Geneticists say that they are very close to confirming the genetic roots of…
2014
Geneticists say that they are very close to confirming the genetic roots of psychiatric illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia, and consequently, that doctors will be able to eradicate these diseases through early identification and gene therapy.
On which of the following assumptions does the statement above rely?
- A.
Strategies are now available for eliminating psychiatric illnesses
- B.
Certain psychiatric illnesses have a genetic basis
- C.
All human diseases can be traced back to genes and how they are expressed
- D.
In the future, genetics will become the only relevant field for identifying psychiatric illnesses
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Correct answer: B
Conclusion: Doctors will be able to eradicate certain psychiatric illnesses through early identification and gene therapy.
Premise: Geneticists say they are very close to confirming the genetic roots of psychiatric illnesses.
Key unstated assumption: Certain psychiatric illnesses have a genetic basis; if they do, then identifying genetic markers and applying gene therapy could plausibly allow eradication.
There is a genetic basis for certain psychiatric illnesses. This is the central assumption that connects confirming genetic roots to the possibility of eradication.
It is not assumed that effective gene-therapy treatments already exist; the argument speaks to a future possibility if genetic roots are confirmed.
It does not require that every human disease is genetic; the claim is limited to certain psychiatric illnesses.
It does not require that genetics will be the only relevant field in the future; other fields might still matter.
Why the selected assumption fits: If psychiatric illnesses have genetic roots, then confirming those roots enables the proposed chain: early identification of genetic markers followed by gene-based interventions. Without a genetic basis, the suggested eradication method (gene therapy) would not be applicable, so the argument necessarily assumes a genetic cause for certain psychiatric illnesses.