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Difficulty: MediumSubordination and Coordination

In the 1940s, geneticist Barbara McClintock studied the inheritance patterns of maize. She discovered that certain genetic elements could change positions on a chromosome. Her colleagues initially dismissed these 'jumping genes' as anomalies, McClintock persisted in her research, eventually earning a Nobel Prize in 1983.

Which of the following choices is the most grammatically correct replacement for the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    Although her colleagues initially dismissed these 'jumping genes' as anomalies; McClintock
  3. Although her colleagues initially dismissed these 'jumping genes' as anomalies, McClintockAnswer
  4. D
    Although her colleagues initially dismissed these 'jumping genes' as anomalies. McClintock

Answer

Although her colleagues initially dismissed these 'jumping genes' as anomalies, McClintock
The correct answer correctly subordinates the first clause by introducing it with the subordinating conjunction 'Although'. This establishes a logical contrast between the colleagues' skepticism and McClintock's persistence. Because the dependent clause comes first, it is properly followed by a comma before the main independent clause.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the original sentence structure to identify grammatical errors.
The original sentence contains two independent clauses ('Her colleagues initially dismissed these 'jumping genes' as anomalies' and 'McClintock persisted in her research...') joined only by a comma. This structure is a comma splice, which is grammatically incorrect.
Identifying the error in the original sentence helps eliminate the option containing no change.
2
Evaluate the remaining choices to find a version that correctly coordinates or subordinates the clauses.
Using the subordinating conjunction 'Although' at the beginning of the first clause turns it into a dependent clause. A dependent clause followed by an independent clause must be separated by a comma. The choice with the subordinating conjunction and a comma resolves the comma splice and forms a grammatically correct sentence.
Ensuring proper punctuation and clause structure leads to the correct answer choice.

Key Concept

Subordination and Coordination
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Topics

Subordination and Coordination

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