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Файл:Our Changing World. Практический курс первого иностранного языка. Учебное пособие для студентов второго курса специальности «Перевод и переводоведение.pdf
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to contemplate, is the occasion for deciding whether we shall be slaves of unregulated
progress, and ultimately its artefacts, or whether we shall remain free human beings
who guide our technique toward the enhancement of human dignity.”
Various ethical considerations give impetus to this thought. Firstly, as demonstrated
by the examples of animal cloning, various health risks are posed. As the process is
experimental in nature, there could be congenital disabilities, genetic abnormalities or
the risk of premature death in humans.
Secondly, concerns around eugenics crop up. As history has taught us, human
experimentation has a distinctly ugly side.
Thirdly, as Kass argued, clones cannot consent to the process of human cloning. This
is a contentious argument in itself. Some proponents of cloning argue that no one is
able to consent to being born, and thus the argument is null. However, the risks
associated with the process of cloning, including health risks and the unknown mental
impact, are used as a justification for this argument by other camps.
Fourthly, there is a distinction between biological and cultural inheritance. As
Francisco Ayala concluded in 2015 in Cloning humans? Biological, ethical, and
social considerations, “cloning an individual, particularly in the case of a
multicellular organism, such as a plant or an animal, is not strictly possible. The
genes of an individual, the genome, can be cloned, but the individual itself cannot be
cloned.”
For example, identical twins represent the idea of natural cloning but develop
different personalities and lived experiences despite being genetically identical. An
individual’s character, personality, values, behaviour and preferences are not
determined by the genotype or the cloned material, but rather by the phenotype, or
interaction of genes with the environment.
This brings into question why cloning would even be considered if the resulting clone
would be different from the cloned individual. On the one hand, this is a persuasive
argument for a clone’s distinct personhood but does not constitute enough of an
argument to introduce cloning as an alternative to other reproductive means.
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These ethical conundrums scratch the surface of the argument. Perhaps a key
consideration in the debate for human cloning is the principles that would be required
to guide the process.
For instance, Nabavizadeh et al assert that six features should be considered: human
cloning should be advantageous to human society in a manner impossible by other
methods; successful instances of animal cloning would need to occur first; all
unnecessary physical and mental risks should be prevented; the process of cloning
should be stopped if death or deficiency is probable; actions should be taken to
prevent death or deficiency; and research should be halted if there is a belief that
death, deficiency or damage of the tested individual could occur.
Seemingly, there are not many convincing arguments for human cloning. From an
ethical standpoint, the arguments against human cloning are overwhelming.
Yet, as we venture further into a technologically advanced world, it would be myopic
to dismiss the very possibility of human cloning ever occurring. As the American
writer Mary E Pearson argued, “what we think is ethical today, we may not have
thought ethical five or 10 years ago. Cloning, stem cell research? However we feel
about those things today, we may feel differently 10 years from now.”
Set work
1. Transcribe and translate the words
surrogate, ewe, terrain, limbs, premature, euthanized, contentious, repugnance,
congenital, abnormality, multicellular, conundrum, deficiency, embryos,
2.Explain the following personal names.
the Daily Maverick, Leon Kass, Francisco Ayala, Nabavizadeh, Mary E Pearson,
Letlhokwa George Mpedi
3. Give English equivalents to the following Russian phrases. Find them in the
article and reproduce the sentences in which they are used. Think up your own
sentences with the phrases.
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продвигаться стремительно, почти отстать, убедительный довод в пользу,
исключать возможность, неуправляемый, резко контрастировать, большой
сдвиг, физические недостатки, искривленные конечности, плохо
функционирующие органы, выраженное ожирение, пережить, спорный,
биологическое существо, создавать возможность, редактирование гена,
представлять новые горизонты, размышлять, дать импульс чему-то, по
характеру, природные физические недостатки, генетические аномалии,
возникать, давать согласие, подвергать сомнению, представлять собой, загадка,
поверхностно освещать аргумент, заявлять/ отстаивать, недальновидный.
4. Explain the underlined parts of the sentences in the article.
5. Answer the questions.
1. What event did cloning begin with? When did it happen?
2. Why are arguments against human cloning overwhelming?
3. What have scientists cloned?
4. Why does cloning of animals and plants remain in question though it has been
done successfully?
5. What is the aim of cloning?
6. What examples of cloning do scientists refer to?
7. Is cloning of genes and cells allowed nowadays?
8. What are the arguments for cloning of individuals?
9. Why is human cloning is banned? Give all the reasons mentioned in the article?
10. How do identical twins differ from cloned twins?
11. In what case can cloning and human cloning be allowed?
6. Give the article summary and comment on its main ideas, express your
opinion.
READING 2
Top 7 Pros and Cons of Cloning
Last Updated: Jan 7, 2023
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Cloning creates a copy of a single cell or an entire living organism. Each clone bears
the same sets of genetic material in the nucleus of every cell. An individual produced
from such a process is known as a clone of the original organism.
Naturally, the term is used for identical or monozygotic twins as they are natural
clones of each other. Cloning, as a sudden scientific concept, has shown itself to the
general public as a technique that can be done with ease and relative success since it
accomplished the cloning of the Dolly, the sheep in 1997.
The success of cloning in rhesus macaque monkeys almost twenty years ago (1999)
also provided essential support to the hypothesis that humans can be possibly cloned.
However, cloning techniques have been around for a longer period than that. Cloning
occurs all the time naturally-some even speculate that it started ever since life arose
on Earth.
With the fast-changing environment and so much scientific research and medical
development, cloning seems to occur widely shortly. However, is it a possible option
to help revive the population of species or just another ambitious attempt to
achieve immortality?
On this page, we will explore its pros and cons and decide whether this scientific
endeavor is worth the risks.
Pros of Cloning
Since the first successful execution of the process in 1996, cloning has become a
useful technique in the field of biotechnology. Through cloning, transgenic
(organisms having genes of interest inserted in their genome) plants and animals are
used to make clones from adults. The following are some of the pros of cloning.
1. It can help prevent the extinction of species
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As many organisms in the planet approach endangerment and extinction, cloning
appears to be a possible solution to restore populations. By utilizing the genetic
material of already dead organisms, cloning can even expand gene pool diversity.
Aside from that, the cloning of extinct animals and their successful revival will
also allow scientists to fully study the species as living organisms, instead of
just studying their remains.
Although considered an artificial reproduction mode, cloning is widespread in
a natural setting. The oldest form of cloning, asexual reproduction, is exhibited by
various organisms like insects, and microorganisms.
2. It can help increase food production
Another major advantage of cloning is that it can serve as a means to increase
agricultural production, particularly livestock and fresh produce. By manipulating
their biological processes, existing traits of interest are ensured with the absence of
the genetic “lottery” and random arrangements in the genes during meiosis.
During cloning, the gene of interest, as well as the organism bearing that gene of
interest, is replicated faster than those undergoing the natural process.
Because of this, the number of organisms produced at a given time also increases.
3. It can help couples who want to have children
Last but not the least is the use of cloning as a means to produce children for infertile
couples. Normally, couples would want to have children that are biologically theirs.
Interestingly, the genetic manipulations could now be targeted at giving the children
the genetic traits of both parents. Children can now be produced even without donor
eggs or donor sperms.
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Cons of Cloning
Although cloning promises considerable advantages for research and industries, the
endpoint is only sometimes certain because of the high risks of losses and morbidity
of organisms during their development. Aside from that, the mere process of cloning
remains to be elucidated. The following are some of its most common cons.
1. The process is not entirely safe and accurate
Despite being genetically identical with each other, clones will not be the same
regarding behavioral attributes. Aside from that, their similarities regarding physical
appearance are not guaranteed.
It should be important to note that genetic material is not the sole determinant of
these characteristics.
Of course, chances that a pair of clones will be subjected to different habitats and
have varying nutritional loads are very high, thus imprinting different changes and
contributions to each one.
Aside from that, most clones produced have had reduced longevity and developed
health problems. For instance, Dolly the sheep had abnormalities in her DNA (i.e.,
shortened telomeres), suggesting that some of her own cells bear the “age” of the
source organisms.
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2. It is regarded as unethical, and the probability of abuse is very high
One of the strongest arguments against cloning is about its ethical concerns. Aside
from the idea of manipulating living organisms, critics say that the mere process of
clone production requires the exploitation of life.
In the case of Dolly, the sheep, more than 277 attempts were conducted before a
viable clone was produced. This only suggests that if humans were to be cloned,
scientists would need to conduct numerous “failed” attempts.
With that, critics highly believe that it would be unethical to clone humans unless
these problems become known and be resolved at a level of certainty.
3. The offspring lack genetic uniqueness
Majority of the concerns against cloning are based on the absence of unique nuclear
DNA in the child’s genome. However, as mentioned above, the notion that cloning
would only result in the absence of genetic uniqueness would no longer be justifiable,
assuming that the procedures are conducted safely.
Again, the process of cloning still needs further studies.
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4. It is not yet fully-developed
To date, many scientists will agree that the process of cloning is not yet fully
developed to be used as a way to promote the conservation of species. Some
researchers need to acknowledge cloning as it fails to recognize the main drivers of
extinction in the first place: the destruction of habitats and hunting.
Critics also argue that even if cloning could help in desperate times, present
techniques to execute these goals are deemed ineffective in making a difference.
As compared with cloning domestic organisms (e.g., cattle), the process of cloning
endangered species is more difficult and would likely take years (and even decades)
to complete.
While there are many reasons why countless attempts to revive endangered and
extinct species have failed, they all exhibited one major trouble: they were not exact
copies of their supposed-to-be counterparts.
Overall, scientific research developments go faster than the actual and real needs of
humans, who are the ultimate recipients of such progress. Because of that, there is a
pressing need to determine whether such practical applications are timely or are
indeed necessary for human survival.
To date, many people still believe that the process of cloning itself is not ethical.
Many countries have prohibited all research and actual cloning processes, making it.
Nevertheless, the process of cloning is still up for further studies.
Set work
Task 1. Transcribe and translate the following words
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monozygotic, rhesus, macaque, hypothesis, species, endeavor, biotechnology,
transgenic, exhibit, meiosis, elucidate, longevity
Task 2. Explain the phrases using their definitions or synonyms. In the article
find the sentences in which they are used.
to do with ease, to accomplish, to occur, execution, to approach endangerment and
extinction, to utilize, gene pool diversity, natural setting, livestock, fresh produce,
genetic lottery, traits of interest, meiosis, DNA, telomere
Task 3. Find English equivalents in the article to the given definitions. Use them
in the sentences of your own.
1. the state of living or lasting forever; 2. to become, or to make somebody/something
become, conscious or healthy and strong again; 3. a short time; not long; 4. (formal)
to copy something exactly; 5. (of people, animals and plants) not able to have babies
or produce young; 6. the final stage of a period or process; 7. the fact of having a
particular disease; the number of people who have a particular disease.
Task 4. Look through the article to find the English equivalents for the following
Russian phrases and sentences.
1. Сам по себе процесс клонирования остается на стадии разъяснения.
2. относительно поведенческих атрибутов
3. единственный решающий фактор
4. подвергаться воздействию
5. влияние
6. сократить срок жизни
7. источник ДНК
8. этическая проблема/вопрос
9. помимо
10. жизнеспособный
11. уровень достоверности
12. потомок/ потомство
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13. до сих пор
14. содействовать сохранению видов
15. признать
16. фактор, влияющий на исчезновение/ вымирание
17. сложные времена
18. признавать неэффективными
19. существенно помочь делу
20. крупный рогатый скот
21. вероятно займет годы
22. якобы двойники/ копия
23. окончательный получатель
24. острая необходимость/ насущная потребность
25. уместный/ своевременный
Task 5. Use the article and make the list of pros and cons of cloning. Compare
them and make your own conclusion. Discuss the questions in group.
Is cloning dangerous? Should it be forbidden? Why? Why not?
Task 6. Translate the sentences from Russian into English using the lexical units
from Reading 1 and 2.
1. Темнота окутывала его, словно плотное покрывало, скрывая все его
недостатки. Искривленные конечности, плохо функционирующие органы – все
это делало его неуправляемым существом, контрастирующим с окружающим
миром.
2. Выраженное ожирение - это состояние, при котором у человека чрезмерная
масса тела, которая может приводить к различным проблемам со здоровьем. 3.
Пережить - перенести, выдержать; может относиться к прожитым опытам или
обстоятельствам.
4. Биологическое существо - живое организм, организм, который состоит из
клеток и способен к росту, размножению и саморегуляции.