LSAT 43, Logical Reasoning II, Q17, LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: If one of the effects of a genetic mutation makes a substantial…

QUESTION TYPE: Must be False

PARAPHRASE:

1. Genetic mutations can have many effects. If one of those effects makes “a substantial contribution to the survival of the species,” then, and only then, will it be passed on. This is both a sufficient and necessary condition.
2. The stimulus implies that there can be many potential effects from a mutation, but it will be passed on as long as one of those effects makes a substantial contribution to the survival of the species.
3. The one exception is if one of the other traits resulting from the mutation is so negative that it outweighs the survival benefits of the other effect, then the mutation won’t be passed along.

ANALYSIS: Did you get all that? It’s a bit of a mouthful. Let’s try an example. If a genetic mutation caused humans to grow wings, and that produced a substantial contribution to the survival of our species, then that mutation would be passed on.

And it would only be passed on if it contributed substantially to the survival of our species.

But if the mutation that caused us to grow wings also caused us to die before the age of 16, then the mutation would not be passed on.

Note that the stimulus is only referring to whether new mutations are passed along, and not to already existing genetic traits.

___________

1. It’s quite possible that a species already possesses such a trait.
2. This is possible. The stimulus only requires that at least one effect of a mutation must contribute substantially.
3. This is possible. A mutation might even pass it along, if one of the other traits of the mutation contributed to a substantial increase in survival.
4. This could be true, as long as one of the other traits contributed to an increase in survival, and the benefits outweighed the negative traits.
5. CORRECT. This could not occur. Successful mutations need at least one trait that contributes substantially to the survival of the species.

Recap: The question begins with “If one of the effects of a genetic mutation makes a substantial”. It is a Must be False question. Learn how to master LSAT MBF questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.

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