История долли

Эпоха клонирования началась с сенсационной новости о рождении овечки Долли в 1996 году. Долли стала первым млекопитающим, клонированным из взрослой клетки.

Еще в 70-х годах прошлого столетия ученые доказали возможность клонирования взрослой лягушки. Для создания головастика понадобилась всего лишь 1 клетка из тела взрослой лягушки. Головастик оказался генетически идентичным взрослой особи, что подтвердило предположение ученых о том, что взрослые клетки содержат всю необходимую информацию для производства нового организма.

Однако до появления Долли большинство ученых сомневалось в возможности клонирована млекопитающих. Считалось, что каждая взрослая клетка млекопитающих выполняет строго определенную функцию, которую невозможно изменить. Долли опровергла это ошибочное мнение. Для ее создания была использована клетка молочной железы 6-летней овцы.

СМИ бурно отреагировали на рождение Долли. Немецкий журнал “Шпигель” поместил на своей обложке изображение группы клонов Гитлера, разделяя страх читателей о скорой возможности клонировать человека.

Долли умерла в возрасте 6 лет от артрита и инфекции легких. Ученые пытаются установить возраст ее клеток. Долли была клонирована из клетки 6-летней овцы, возможно, возраст ее собственных клеток - 12 лет.

Words and word combinations: the clone age, momentous news, mammal, to create a tadpole, genetically identical, to produce a totally new individual, cells, to take on specialist roles, a 6-year-old ewe, a mammary gland cell, to feature, human cloning, to be just round the corner, to suffer from arthritis.

Lesson 10 text 1 gm food

Age of innocence.

Humans have been modifying their food for thousands of years. Until the 20th century, this had to be done by breeding desirable characteristics into crops. This method requires a lot of effort and is rather imprecise. Genetic modification has enabled us to add qualities to crops that no amount of traditional breeding could.

But in the 1960s, scientists made huge breakthroughs in their understanding of genetics. Many recognised that this new knowledge had the potential to revolutionise food production, creating huge benefits for the world.

The Green Revolution.

In 1964, the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines managed to breed new strains of rice that doubled the yields of previous types. This discovery spawned the Green Revolution, a worldwide farming movement that sought to end world hunger. This movement aimed to bring high-yield crops able to thrive in harsh conditions to farmers in the developing world.

The Green Revolution dramatically increased the size of harvests and introduced modern farming methods throughout the world. But it couldn’t end starvation. Instead, it created many problems of its own.The fertilisers and pesticides used in this new method of farming caused water pollution, soil erosion and lowered soil fertility. They also harmed biodiversity and made farmers dependent upon chemical companies for their livelihoods.

Genetic engineering.

By 1972, another revolution was underway. Biochemist Paul Berg at Stanford University discovered how to join together DNA from two different organisms, creating the first recombinant DNA molecule. This breakthrough was followed the next year by a pioneering study in which scientists Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer inserted DNA from an African clawed toad into the E.coli bacterium. However, as soon as the euphoria over these discoveries had subsided, many scientists began to question the safety and ethics of the research.

The 1975 Asilomar conference in California was held to discuss these issues. Some biologists argued passionately for a moratorium, or freeze, on genetic research until the safety of the technology could be established.

However, this was not passed and the conference delegates agreed to continue research into genetic engineering. In order to dodge regulation of their research by outside bodies, scientists pledged to keep all recombinant DNA and genetically engineered organisms contained safely within laboratories.

Looking ahead.

If GM lives up to the opinions of its most enthusiastic supporters, it could reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers, allow people to farm in harsh environments and increase crop yields. It could also make our food healthier and more nutritious to eat. Current modifications to GM crops are likely to be refined. Pest resistant crops such as BT corn could be modified to repel bugs without killing them. Many foods will also be engineered to be more nutritious.

But scientists are already working on the next giant step in the GM revolution, one which could turn the world on its head.

Protein factories.

Plants and fruit could be turned into to harvest custom proteins and materials such as:

• Vaccines and drugs

• Healthy oils to combat illnesses such as heart disease

• Eco-friendly biofuels

• Bio-lubricants to replace current hydraulic fluids

• Biodegradeable plastics

Vegetables such as tomatoes could provide an enclosed, sterile environment in which to manufacture these products. Biofuels can be produced from conventional farming crops such as soya and sugarbeet.

Flower power.

In future, scientists hope to run cars on fuel made from plants. These biofuels could be based on soybean and rapeseed oil, or ethanol, which could be brewed and distilled from sugarbeet or cereals. Researchers say that these fuels can already be used to run cars and they are working on ways to make them even more efficient.

New economy.

These innovations in genetic modification could create an explosion of new businesses and pull old ones together. Modifying crops to produce end products could merge the pharmaceutical, chemical and farming industries into one.

Rocky road.

It is likely that biotech companies will meet with significant opposition along the way. European consumers in particular will need a considerable amount of convincing. In the US, meanwhile, opposition to GM is regarded as backward. This rift in attitudes on different sides of the Atlantic could damage trade relations. Most experts agree that governments and biotech companies will have to tackle these obstacles before they can truly explore the full potential of genetic modification.

(http://www.bookweb.org)

Explain the words, translate them into Russian. Quote the sentence in which they occur.

A strain of rice, to spawn, to seek to end world hunger, to thrive in harsh conditions, modern farming methods, starvation, fertilizers, pesticides, soil erosion, lowered soil fertility, biodiversity, a recombinant DNA molecule, a pioneering study, euphoria, ethics, moratorium, to live up to the options, to increase crop yields, nutritious, to repel bugs, vaccines, to combat illnesses, eco-friendly bio-fuels, bio-lubricants, hydraulic fluids, biodegradable, sterile environment, rapeseed oil, to distill from, to pull together, pharmaceutical, to meet with significant opposition, rift in attitudes.

SCANNING.

To do this exercise, glance at the text above for information, then, eyes up, give a response.

1. Describe the advantages of genetic modification over traditional breeding.

2. What is the green Revolution? Provide its aims and aspirations.

3. Give negative consequences of new farming methods introduced throughout the world.

4. Why did some biologists argue passionately for a moratorium on genetic research in 1975 in California?

5. Describe positive sides of GM crops. Give as many points as possible.

6. What is the concept of protein factories?

7. Present the idea of flower power.

8. What economic changes do genetic modifications bring?

9. Enlarge on the obstacles governments and biotech companies have to tackle. Provide your personal view on the problem.

10. How can you characterize the attitude to GM foods in Russia? Has this question gained much prominence in Russian mass media?

Complete these sentences using phrases from the text.

1. Genetic modification has enabled us to ______ .

2. Many recognised that this new knowledge had the potential to _____ .

3. The fertilisers and pesticides used in this new method of farming caused _____ . They also harmed ____ and made farmers ___ chemical companies for their____ .

4. By 1972, another revolution was ____ .

5. As soon as the euphoria over these discoveries had subsided, many scientists began to question the _____ and _____ of the research.

6. In order to ______ regulation of their research by outside bodies, scientists pledged to keep all recombinant DNA and genetically engineered organisms contained safely within laboratories.

7. If GM ____ to the opinions of its most enthusiastic supporters, it could reduce the use of _____ and ______, allow people to farm in ___and increase crop yields.

8. Vegetables such as tomatoes could provide an____ , ____ environment in which to manufacture these products.

9. Modifying crops to produce end products could merge the____ , ___and _____ industries into one.

10. It is likely that biotech companies will meet with _____opposition along _____ .

Find out what the following people and organisations think the future holds for GM: Choose the opinion to your liking, enlarge on it.

Dr Guy Poppy - Biological Sciences, Southampton University.

"The future of GM is difficult to assess due to the agendas of the many interested parties. If a product came along with great benefit clearly seen by all, then any risks would be tolerated. This has been clearly demonstrated by the popularity of mobile phone technology. The concepts of multinational domination, food security, sustainability and rising population make the debate more complex and intense. I think that GM technology has an important part to play in solving many problems, but it needs to be integrated into other strategies. If we lose GM technology due to hidden agendas and misinformation, it will be a real loss to society."