Gene therapy offers a new treatment paradigm for curing human disease. Rather than altering the disease phenotype by using agents...
GMAT Reading Comprehension : (RC) Questions
Gene therapy offers a new treatment paradigm for curing human disease. Rather than altering the disease phenotype by using agents that interact with gene products, or are themselves gene products, gene therapy can theoretically modify specific genes resulting in disease cure following a single administration. Initially gene therapy was envisioned for the treatment of genetic disorders, but is currently being studied for use with a wide range of diseases, including cancer, peripheral vascular disease, arthritis, Neurodegenerative disorders and other acquired diseases.
Certain key elements are required for a successful gene therapy strategy. The most elementary of these is that the relevant gene be identified and cloned. Upon completion of the Human Genome Project, gene availability will be unlimited. Once identified and cloned, the next consideration must be expression of the gene. Questions pertaining to the efficiency of gene transfer and gene expression remain at the forefront of gene therapy research, with current debates revolving around the transfer of desired genes to appropriate cells, and then to obtaining sufficient levels of expression for disease treatment. With luck, future research on gene transfer and tissue-specific gene expression will resolve these issues for the majority of gene therapy protocols.
Other important considerations for a gene therapy strategy include a sufficient understanding of the pathogenesis of the targeted disorder, potential side effects of the gene therapy treatment, and a more in depth understanding of the target cells which are to receive gene therapy.
Gene transfer vector is the mechanism by which the gene is transferred into a cell.
Currently there are at least 150 clinical gene therapy protocols worldwide. Since the approval process for these protocols is not as public outside the U.S. , it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of worldwide protocols. As of December 1995, 1024 patients had been treated with either a gene transfer or gene therapy protocol. Much controversy exists regarding how many of these patients have benefited from their gene therapy, and no one has yet been cured.
Public controversy in the field of human gene therapy is driven by several factors. Ordinary citizens as well as scientists easily understand the enormous potential of gene therapy, but the former may not appreciate all the pitfalls and uncertainty that lie in the immediate future. The financial interests of biotechnology firms and, some have asserted, the career interests of some gene therapists have encouraged extravagant, or at least overly optimistic public statements about contemporary gene therapy. In spite of the proliferation of protocols, the actual number of patients treated remains small, and only one genuinely controlled study of human gene therapy has been published as of this date.
In the passage, the author anticipates which of the following as a possible obstacle to the introduction of gene therapy to mainstream medicine?
1. Passage Analysis:
Progressive Passage Analysis
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Gene therapy offers a new treatment paradigm for curing human disease. | What it says: Gene therapy is a new way to cure diseases. What it does: Introduces the main topic and presents gene therapy positively as offering something new and beneficial. Source/Type: Author's presentation of a widely accepted scientific claim. Connection to Previous Sentences: This is our opening statement - no previous context to connect to yet. Visualization: Think of traditional medicine (pills, surgery) on one side, and gene therapy as a completely different approach on the other side - a "new paradigm" means a fundamentally different way of doing things. Reading Strategy Insight: First sentences in RC passages typically introduce the main topic in straightforward terms. This is simple and clear - no complexity yet. |
| Rather than altering the disease phenotype by using agents that interact with gene products, or are themselves gene products, gene therapy can theoretically modify specific genes resulting in disease cure following a single administration. | What it says: Instead of using traditional medicines that work with the results of genes, gene therapy changes the actual genes themselves, and theoretically could cure a disease with just one treatment. What it does: Explains HOW gene therapy is different from traditional treatments and emphasizes a key advantage (single treatment). Source/Type: Technical explanation presenting gene therapy's theoretical potential. Connection to Previous Sentences: This builds on sentence 1 by explaining what "new treatment paradigm" actually means. The word "Rather than" directly contrasts with old methods. Visualization: Traditional medicine: Take 30 pills over 30 days to manage symptoms. Gene therapy: One treatment that fixes the root genetic cause permanently. Reading Strategy Insight: Notice "theoretically" - this word signals that we're talking about potential, not proven results. Keep this in mind as we read forward. |
2. Passage Summary:
Author's Purpose:
To provide a balanced overview of gene therapy by explaining its potential benefits and then revealing the significant gap between its theoretical promise and current reality.
Summary of Passage Structure:
In this passage, the author walks us through a complete picture of gene therapy, moving from promise to reality:
- First, the author introduces gene therapy as a promising new treatment approach that could theoretically cure diseases with a single treatment and explains how the field has expanded beyond genetic disorders.
- Next, the author systematically explains what gene therapy needs to succeed, identifying key requirements like gene identification, gene expression, and understanding of diseases and target cells.
- Then, the author shifts to current reality by presenting impressive statistics about research activity (150+ protocols, 1000+ patients treated) but immediately follows with sobering facts about actual results (no cures, controversial benefits).
- Finally, the author explains why controversy exists around gene therapy, pointing to the gap between public understanding and scientific reality, financial motivations for overly positive claims, and the weak scientific evidence base despite extensive research activity.
Main Point:
While gene therapy holds enormous theoretical potential for curing diseases, the current reality shows a significant disconnect between this promise and actual results, with extensive research activity but limited proven benefits and no cures to date.
Why It's Wrong:
- The passage mentions overly optimistic statements as a source of current controversy, not as an anticipated obstacle to future mainstream adoption
- These statements are presented as something that has already happened and contributed to existing controversy, not as a future barrier
- The author treats this as an explanation for current public debate, not as an impediment to medical adoption
Common Student Mistakes:
- Confusing current controversy with future obstacles? → Focus on whether the passage presents this as something that "will be" a problem versus something that "is already" causing problems
- Mixing up causes of public debate with barriers to medical implementation? → Distinguish between what creates controversy and what prevents mainstream medical adoption
Why It's Wrong:
- The passage actually states that "ordinary citizens as well as scientists easily understand the enormous potential of gene therapy"
- The author explicitly says both groups can grasp the potential, so difficulty understanding potential is not the issue
- The problem identified is the opposite - people understand the potential but may not appreciate the current pitfalls
Common Student Mistakes:
- Misreading what the public struggles to understand? → The passage says the public easily grasps the potential but struggles with understanding current limitations and uncertainties
- Confusing what people can versus cannot understand? → Reread carefully to see that "easily understand" refers to the potential, not the problems
Why It's Wrong:
- Like choice A, this describes a current factor contributing to existing controversy rather than an anticipated future obstacle
- Financial interests are mentioned as something that has already "encouraged" overly optimistic statements, not as a future barrier to adoption
- The passage treats this as an explanation for why controversy currently exists, not as an obstacle to mainstream implementation
Common Student Mistakes:
- Treating current controversy factors as future adoption barriers? → Distinguish between what currently creates debate versus what might prevent future medical adoption
- Assuming financial interests will block adoption rather than just create unrealistic expectations? → The passage suggests these interests create overly positive claims, not that they block medical progress
Why It's Wrong:
- This represents the current state of research rather than an anticipated future obstacle
- The passage presents this as a description of where the field stands now, not as something the author predicts will impede future adoption
- This is offered as factual context about the current evidence base, not as a forward-looking concern about barriers
Common Student Mistakes:
- Confusing current limitations with anticipated obstacles? → Focus on whether the author is describing present conditions or predicting future barriers
- Assuming current research gaps will persist as permanent obstacles? → The passage doesn't suggest these limitations are insurmountable future barriers
Why It's Right:
- The passage explicitly states that ordinary citizens "may not appreciate all the pitfalls and uncertainty that lie in the immediate future"
- This directly anticipates unknown hazards as potential obstacles rather than describing current controversies
- The forward-looking language ("immediate future") indicates the author is predicting what could impede mainstream adoption
- Unknown hazards would naturally be a significant obstacle to mainstream medical adoption, as medicine requires proven safety
Key Evidence: "Ordinary citizens as well as scientists easily understand the enormous potential of gene therapy, but the former may not appreciate all the pitfalls and uncertainty that lie in the immediate future."