always higher in cancerous tissue than in noncancerous tissue.

I saw a similar GMAT prep question on the forum with somewhat different wording. I could not find this exact question on the forum, so I am posting it. I will also explain my reasoning.

Engineer1 · Answer

Telomerase is an enzyme that is produced only in cells that are actively dividing. Thus, as a rule, it is not present in adult tissue. Bone marrow is an exception to this rule, however, since even in adults bone marrow cells continually divide to replace old blood cells. Cancers are another exception, because their cells are rapidly dividing.

Telomerase (Telo) produced in cells that actively divide. Therefore, Telo is not present in adult tissue. That means adult tissues do not actively divide. But there is an exception - bone marrow, which still divides continually in adults. Telo is probably present in bone marrow. Another exception is a cancerous cell which rapidly divides. This is irrespective of an adult or non adult. Telo probably is produced in cancerous cells too.

The information provided most strongly supports which of the following?

A. Telomerase is the only enzyme that is present in cancerous cells but absent from cells that are not actively dividing.
 The "only" is a problem here. We can deduce that Telomerase is an enzyme that "could be" present in cancerous cells, but not the fact that it is the "only" one.

B. Embryonic tissue is less likely to become cancerous than tissue that has ceased to actively divide.
 No reference of this in the argument. Irrelevant.

C. The presence of telomerase in bone marrow is no indication of bone marrow cancer.
 Looks like a good candidate. I kept it aside. Then came back after eliminating other choices. Makes sense. Telo is probably produced in bone marrow just because bone marrow divides actively and not necessarily because of bone marrow cancer. Correct!

D. Cancer of the bone marrow develops more rapidly than cancer growing in any other kind of adult tissue.
 No reference of this in the argument. Irrelevant.

E. The level of telomerase production is always higher in cancerous tissue than in noncancerous tissue.
 No reference of this in the argument. Irrelevant.

Please review my reasoning. Thank You in advance.
 KarishmaB   MartyMurray   GMATGuruNY   GMATNinjaTwo   GMATNinja

bb · Answer

I agree with your reasoning. It’s straightforward enough question I think. Definitely could’ve been harder and trickier. It is rewarding to have a clean CR but you’re comfortable with the answer.

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MartyMurray · Answer

Your reasoning makes sense.

The one thing I would change about what you said is your use of the term "irrelevant."

I think you mean "not supported" rather than "irrelevant" since the question is about what follows from the argument rather than about a choice that affects the argument.

Bunuel · Answer

Here is that similar question, by the way:  Telomerase is an enzyme that is produced . May I ask where exactly you encountered this question? Thank you.

Engineer1 · Answer

This is from GMAT Prep Practice Exam 3. Yes I saw the other one on the forum, but the wording is different. If it’s allowed, I will share a snapshot.

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Bunuel · Answer

__________________
Please and thank you!

Engineer1 · Answer

Attaching the snapshot here for the GMAT Prep exam pack

VasundharaS · Answer

Why is it not D? Isn;t it implied?

For C - it can indicate bone marrow cancer too

GMATNinja · Answer

We expect there to be telomerase in bone marrow, since even in adults bone marrow cells continually divide to replace old blood cells. So the presence of telomerase in bone marrow does NOT indicate bone marrow cancer.

Could bone marrow cancer exist? Sure, but the presence of telomerase still is NOT a sign of the cancer.

In other words, even if there is cancer, a positive test result for telomerase in the bone marrow is not enough to let the doctor know that the cancer exists. Some other test(s) would need to be done, because the presence of telomerase alone is not an indication of bone marrow cancer. So (C) is correct.

(D) is out because the passage doesn't say anything about the RATE of cancer growth in bone marrow vs. in other kinds of tissue.

I hope that helps!

SwethaReddyL · Answer

how is A not the answer? is it because of the word "ONLY" are something else too?  GMATNinja

bb · Answer

Read the passage and answer choice a a few times. You will notice that A talks about information that is not supported in the passage. It tells us that it’s the only enzyme which we don’t know if the seal enzyme. We only know that that enzyme is only present in certain cells so A reverses the meaning.

glagad · Answer

What if X is the amount of telomerase found in healthy bone marrow, but the amount found in bone marrow cancer patients is way above X, wouldn't that mean -> Elevated levels of Telomerase do indicate the presence of bone marrow cancer, thus going against the Option C?

miag · Answer

Hi,

I think key point to takeaway here is that we have no information on levels of telomerase, and what is considered a healthy bone marrow. Making such a conclusion hence would be a stretch without additional information provided to connect these.

Hope this helps!

glagad · Answer

which means, we can't rule out the fact that telomerase can indicate BM cancer, hence trying to understand how C is correct.

Let me know if my argument makes sense.

miag · Answer

You are correct in saying that we can't elliminate the possibility that telemorase could be associated with the cancer, but based on the passage - "even in adults bone marrow cells continually divide to replace old blood cells" ..Telemorase is present in healthy bone marrow as well. So, its presence alone isn't sufficient proof to indicate bone marrow cancer.

Hope this helps clarify!

glagad

which means, we can't rule out the fact that telomerase can indicate BM cancer, hence trying to understand how C is correct.

Let me know if my argument makes sense.

Hope this helps clarify!

AbhishekP220108 · Answer

Bunuel  can you please tag this as GMAT prep focus? Thanks in advance

Bunuel · Answer

___________________
Done. Thank you!

Telomerase is an enzyme that is produced only in cells that are active

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Telomerase is an enzyme that is produced only in cells that are active

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