VOA慢速英语20060906a

HEALTH REPORT - Gene¹ Therapy Used to Treat Cancer | Stem Cell Study Leads to Criticism, QuestionsBy VOA Staffs

Broadcast: Wednesday, September 06, 2006

This is the VOA Special English Health Report.

A new study demonstrates what researchers say is the first successful use of genetic² engineering to treat cancer. The researchers say they were able to get normal cells from a person's own defense³ system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

The study involved patients with advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Steven Rosenberg led the study team at America's National Cancer Institute. The treatment was not able to save fifteen of the seventeen patients in the study. But the researchers say the other two are disease-free eighteen months after the therapy began. And they say it might be possible to use this method to treat other cancers. The results appear in Science magazine.

Now, here is more information about our story last week on a study by scientists at Advanced Cell Technology. They said they produced embryonic⁵ stem cells using what the company called an approach that does not harm embryos⁶.

The company said its method makes stem cells from a single cell taken from an eight-cell human embryo⁴. In fact, as critics noted⁷, all sixteen embryos used in the experiment were destroyed as the scientists removed ninety-one cells in all. The scientists said they developed stem cell lines from two of these cells.

Many experts see the use of embryonic stem cells as a possible way to treat diseases. Critics of the study included an official of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops⁸. He said the experiment left no embryos alive, and solves no ethical⁹ problem.

Company chief William Caldwell dismissed such criticism. He says the aim was to develop a way to make embryonic stem cell lines that would not require the destruction of an embryo.

The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported Tuesday that some researchers have questions about the experiment. They say they want more evidence to show how a single cell can be used to create a stem cell line.

Nature magazine released the study online on August twenty-third. Nature had to correct its own press release about the experiment two times.

Advanced Cell Technology became an independent company early last year. It does not sell any products yet. Two days after its report appeared, the company announced two financing deals with existing investors¹⁰. These deals could bring more than thirteen million dollars to the company.

And that's the VOA Special English Health Report. I'm Steve Ember.

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 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。

5 embryonic   

adj.胚胎的

参考例句：

• It is still in an embryonic stage.它还处于萌芽阶段。
• The plan,as yet,only exists in embryonic form.这个计划迄今为止还只是在酝酿之中。

6 embryos   

n.晶胚；胚，胚胎( embryo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Somatic cells of angiosperms enter a regenerative phase and behave like embryos. 被子植物体细胞进入一个生殖阶段，而且其行为象胚。 来自辞典例句
• Evolution can explain why human embryos look like gilled fishes. 进化论能够解释为什么人类的胚胎看起来象除去了内脏的鱼一样。 来自辞典例句

7 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。

8 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

9 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

10 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会