Scientist long believed that two nerve cluster in the human hypothalamus, called suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCNs), were what controlled our circadian rhythms. Those rhythms are the biological cycles that recur approximately every 24 hours in synchronization with the cycle of sunlight and darkness caused by Earth's rotation. Studies have demonstrated that in some animals, the SCNs control daily fluctuations in blood pressure, body temperature, activity level, and alertness, as well as the nighttime release of the sleep-promoting agent melatonin. Furthermore , cells in the human retina dedicated to transmitting information about light level to the SCNs have recently been discovered.
Four critical genes governing circadian cycles have been found to be active in every tissue, however, not that the SCNs, of flies, mice, and humans. In addition, when laboratory rats that usually ate at will were fed only once a day, peak activity of a clock gene in their livers shifted by 12 hours, whereas the same clock gene in the SCNs remained synchronized with light cycles. While scientists do not dispute the role of the SCNs in controlling core functions such as the regulation of body temperature and blood pressure, scientists now believe that circadian clocks in other organs and tissues may respond to external cues other than light - including temperature changes - that recur regularly 24 hours.
10. The author of the passage would probably agree with which of the following statement about the SCNs ?
A The SCNs are found in other organs and tissues of the body besides the hypothalamus.
B The SCNs play a critical but not exclusive role in regulating circadian rhythms.
C The SCNs control clock genes in a number of tissues and organs throughout the body.
D The SCNs are a less significant factor in regulating blood pressure than scientists once believed.
E The SCNs are less strongly affected by changes in light levels than are by other external cues.
The OG's explanation of choice A is "The author states that the SCN are nerve clusters in the hypothalamus, and nothing in the passage contradicts or undermines the supposition that they are only in the hypothalamus." Does that mean other issue and organs also control circadian rhythms but they ar also in the hypothalamus? If I understand correct, why are organs in the hypothalamus?
Thanks in advance!
2016 OG RC 8-10
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We're told here that there are
There is one typo in your version. The corrected version is here:
To your questions:
A The SCNs are found in other organs and tissues of the body besides the hypothalamus.
There's just nothing in the passage to justify this. We're told that SCNs are in the hypothalamus, but we're given no reason to believe that they're also found elsewhere.
B The SCNs play a critical but not exclusive role in regulating circadian rhythms.
Yes. The first paragraph tells us how SCNs affect circadian rhythms, but the second paragraph tells us how other tissues respond to other cues that affect circadian clocks.
C The SCNs control clock genes in a number of tissues and organs throughout the body.
No. There is no stated connection between SCNs and other tissue.
D The SCNs are a less significant factor in regulating blood pressure than scientists once believed.
Nope. We're told "scientists do not dispute the role of the SCNs in controlling core functions such as the regulation of body temperature and blood pressure"
E The SCNs are less strongly affected by changes in light levels than are by other external cues.
There is nothing in the passage to support this comparison.
The answer is B.
We're not told directly that SCNs are found only in the hypothalamus, but we're certainly not told or implied that they're found anywhere else.two nerve cluster in the human hypothalamus, called suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCNs)
There is one typo in your version. The corrected version is here:
This implies perhaps that SCNs are specialized tissue, not found throughout the body.Four critical genes governing circadian cycles have been found to be active in every tissue, however, not just the SCNs, of flies, mice, and humans...
To your questions:
No, we can't assume this. We just know that there are "circadian clocks in other organs and tissues."Does that mean other issue and organs also control circadian rhythms but they ar also in the hypothalamus?
You've misunderstood. The hypothalamus is one organ that contains SCNs. There is nothing to suggest that other organs are contained in it.If I understand correct, why are organs in the hypothalamus?
A The SCNs are found in other organs and tissues of the body besides the hypothalamus.
There's just nothing in the passage to justify this. We're told that SCNs are in the hypothalamus, but we're given no reason to believe that they're also found elsewhere.
B The SCNs play a critical but not exclusive role in regulating circadian rhythms.
Yes. The first paragraph tells us how SCNs affect circadian rhythms, but the second paragraph tells us how other tissues respond to other cues that affect circadian clocks.
C The SCNs control clock genes in a number of tissues and organs throughout the body.
No. There is no stated connection between SCNs and other tissue.
D The SCNs are a less significant factor in regulating blood pressure than scientists once believed.
Nope. We're told "scientists do not dispute the role of the SCNs in controlling core functions such as the regulation of body temperature and blood pressure"
E The SCNs are less strongly affected by changes in light levels than are by other external cues.
There is nothing in the passage to support this comparison.
The answer is B.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education