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In + Gerund vs By + Gerund

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by uwhusky » Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:18 pm
Many biologists believe that mitosis has led to rapid genetic evolution by enabling unique DNA strands to be able to combine into a single strand with greater opportunity for new genetic variations or mutations.

(A) evolution by enabling unique DNA strands to be able to combine into a single strand with greater opportunity
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(B) evolution in the enabling of unique DNA strands in combining into a single strand with greater opportunity
null
(C) evolution in enabling unique DNA strands to be able to combine into single strands with greater opportunities
null
(D) evolution by enabling unique DNA strands to combine into many single strands with the greatest opportunity
null
(E) evolution by enabling unique DNA strands to combine into a single strand and by creating greater opportunity

[spoiler]OA: E[/spoiler]

This question can be solved using straight forward approach of applying parallelism. However, I am very confused of the difference between "by enabling" and "in enabling". Can someone please provide explanations and examples between the usage of two expressions?
Yep.
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by Jim@Grockit » Sun Sep 12, 2010 6:22 pm
uwhusky wrote:Many biologists believe that mitosis has led to rapid genetic evolution by enabling unique DNA strands to be able to combine into a single strand with greater opportunity for new genetic variations or mutations.

(A) evolution by enabling unique DNA strands to be able to combine into a single strand with greater opportunity
null
(B) evolution in the enabling of unique DNA strands in combining into a single strand with greater opportunity
null
(C) evolution in enabling unique DNA strands to be able to combine into single strands with greater opportunities
null
(D) evolution by enabling unique DNA strands to combine into many single strands with the greatest opportunity
null
(E) evolution by enabling unique DNA strands to combine into a single strand and by creating greater opportunity

[spoiler]OA: E[/spoiler]

This question can be solved using straight forward approach of applying parallelism. However, I am very confused of the difference between "by enabling" and "in enabling". Can someone please provide explanations and examples between the usage of two expressions?
Unfortunately, parallelism is the best answer, as both "in" and "by" + gerund can mean the same thing. "By" is perhaps slightly preferable because it's more common and direct, but "in + gerund" to express means is not uncommon. There isn't even a strong case to be made for word order making a difference:

He thought that he'd put an end to the crime spree by arresting the leader.
He thought that he'd put an end to the crime spree in arresting the leader.
By arresting the leader, he thought that he'd put an end to the crime spree.
In arresting the leader, he thought that he'd put an end to the crime spree.

I don't recall any evidence for a preference in the OG, either. I'm sorry! :(
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by Target2009 » Sun Jan 23, 2011 6:46 pm
@ Experts / Instructors : Is By + Gerund is adverbial modifier or noun modifier.

Example: By analyzing the advanced olfactory apparatus of Pleistocene chordates, paleozoologists have discovered a link between the brain's regions of scent discrimination and its regions of long-term memory storage, a link that could prove invaluable in the treatment of amnesia victims.

Here "By analyzing the advanced olfactory apparatus of Pleistocene chordates" is modifying "paleozoologists" or complete clause.
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