美国科学家宣称转基因食品是安全的

AS IT IS 2016-05-21 US Scientists Say Genetically³ Engineered Foods Are Safe 美国科学家宣称转基因食品是安全的

American scientists announced this week that genetically engineered food is generally safe for humans and the environment.

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine found that changing the genetics of what we eat does not carry the health risks that opponents claim.

The Associated Press noted⁴ that the growth of genetically engineered crops has yet to lead to a jump in food production, as supporters claimed. The report did not find any conclusive⁵ evidence of environmental problems from such crops.

Genetic² engineering is the technology of changing the genes⁶ of living things. The changed gene¹ directs the plant or other organism to do things it normally does not do.

The process of changing the genetic structure of food crops has been debated for some time. Such foods are commonly called GMOs — for genetically modified organisms, or GEs – meaning genetically edited.

For nearly 30 years, biologists have used genetic engineering to modify plant characteristics like, for example, increasing vitamin levels. They also developed GE crops to resist insects and herbicide products. Farmers use herbicides to kill unwanted plants.

The science advisory⁷ board released its 408-page report on Tuesday. The group’s members said that they recognize it is difficult to measure the indirect or long-term effects in health or the environment. They said it is important not to make wide, far-reaching statements about genetically engineered foods.

The report said the scientists “found no substantiated⁹ evidence of a difference in risks to human health between currently commercialized genetically engineered crops and conventionally bred crops, nor did it ?nd conclusive cause-and-effect evidence of environmental problems from the GE crops.”

The group, however, did note that scientists do not agree about whether the chemical glyphosate causes cancer. Glyphosate is a herbicide that is often used with genetically engineered crops.

The scientists called for more investigation¹⁰ into the end-product of foods made from GE crops. They said officials should spend less time worrying about how such crops are created.

The report said there is no evidence of environmental problems from genetically engineered crops, but pesticide¹¹ resistance is a problem. Farmers use chemical pesticides¹² to keep insects and other animals from killing¹³ their crops.

Most of the modified plants being grown are soybean, cotton, corn and canola. When farms began growing GE crops instead of traditional ones, there was no substantial change in the amount produced, the report said.

Production of crops, in general, is increasing. The report said U.S. Department of Agriculture data fails to show that GMO crops are increasing at a higher rate.

"Farmers in general are gaining" with less pesticide use and higher productivity, academy committee chairman Fred Gould, according to the Associated Press. Gould works at North Carolina State University.

The National Academy was established more than 150 years ago by then-President Abraham Lincoln to provide scientific advice. The group said earlier it could find no safety problems with eating genetically engineered food.

Gould said this latest report is different because his team started by listening to critics of GE foods, and looked at more than 1,000 studies.

Many scientists who have explored the issue, but were not part of the study team, praised the report. Mark Sorrells at Cornell University called the report, "very well-balanced, accurate.” He said it repeats “much of what has already been published many times."

There are other researchers who still oppose genetically engineered foods. Charles Benbrook formerly¹⁴ worked at Washington State University, but now is a private consultant¹⁵. He said he feels the risks of such foods are more serious than some scientists do, and that the human health studies are not enough.

Some groups opposed to genetically engineering foods criticized the report before it came out. Food & Water Watch criticized the National Academy for taking money from biotechnology companies and using "pro-GMO scientists" to write its reports.

The Associated Press said none of the groups financing the study have direct connections to the agricultural biotechnology industry. The academy said outside experts read the findings, and committee members were cleared of financial conflicts of interest.

Marion Nestle, of New York University, read the report before its release, but did not write it. She said "the report reveals how little is known about the effects of GE foods." She added if the people behind the report wanted to end the polarization over these foods, "this won't do the trick."

So it seems the debate over GE foods will continue.

Words in This Story

conclusive - adj. showing that something is surely true

characteristic - n. a special quality of someone or something

herbicide - n. chemical used to kill plants and weeds

substantiate⁸ – v. to prove the truth of something

conventionally – adv. usual or traditional

pesticide – n. a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops

polarization – n. people dividing into separate and opposing groups

commercialized - adj. relating to something done to earn money; for business purposes

consultant - n. a person who gives advice or services to a company in exchange for payment

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 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 conclusive   

adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的

参考例句：

• They produced some fairly conclusive evidence.他们提供了一些相当确凿的证据。
• Franklin did not believe that the French tests were conclusive.富兰克林不相信这个法国人的实验是结论性的。

6 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

7 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

8 substantiate   

v.证实；证明...有根据

参考例句：

• There is little scientific evidence to substantiate the claims.这些主张几乎找不到科学依据来证实。
• These theories are used to substantiate the relationship between the phenomenons of the universe.这些学说是用来证实宇宙现象之间的关系。

9 substantiated   

v.用事实支持（某主张、说法等），证明，证实( substantiate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The results of the tests substantiated his claims. 这些检验的结果证实了他的说法。
• The statement has never been substantiated. 这一陈述从未得到证实。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

11 pesticide   

n.杀虫剂，农药

参考例句：

• The pesticide was spread over the vegetable plot.菜田里撒上了农药。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields.这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。

12 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

14 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

15 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。