The primary cause for osteosarcoma, the most common form of primary bo

Question

The primary cause for osteosarcoma, the most common form of primary bone cancer, is not known. Researchers believe that infection by the SV40 virus is a possible contributing cause, since recent investigations have identified SV40 DNA sequences in tissue samples from osteosarcomas, but no SV40 DNA sequences were found in healthy tissue. SV40 is a monkey virus; however, in 1960 some polio vaccine was contaminated with the virus. Researchers hypothesize that this vaccine was the source of the virus found in osteosarcomas decades later.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the researchers' hypothesis?

(A) SV40 is widely used as a research tool in cancer laboratories.

(B) Changes in the technique of manufacturing the vaccine now prevent contamination with SV40.

(C) Recently discovered samples of the vaccine dating from 1960 still show traces of the virus.

(D) In Finland, where the polio vaccine was never contaminated, samples from osteosarcomas do not contain SV40.

(E) In a small percentage of cases of osteosarcoma, there is no history of exposure to the SV40 monkey virus.

Original Source: Practice Pill Platform

suyash23n · Answer

The primary cause for osteosarcoma, the most common form of primary bone cancer, is not known. Researchers believe that infection by the SV40 virus is a possible contributing cause, since recent investigations have identified SV40 DNA sequences in tissue samples from osteosarcomas, but no SV40 DNA sequences were found in healthy tissue. SV40 is a monkey virus; however, in 1960 some polio vaccine was contaminated with the virus. Researchers hypothesize that this vaccine was the source of the virus found in osteosarcomas decades later.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the researchers' hypothesis?

(A) SV40 is widely used as a research tool in cancer laboratories.

(B) Changes in the technique of manufacturing the vaccine now prevent contamination with SV40.

(C) Recently discovered samples of the vaccine dating from 1960 still show traces of the virus.

(D) In Finland, where the polio vaccine was never contaminated, samples from osteosarcomas do not contain SV40.

(E) In a small percentage of cases of osteosarcoma, there is no history of exposure to the SV40 monkey virus.

Original Source: Practice Pill Platform

Show Answer

Official Answer

D

). IMO this one is the RIGHT choice (E) In a small percentage of cases of osteosarcoma, there is no history of exposure to the SV40 monkey virus. It's kind of weakening the hypothesis.

animanga008 · Answer

I choose D simply because it made the most references back to the argument. However, I don't get it entirely. The question states that a possible cause of osteosarcomas is virus SV40. To make this argument stronger, wouldn't we want the example in (D) to say something along the lines of: iceland never had infected vaccine --> people never get osteosarcomas? I feel as though as it is now, all answer (D) confirms is the mystery behind what causes osteosarcomas.

samusa · Answer

The primary cause for osteosarcoma, the most common form of primary bone cancer,  is not known . Researchers believe that infection by the SV40 virus is a  possible contributing cause , since recent investigations have identified  SV40 DNA sequences in tissue samples from osteosarcomas , but  no SV40 DNA sequences were found in healthy tissue . SV40 is a  monkey virus ; however,  in 1960 some polio vaccine was contaminated with the virus . Researchers hypothesize that this vaccine was the  source of the virus found in osteosarcomas decades later .

Conclusion-Researchers hypothesize that this vaccine was the  source of the virus found in osteosarcomas decades later .

How can the answer be D ?

D is similar to this kind of reasoning-

not A caused not B .... can such reasoning strengthen A caused B ????

jodoubt · Answer

I am not too confident with the answer choice D. 
D) In Finland, where the polio vaccine was never contaminated, samples from osteosarcomas do not contain SV40.
So basically, for the Osteosarcomas in Finland SV40 is not the cause right.
So here we have a sample case that tells that SV40 is definitely not the cause for the cancer, the question was to support the Hypothesis.
I find that D weakens it. specifically if you look at the stem of the question - "Researchers believe that infection by the SV40 virus is a possible contributing cause, since recent investigations have identified SV40 DNA sequences in tissue samples from osteosarcomas, but no SV40 DNA sequences were found in healthy tissue"

nrmlvrm · Answer

What the hypothesis states is the source of SV40 and not that SV40 is the cause for cancer.

Looking at D, if cancer samples from Finland did not contain SV40 and the polio vaccine was not contaminated, then this does give a strong indication that elsewhere if cancer samples contained SV40 then the source could have been from contamination of the polio vaccine. This is the hypothesis that is being tested.

Kelzie01 · Answer

This is the hypothesis: "Researchers hypothesize that this vaccine was the source of the virus found in osteosarcomas decades later." Researchers never believed that the virus was the ONLY cause of the cancer, just a possible contributing cause. But more importantly, the question does not ask you to strengthen the argument that the virus causes osteosarcomas, but that the vaccine caused the virus which was found in osteosarcomas.

Anyway, going back to the hypothesis, it's just asking if the vaccine was the source of the virus that was found in osteosarcomas. Since in Finland the vaccines were not contaminated and their cases of osteosarcomas do not have the virus, choice D strengthens the hypothesis.

Abhishek009 · Answer

Got it wrong initially , but re reading the stimulus once again helps -
 
  There might be other causes of osteosarcoma !!

suyash23n  &  Kelzie01  have given wonderful explanation for the question

would just like to elaborate option (D)

D) In Finland, where the polio vaccine was never contaminated, samples from osteosarcomas do not contain SV40.

The option means-

Polio vaccine in Finland was not contaiminated  --->  People suffered from osteosarcomas  ( might be from some of the other causes of osteosarcomas )----> samples from osteosarcomas do not contain SV40.

The option clearly supports the statement  "    this vaccine was the source of the virus found in osteosarcomas decades later.    "

arvind910619 · Answer

Answer is D
The argument talks about many facts but the important one is that polio vaccine contaminated by SV40 is the cause of osteosarcoma.
Thus we have to look for that option which provides hints for the above possibility.

abhishekdadarwal2009 · Answer

The primary cause for osteosarcoma, the most common form of primary bone cancer, is not known. Researchers believe that infection by the SV40 virus is a possible contributing cause, since recent investigations have identified SV40 DNA sequences in tissue samples from osteosarcomas, but no SV40 DNA sequences were found in healthy tissue. SV40 is a monkey virus; however, in 1960 some polio vaccine was contaminated with the virus. Researchers hypothesize that this vaccine was the source of the virus found in osteosarcomas decades later.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the researchers' hypothesis?

(A) SV40 is widely used as a research tool in cancer laboratories. Out of scope
 
(B) Changes in the technique of manufacturing the vaccine now prevent contamination with SV40. what will be done now is out of scope.

(C) Recently discovered samples of the vaccine dating from 1960 still show traces of the virus. this may prove that the virus is present but does notlinke the virus to the cancer.

(D) In Finland, where the polio vaccine was never contaminated, samples from osteosarcomas do not contain SV40. roves that ther is no other cause of contamination with SV40

(E) In a small percentage of cases of osteosarcoma, there is no history of exposure to the SV40 monkey virus. does not weaken the case.

NeoNguyen1989 · Answer

D is the correct answer.

The argument is a typical conditional relationship. The stimulus wants to prove that P => Q where P is the polio contaminated in 1960 and Q is the SV40 in the bone cancer. To prove P => Q, we can prove that non Q => non P and this evidence is found in answer choice D where the fact that no SV40 is found bone cancer correlates with the fact that no polio is contaminated in Finland.

VerbalBot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.

The primary cause for osteosarcoma, the most common form of primary bo

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

The primary cause for osteosarcoma, the most common form of primary bo

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards