Question

question #6
after more than a decade of international collaboration and technological development, the human genome project announced a draft sequence of the human genome in 2000—an event widely hailed as a milestone in biological research. the draft, while incomplete and full of gaps, covered more than 85% of the genome and marked the beginning of a new era of genetic inquiry. a student writing about this moment claims that the release of the draft dramatically shifted the kinds of questions biologists were able to ask.

which quotation from a biologist would most directly support the student’s claim?
a) “although the 2000 draft had many gaps and errors, subsequent updates to the genome map increased its accuracy and allowed for more precise studies.”
b) “prior to the human genome project, gene sequencing was largely limited to small - scale projects focused on specific genes or chromosomes.”
c) “with a draft sequence, researchers began identifying patterns in noncoding regions and hypothesizing their functions in ways previously impossible.”
d) “the announcement of the draft sequence was accompanied by press events held at scales that were never before seen, highlighting the intense interest surrounding the accomplishment.”

Explanation:

The student’s claim is that the draft genome shifted the questions biologists could ask. Option C directly states that the draft enabled new actions (identifying noncoding patterns, hypothesizing functions) that were impossible before, which reflects a shift in the types of questions researchers could pursue. Other options focus on accuracy updates (A), prior limitations (B), or public attention (D)—none of which address the shift in research questions as directly.

Answer:

C) "With a draft sequence, researchers began identifying patterns in noncoding regions and hypothesizing their functions in ways previously impossible."