Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, such as tremors, are thought to be caused by low dopamine levels in the brain. Current treatments of Parkinson's disease are primarily reactionary, aiming to replenish dopamine levels after dopamine-producing neurons in the brain have died. Without a more detailed understanding of the behavior of dopamine-producing neurons, it has been impossible to develop treatments that would prevent the destruction of these neurons in Parkinson's patients.
Recent research provides insight into the inner workings of dopamine-producing neurons, and may lead to a new drug treatment that would proactively protect the neurons from decay. By examining the alpha-synuclein protein in yeast cells, scientists have determined that toxic levels of the protein have a detrimental effect on protein transfer within the cell. More specifically, high levels of alpha-synuclein disrupt the flow of proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum, the site of protein production in the cell, to the Golgi apparatus, the component of the cell that modifies and sorts the proteins before sending them to their final destinations within the cell. When the smooth transfer of proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus is interrupted, the cell dies.
With this in mind, researchers conducted a genetic screen in yeast cells in order to identify any gene that works to reverse the toxic levels of alpha-synuclein in the cell. Researchers discovered that such a gene does in fact exist, and have located the genetic counterpart in mammalian nerve cells, or neurons. This discovery has led to new hopes that drug therapy could potentially activate this gene, thereby suppressing the toxicity of alpha-synuclein in dopamine-producing neurons.
While drug therapy to suppress alpha-synuclein has been examined in yeast, fruitflies, roundworms, and cultures of rat neurons, researchers are hesitant to conclude that such therapies will prove successful on human patients. Alpha-synuclein toxicity seems to be one cause for the death of dopamine-producing neurons in Parkinson's patients, but other causes may exist. Most scientists involved with Parkinson's research do agree, however, that such promising early results provide a basis for further testing.
MGMAT Rc - Parkinson's disease
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One function of the third paragraph of the passage is to
highlight the many similarities between yeast cells and mammalian nerve cells
explain in detail the methods used to conduct a genetic screen in yeast cells
further explain the roles of various cellular components of yeast cells
identify the genes in yeast cells and mammalian nerve cells that work to reverse the toxic levels of alpha-synuclein
clarify the relevance of genetic testing in yeast cells to the search for a new treatment for Parkinson's disease
OA - E
I picked D thinking genes in yeast cells and mamalian nerve cells might mean - 1 gene in each of the 2 . Where am I wrong ?
highlight the many similarities between yeast cells and mammalian nerve cells
explain in detail the methods used to conduct a genetic screen in yeast cells
further explain the roles of various cellular components of yeast cells
identify the genes in yeast cells and mammalian nerve cells that work to reverse the toxic levels of alpha-synuclein
clarify the relevance of genetic testing in yeast cells to the search for a new treatment for Parkinson's disease
OA - E
I picked D thinking genes in yeast cells and mamalian nerve cells might mean - 1 gene in each of the 2 . Where am I wrong ?
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Passage summary (note: this is more than I would actually write on scrap paper, but this is what I'm thinking as I read). Hmm - it looks like there are 2 paragraphs, but the question asks about 3 paragraphs. I'll assume that the line "Recent research provides" indicates a new paragraph.
P1. P symptoms caused by low D in brain. Treatment comes after someone already has low levels. Haven't been able to have preventive treatment that might stop someone from getting low levels in the first place.
P2. Recent research might help though. Something about some protein in yeast cells and how it works. Detail blah blah - I'll read that later, if I get a question.
P3. Researchers did something with yeast cells to try to find a useful gene. Then they determined that mammals have that gene too. "Hope" that we could do something with this gene to help. This stuff has been researched in various organisms, but not humans. Other stuff might be going on, too. This stuff is promising.
Q: why is P3 in this passage? Note: NOT "what does P3 say?" but "why did the author include P3?"
And that's really the primary answer to your question. D tells us WHAT the paragraph says (and, even then, we could argue with it - for instance, the paragraph doesn't actually identify the gene - no name is given). E tells us WHY the author is including the information in P3. Since that's what the question actually asked us, that's what we need to answer!
Know for future that these "function" or "role" questions are essentially asking WHY the author is talking about something - so you have to make sure that you're answering the "Why?" question, not a "What?" question.
Passage summary (note: this is more than I would actually write on scrap paper, but this is what I'm thinking as I read). Hmm - it looks like there are 2 paragraphs, but the question asks about 3 paragraphs. I'll assume that the line "Recent research provides" indicates a new paragraph.
P1. P symptoms caused by low D in brain. Treatment comes after someone already has low levels. Haven't been able to have preventive treatment that might stop someone from getting low levels in the first place.
P2. Recent research might help though. Something about some protein in yeast cells and how it works. Detail blah blah - I'll read that later, if I get a question.
P3. Researchers did something with yeast cells to try to find a useful gene. Then they determined that mammals have that gene too. "Hope" that we could do something with this gene to help. This stuff has been researched in various organisms, but not humans. Other stuff might be going on, too. This stuff is promising.
Q: why is P3 in this passage? Note: NOT "what does P3 say?" but "why did the author include P3?"
And that's really the primary answer to your question. D tells us WHAT the paragraph says (and, even then, we could argue with it - for instance, the paragraph doesn't actually identify the gene - no name is given). E tells us WHY the author is including the information in P3. Since that's what the question actually asked us, that's what we need to answer!
Know for future that these "function" or "role" questions are essentially asking WHY the author is talking about something - so you have to make sure that you're answering the "Why?" question, not a "What?" question.
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Stacey Koprince
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Stacey Koprince
GMAT Instructor
Director of Online Community
Manhattan GMAT
Contributor to Beat The GMAT!
Learn more about me