译林版牛津高中英语(必修5):Unit3 Science and nature-Project(3)

GM food: hope or danger?

转基因食物：希望还是危险？

In recent years, there has been great progress in the study of genetics.

近年来，对于基因的研究有了长足的进展。

With this progress, doors have been opened up to technologies that never existed before.

凭借这些进展，一些以前从未出现过的技术被创造了出来。

While many people are excited about these new technologies, these same technologies frighten others.

一些人为这些新技术兴奋，同时也有人为同样的技术而担忧。

Nowhere is this truer than with genetically¹ modified²(GM) food.

转基因食物就是一个再真实不过的例子。

There are two ways in which a plant or an animal can be genelicalty modified.

转变动植物的基因有两种方式。

First, new material can be inserted into its DNA³ to give the plant or animal qualities which it would never have in nature.

一种是新的物质被注射到动植物的DNA中，以赋予其本身没有的性质。

Second, material can be taken from the DNA of a plant or an animal in order to remove qualities which are not desired.

第二种是从动植物的DNA中提取物质，为了消除其不期望的性质。

One aim of GM research is to produce food which will make us healthier.

转基因研究的一个目标就是生产出让我们更加健康的食物。

So far, this technology has been used to produce plants which are better able to defend themselves against pests and disease⁴.

到目前为止，这项技术已被应用到种植植物，这些植物可以保护自己不受害虫和疾病的侵害。

Supporters of GM food argue that GM plants are healthier and have larger harvests.

转基因食品的拥护者争辩说，转基因植物更加健康，产量更高。

While there has been research in GM animals such as pigs, no GM meat is being sold at present.

与此同时，也有转基因动物的研究，如猪，目前市场上还没有转基因肉出售。

1 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

2 modified   

adj.改良的，改进的，修正的vt.修饰v.修改，更改( modify的过去式和过去分词 )；改变；修饰；缓和

参考例句：

• The software we use has been modified for us. 我们使用的软件已按我们的需要作过修改。
• The heating system has recently been modified to make it more efficient. 暖气设备最近已进行了改造，使其效率得到提高。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

4 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。