Which of the following statements about Bill Nye's contributions to the field of genetics is correct?

• A. Bill Nye was the first to propose the concept of genetic inheritance.
• B. Bill Nye won a Nobel Prize for his work on genetic mutations.
• C. Bill Nye discovered the structure of DNA.
• D. Bill Nye is known for popularizing science education, but he did not make original research contributions to the field of genetics.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the key figures in the history of genetics and their contributions. For example, Gregor Mendel is known for proposing the concept of genetic inheritance, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA, and various scientists have won Nobel Prizes for genetics research.
2. Step 2: Understand who Bill Nye is and his role in science. Bill Nye is a science educator and television presenter known for popularizing science, but he is not a research scientist who made original discoveries in genetics.
3. Step 3: Evaluate each statement in the problem by comparing it to historical facts: Bill Nye was not the first to propose genetic inheritance, he did not win a Nobel Prize for genetics, and he did not discover the structure of DNA.
4. Step 4: Conclude that the correct statement is the one acknowledging Bill Nye's role as a science communicator rather than a genetics researcher.
5. Step 5: Summarize that Bill Nye's main contribution is popularizing science education, which is important but distinct from making original research contributions in genetics.