LSAT 30, Logical Reasoning II, Q10, LSATHacks

LR Question 10 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: Twelve healthy volunteers with the Apo-A-IV-1 gene…

QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported

FACTS: 

1. Two groups were each given an identical diet.
2. Groups with an Apo-AV-IV-1 gene experienced a 20% rise in cholesterol.
3. The group with the Apo-AV-IV-2 gene experienced no change in cholesterol.

ANALYSIS: The two groups were identical (as far as we know) except for the gene. Therefore it looks like the gene can affect blood cholesterol levels.

___________

1. Nobody in the study had a lowered cholesterol level. And we don’t know how much of the population has each gene type. The two groups had an equal number of each gene but that is because scientists picked 12 people of each type.
2. We only know that the gene can affect blood cholesterol. And we don’t know how many people have the gene that reacted to the high cholesterol diet.
3. We don’t know why the cholesterol levels were different. We just observed that they were.
4. The opposite of this is supported. The argument says that the Apo-AV-IV-1 gene raises cholesterol.
5. CORRECT. People with that gene did not experience an increase in blood cholesterol while the other group did. 

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