AGRICULTURE REPORT - Genetically Engineered Crops Increasing

AGRICULTURE REPORT
–
January 29, 2002: Genetically³ Engineered Crops Increasing

By George Grow

Soybeans
This is the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT.

Increasing numbers of farmers are growing genetically engineered crops. A new report also says that the total
land area where such crops are grown is increasing. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech
Applications reported the findings. The group supports the use of agricultural technology in developing countries.

Genetic² engineering is the technology of changing the genes⁴ of living things. Genes are parts of cells that control
growth and development. A changed gene¹ directs a plant or other organism to do things it normally does not do.
For example, a plant may be genetically engineered to resist insects.

There is plenty of conflicting information about genetically engineered crops. The
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications supports growing
such crops in developing countries. So do the United Nations Development Program and
other groups.

However, critics of genetic engineering say the technology is a threat to human health and
the environment.

The new report estimates that farmers grew genetically engineered crops on more than
fifty-two-million hectares of farmland last year. That represents an increase in land area of
nineteen percent compared to the year before.

The report estimates that more than five-million farmers grew genetically engineered crops in thirteen countries
last year. Four countries grew ninety -nine percent of all genetically engineered crops last year. The United States
grew sixty-eight percent of the world total. Argentina grew twenty -two percent. Canada was next with six
percent. China had three percent.

The report says soybeans were the most common genetically engineered crop. They were grown on thirty-threemillion
hectares of farmland. Other common genetically engineered crops were corn, cotton and canola.

In a separate development, scientists report that genetic material from genetically engineered plants can spread
across great distances to native plants. The scientists say the genes were found in wild corn growing in the
mountains of southern Mexico. The finding is most unusual because the Mexican government has banned the
planting of genetically engineered corn since Nineteen-Ninety-Eight.

This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by George Grow.

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1 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

2 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

3 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

4 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪