2006年VOA标准英语-Genetically-Modified Wheat, Cottonseed Offer Ho

By David McAlary
Washington
23 November 2006

Scientists have genetically³ engineered two crops in a way they say will help improve nutrition in poor countries. One group has boosted the levels of certain nutrients⁵ in wheat and another team has made the poisonous seeds of the cotton plant safe to eat for the first time. But opponents of genetic² modification⁶ are raising objections to the changes. VOA's David McAlary reports from Washington.

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Wheat - long a staple⁷ food - could become more nutritious⁸. U.S. and Israeli scientists have found a gene¹ that increases protein, zinc⁹, and iron in wild wheat.

This gene has lost its function in domesticated¹⁰ wheat, but the researchers report in the journal Science that they have inserted it into cultivated wheat to boost the nutrient⁴ content.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 160 million children under age five lack adequate protein, and more than two billion people are deficient¹¹ in zinc and iron.

Wheat breeder Jorge Dubcovsky of the University of California at Davis says his team's work could help the situation.

"It increases protein and it increases micronutrients - both things. So if you take that wheat to a place where people are having deficiencies in iron and zinc - the two micronutrients that are the largest deficiencies in developing countries - in the same amount of grain, you will deliver 10 to 15 percent more iron and zinc," he said.

The University of California says Dubcovsky leads a consortium of 20 public wheat breeding programs that is introducing this and other valuable genes¹² into U.S. wheat varieties.

Meanwhile, the cotton plant might become a food source if research detoxifying its seeds proves practical.

According to a study in the Proceedings¹³ of the [U.S.] National Academy of Sciences, plant biologists in Texas have genetically engineered the crop so that the amount of the poisonous substance gossypol has been reduced in its seeds to levels safe for human consumption.

 
Cotton produces 65 percent more seed than fiber¹⁴ by weight, so Texas A&M University plant technologist Keerti Rathore says the cottonseed produced annually¹⁵ in more than 80 countries could feed a lot of people.

"The amount of protein that is stored in the cottonseed is almost 10 million metric tons roughly," he said. "That amount of cottonseed, if it can be used directly, has the potential to meet the protein requirements of about 500 million people."

Rathore's team used a technique to shut off a gene that produces the poisonous gossypol in cottonseed. Half a century ago, traditional breeding eliminated the toxin¹⁶ from the entire plant, but that alteration¹⁷ made it an easy target for insect pests.

The new genetic manipulation maintains cotton's toxic¹⁸ defenses everywhere except the seeds.

The Texas A&M University scientist says the new cotton - if it surmounts¹⁹ more research and government regulatory hurdles²⁰ - would improve not only diets in poor countries, but also farmers' income.

"Not only will they get value for their fiber, but they also get higher value for the cottonseed that they are producing," he said.

Environmentalists are skeptical²¹ of the cottonseed and wheat projects. A British group called GM Freeze opposes genetically modified, or GM, foods and says genetic alterations²² could lead to unpredictable and potentially harmful results.

The organization's campaign director, Peter Riley, says fighting world hunger takes more than gene manipulation.

"It is extremely naive²³ to think that by just creating a new GM crop that we're somehow going to overcome the economic and social problems that are the root of poverty and starvation in the southern countries. These aren't problems you can solve with miracle science," he said.

But pediatrician Jonathan Gitlin of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri says advances in basic plant sciences are necessary to help reduce malnutrition²⁴ and child mortality.

In a commentary in Science magazine, Gitlin writes that the new studies reinforce the inherent value of science for improving the lives of the youngest among us.

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 nutrient   

adj.营养的，滋养的；n.营养物，营养品

参考例句：

• Magnesium is the nutrient element in plant growth.镁是植物生长的营养要素。
• The roots transmit moisture and nutrient to the trunk and branches.根将水分和养料输送到干和枝。

5 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》

6 modification   

n.修改，改进，缓和，减轻

参考例句：

• The law,in its present form,is unjust;it needs modification.现行的法律是不公正的，它需要修改。
• The design requires considerable modification.这个设计需要作大的修改。

7 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

8 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

9 zinc   

n.锌；vt.在...上镀锌

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。

10 domesticated   

adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He is thoroughly domesticated and cooks a delicious chicken casserole. 他精于家务，烹制的砂锅炖小鸡非常可口。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The donkey is a domesticated form of the African wild ass. 驴是非洲野驴的一种已驯化的品种。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 deficient   

adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的

参考例句：

• The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
• I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。

12 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

13 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

14 fiber   

n.纤维，纤维质

参考例句：

• The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
• The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。

15 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

16 toxin   

n.毒素，毒质

参考例句：

• Experts have linked this condition to a build-up of toxins in the body.专家已把这一病症与体内毒素的积累联系起来。
• Tests showed increased levels of toxin in shellfish.检验表明水生有壳动物的毒素水平提高了。

17 alteration   

n.变更，改变；蚀变

参考例句：

• The shirt needs alteration.这件衬衣需要改一改。
• He easily perceived there was an alteration in my countenance.他立刻看出我的脸色和往常有些不同。

18 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

19 surmounts   

战胜( surmount的第三人称单数 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上

参考例句：

• A weather-vane surmounts the spire/The spire is surmounted by a weather-vane. 风向标装置在尖塔上[尖塔上装有风向标]。
• One inch of joy surmounts grief of a span. 点滴欢乐就能克服大量的忧伤。

20 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

21 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

22 alterations   

n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变

参考例句：

• Any alterations should be written in neatly to the left side. 改动部分应书写清晰，插在正文的左侧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code. 基因突变是指DNA 密码的改变。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 naive   

adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的

参考例句：

• It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致，你未免太单纯了。
• Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。

24 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。