South Korean Scientists Develop ‘Beef Rice’

South Korean Scientists Develop ‘Beef Rice’

　　South Korean researchers have combined cow muscle cells with rice grains. They say the new rice is an important step towards a sustainable, less costly¹ source of protein. The researchers suggested it could replace the meat of farmed cattle, or beef.

　　Professor Jinkee Hong of Yonsei University led the research. Hong said the "beef rice" is the first product of its kind. The results of the research were recently published in Matter.

　　The beef rice uses grain particles as the base for growing animal muscle and fat cells.

　　The researchers treated rice grains with chemicals called enzymes² to create an environment for cell growth. They added cells from cattle to create the final product, which is a combination, or hybrid³, of the two. The result looks like a grain of rice with a pink color.

　　Companies around the world have launched efforts to develop meat that is grown in a laboratory. One of the latest attempts involves plant-based chicken and eel⁴ meat developed from soybean that is sold in Singapore.

　　Hong's team said rice has an added gain in terms of safety compared to soy or nuts because fewer people have allergic⁵ reactions to it.

　　He said that if it is developed into food products, "cultured beef rice could serve as a sustainable protein source." He added that it would be good in environments where traditional animal farming is too difficult.

　　The beef rice contains around eight percent more protein and seven percent more fat than normal rice. Hong noted⁶ the protein is 18 percent animal based. That makes it a good source of important nutrients⁷ needed by humans called essential amino acids.

　　Beef rice costs about two dollars per kilogram. Hong said it results in the release of less carbon gas than traditional cattle raising. He said that it could compete with other products in stores.

　　Hong said there are still some problems in production. And, he added, it will not be easy to get people to accept its taste and how it feels in the mouth, or its texture⁸.

　　Keum Dong-kyu recently ate the beef rice at a restaurant in the Korean capital Seoul. He praised the new idea.

　　Keum said, "But honestly, I don't think it can replicate⁹ the juiciness or texture of real beef."

　　Christian¹⁰ Krammel, who is from Germany, expressed hope for the future.

　　Krammel said, "Now, it does not compare to beef yet, but as I see the research is in early stages, I would say it's a great way forward."

　　Words in This Story

　　sustainable – adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources

　　pink – n. a pale red color: a color that is a mixture of red and white

　　allergy¹¹ – n. a medical condition that causes someone to become sick after eating, touching¹², or breathing something that is harmless to most people

　　replicate – v. to repeat or copy (something) exactly

　　juicy – adj. containing a lot of juice, the liquid part of meat

1 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

2 enzymes   

n. 酶，酵素

参考例句：

• It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
• Among the enzymes which are particularly effective are pepsin, papain. 在酶当中特别有效的是胃朊酶、木瓜酶。

3 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

4 eel   

n.鳗鲡

参考例句：

• He used an eel spear to catch an eel.他用一只捕鳗叉捕鳗鱼。
• In Suzhou,there was a restaurant that specialized in eel noodles.苏州有一家饭馆，他们那里的招牌菜是鳗鱼面。

5 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。

6 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。

7 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 texture   

n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理

参考例句：

• We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
• Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。

9 replicate   

v.折叠，复制，模写；n.同样的样品；adj.转折的

参考例句：

• The DNA of chromatin must replicate before cell division.染色质DNA在细胞分裂之前必须复制。
• It is also easy to replicate,as the next subsection explains.就像下一个小节详细说明的那样，它还可以被轻易的复制。

10 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

11 allergy   

n.(因食物、药物等而引起的)过敏症

参考例句：

• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。
• The patient had an allergy to penicillin.该患者对青霉素过敏。

12 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。