Genetic Engineering Crop Debate

84 利用基因技术提高粮食产量

DATE=8-14-01
TITLE=AGRICULTURE REPORT - Genetic² Engineering Crop Debate
BYLINE=George Grow

（Start at 59"） This is Bill White with the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT. 
New reports are adding to the (1)debate about (2)genetic engineering.  The reports offer conflicting information about genetically-engineered (3)crops. 
Genetic engineering is the (4)technology of changing the genes³ of living things.  Genes are parts of (5)cells that control growth and development.  A changed gene¹ directs a plant or other organism to do things it normally does not do.
Last month, the United Nations Development Program released its yearly Human Development Report.  It supports the use of genetically-engineered crops in developing countries.  It criticizes environmental groups that oppose the use of such products.
Sakiko Fukuda-Parr is the report's lead writer.  She says many people have forgotten about the problem of world hunger.  She adds that at least eight-hundred-million people still do not have enough to eat.  She says genetic engineering can help to increase the amount of farmers produce quickly and effectively.
(6)Critics of genetic engineering say the U-N report does not deal with the possible risks of genetic engineering.  They say the technology represents a threat to human health and the environment. 
Food First is a policy research group based in the United States.  Food First agrees that genetically-engineered crops may be good in the future.  Yet the group says it would support a (7)ban on the use of these crops until tests show they are safe.
In the past, we reported on a product called StarLink corn.  StarLink is the only genetically-engineered crop grown in the United States that is not approved for human use. 
Three years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency approved StarLink corn as food for animals only.  The E-P-A (8)expressed concern that a (9)protein in StarLink might cause (10)allergic⁴ reactions in people. 
A few weeks ago, a group of American scientists found no evidence that StarLink corn had made anyone sick.  An independent (11)laboratory confirmed the findings. 
Yet, the E-P-A has just decided⁵ not to permit even small amounts of StarLink corn in human food.  The decision followed the release of a report by an agency advisory⁶ group.  The advisors⁷ said there is not enough evidence to (12)dismiss the possibility of allergic reactions.  They said StarLink had not been proven safe for people. 
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by George Grow.

(1)  debate [di'beit] v. 争论, 辩论; n. 争论, 辩论
(2)  genetic [dVI'netik] adj. 遗传的, 起源的
(3) crop [krRp] n. 农作物, 产量, 平头, 短发; vt. 收割, 修剪, 种植
(4) technology [tek'nRl[dVi] n. 工艺, 科技, 技术
(5) cell [sel] n. 单元, 细胞, 蜂房, (尤指监狱或寺院的)单人房间, 电池
(6) critics [kritiks] n. 批评家
(7) ban [bAn] n. 禁令; vt. 禁止, 取缔(书刊等)
(8) express [ik'spres] adj. 急速的, 特殊的, 明确的; vt. 表达, 表示
(9) protein [pr[Jti:n]n. [生化]蛋白质; adj. 蛋白质的
(10)  allergic [E5lE:dVik ] adj. [医]过敏的, 患过敏症的
(11) laboratory [ lE5bCrEtEri, 5lAbErEtEri ] n. 实验室
(12)  dismiss [dis'miss] vt. 解散, 下课, 开除, 解职, 使(或让)离开; vi. 解散

 

 

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 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

4 allergic   

adj.过敏的，变态的

参考例句：

• Alice is allergic to the fur of cats.艾丽斯对猫的皮毛过敏。
• Many people are allergic to airborne pollutants such as pollen.许多人对空气传播的污染物过敏，比如花粉。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 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。

7 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网