Genetically Modifying the Future|基因改良我们的未来

by Marcus Maurice

There are many misconceptions about GMOs.

Humans have long been using gene selection technology for crops. Without understanding genetics, ancient cultures found ways to alter plants and animals to better meet their needs. Now, with our modern understanding of genetics, the opportunities to alter our food sources are even greater. But not everyone is comfortable with the idea of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

A GMO is an organism whose genetic material has been modified through a technique called recombinant DNA technology. Unlike the natural evolutionary processes that affect living things, recombinant DNA is made by making DNA combinations that would not usually go together. Using this technology, scientists have been able to do some amazing things. For example, scientists developed a kind of rice called golden rice that contains a large amount of Vitamin A, which could help reduce Vitamin A deficiency among poor children. However, some groups are not comfortable with the use of GMOs and have protested golden rice's distribution to Third World farmers.

The primary concern that some groups have about GMOs is that we do not know what effect their use will have on the planet and on our bodies in the future. The plants that are being modified have spent thousands of years evolving, so activists are concerned about changing these natural processes without truly understanding the long-term effects.

Despite the controversy, GMOs are already extremely common in some countries. Some experts estimate that up to 75 percent of American prepared food contains at least one GMO ingredient, and GMOs have been widely consumed in the US since 1994. However, in some countries, especially in Europe, there has been a strong backlash against GMOs. Many European consumers do not want to consume GMOs, and labeling laws throughout Europe are very strict regarding them.

    1.     Which of the following does the author say about GMOs in the first paragraph?

(A) GMOs are created with advanced DNA recombinant technology.

(B) Ancient cultures were opposed to the use of GMOs.

(C) There are some people who don't support the use of GMOs.

(D) GMOs are very popular in the United States, but not in Europe.

    2.     What is golden rice an example of?

(A) The popularity of using GMOs.

(B) The potential benefits of GMOs.

(C) A failed GMO experiment.

(D) A GMO that is popular in Europe.

    3.     Why do some groups oppose the use of GMOs?

(A) Their possible harmful effects are not yet known.

(B) They have been proven to cause a lack of Vitamin A.

(C) They are not being given to people in developing countries.

(D) They are superior to naturally-grown foods.

    4.     What does widely consumed in the final paragraph mean?

(A) Rarely purchased.

(B) Totally banned.

(C) Commonly eaten.

(D) Regularly grown.

基因改良我们的未来

人们对基因改造生物有许多误解。

人类使用基因选择技术来种植作物由来已久。在对基因学一无所知的情况下，古老文化找寻可以改变植物和动物的方法，好更加符合自己的需求。如今，随着现代人对基因学的了解，大大增加了改变食物来源的机会。然而，并不是人人都喜欢基因改造农产品。

基因改造农产品指的是经由一种称为基因重组技术的科技，将基因构造加以改造的有机体。与影响所有生物的自然演化过程不同，基因重组制作出罕见的基因组合。使用这项科技之后，科学家们有了惊人作为。举例来说，他们培植了一种称为『黄金米』的稻米，富含维生素 A，能够帮助减少穷困孩童维生素 A 不足的问题。不过，有些团体并不乐见使用基因改造农产品，并反对将黄金米分配给第三世界的农民。

这些团体对于基因改造农产品最主要的考虑是，我们还不确定使用它们对地球以及我们的身体在未来会有何影响。这些被改造过的植物花了好几千年才演化至今，因此激进分子对人类没有真正了解长期的影响就改变自然演化过程的行为忧心忡忡。

尽管有这些争议，基因改造农产品在某些国家却已十分普遍。有些专家估计，多达百分之七十五的美国调理食品含有至少一项基因改造的原料，而从 1994 年起，基因改造农产品也在美国大量售出。然而，在某些国家，特别是欧洲，却是强烈反对基因改造农产品。许多欧洲消费者不想买到基因改造农产品，因此这些食品在欧洲也被严格规定必须贴上标示。

答案：  1.  C   2.  B   3.  A   4.  C

基因改造食品又称基因转殖食品，是由基因改造生物所加工而成，以人为的方法，改变物种的基因排列，通常是将某种生物的某个基因，从一连串的基因中分离，再植入另一种生物体内。例如：科学家看中了一种北极鱼的基因，认为它有耐寒的作用，于是将其基因分离抽出，再植入西红柿之内，制成新种的耐寒西红柿。基因改造工程将外来基因，植入人类的日常食物，对人类健康会有什么影响，目前仍有诸多的争议，多半来自两个层面：食品安全及生态环保。事实上，对于基因改造生物之安全性目前并无有效之评估方法，而其对于环境生态及人体的影响可能更需要时间来证实，因此现阶段无法断言基因改造生物之安全性，需等待完整且具科学根据之评估方法建立后，才能解决安全性的争议。（数据源：维基百科）