Пища для ума - Food for thought. Коломейцева Е.М - 16 стр.

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4. With so much to be said for genetic engineering, why would anyone be leery of it? Some people naturally fear the unknown,
and there is much that we still don't know about how genes work. The greatest fear is that some dangerous organism could escape
from a scientist's laboratory-an airborne AIDS virus, for example-spreading uncontrollably through the human population. People also
point to the unplanned spread of pests such as starlings, fire ants, killer bees, or the kudzu vine in the southeastern United States as
examples of how genetic experiments, too, could get out of hand. Scientists tell us there are safeguards; and that even if a mutant life-
form does escape, it is not likely to survive in the evolutionary scheme of things. But many people have seen movies that depict
scientists as distracted, onetrack minded, or even evil. They do not trust scientists' reassurances. It seems clear that not everyone who
possesses knowledge uses it for the good of humanity. After all, computer hackers have been known to plant destructive viruses.
5. Still, genetic engineering is here, and we must deal with it. It's a good news/bad news situation. The good news is that the
genie of genetic engineering is out of the bottle. It may be able to grant us some of our best wishes. The bad news is that we're not
sure the genie is completely friendly, and we're quite sure we will never get it back into the bottle. Our grandparents would be and are
amazed at what scientists have been able to accomplish. In their day, though, if they had been asked to choose between hardships they
could see and understand, and using new-fangled conveniences that promised unknown side effects, I wonder which they would have
chosen.
E x e r c i s e T w o
. Read the article and choose the best beginning from the given below to fill each of the gaps.
A. Certain scientific studies;
B. Today, bioengineering;
C. Commerce operates
D. But the reasons behind ordering a boy;
E. An end to baldness;
F. The day may come;
G. A more recently established practice.
Biogenetic Engineering: a Gamble for a Bright Future
1. _____ as methodically as a well-regulated clock: dutiful companies bring diverse household and business products to
millions of eager customers. But industry’s thirst to make people's lives easier and better may not be quenched by mere electric pencil
sharpeners and automatic garage openers: soon market researchers will leave behind present-day fixation on electronic gadgetry and
cleaning agents to penetrate the very fuse box of life itself-the great new world of DNA.
2. _____ when an ingenious researcher will knock confidently on the company president's door and, holding up a pink test tube,
announce that after isolating the gene that causes baldness, he has succeeded in simulating a new one to replace it. The president's
eyes will open wide (as his pupils enlarge to almost swallow the irises, and the whites become etched with scarlet lightning bolts) and
the excited executive will jump up from his chair, his face assuming the look that Dr. Frankenstein must have worn when he first
heard his monster breathe.
3. _____ is just one perhaps trivial example of the future as predicted by today's budding biotechnological industry. Not many
people would object to ending the nuisance of baldness, but then what about tallness, obesity, sexual preference, facial features, etc.?
Such characteristics blend to create our individuality. How would we feel if these qualities were for sale?
4. _____ is in its latent stage; however, it will undoubtedly display far fuller foliage in the very near future. Amniocentesis, for
example, allows us to "look into" the unborn baby, finds out its sex, and discover whether the child has such disorders as Down’s
syndrome. Since this process gives us no method (except abortion) of defeating the prognosis, it cannot truly be considered genetic
engineering.
5. _____, closely related to biotechnology, is the determination of sex by the process of filtering. If a couple wants a boy, the
doctor filters the male's sperm to separate the "X" cells from the "Y" cells. A '”Y” sperm is joined with an egg and
voila –
a custom-
ordered boy! Most couples who go through this procedure do so because of a defective gene from one of the parents that would affect
offspring of only one gender. Thus, to ensure against a disorder in the child (and in future generations), the parents take the precaution
of conceiving a baby of the invulnerable sex.
6. _____ or a girl are not always this practical: sheer preference often plays a large role. Certain traits like tallness, slimness, and
blue eyes are social favorites. If we allow people to "catalog-order" their babies, we will get an increasing number of children with
"popular" genes. And more and more popular traits engineered into babies will drastically lesson individuality; in future schools we
may see "herds" of children with dimpled cheeks, Shirley Temple curls, and Jimmy Carter smiles. And who knows? Perhaps such
"unpopular" traits as shyness or homosexuality or obesity serve some hidden evolutionary purpose.
7. _____ suggest that homosexuality, for which there is a genetic inclination, may be one of nature's guards against
overpopulation. What if, by mass cooperation, we eliminated a gene whose presently unrecognized purpose might have saved us from
a future catastrophe?
E x e r c i s e T h r e e
. Read the article below and choose the best word to fill each gap.
If we (take / probe / understand) a bit further into this hypothetical world, we become conscious of potential (prejudices /
points / features) and injustices. If biotechnology makes (selective / elective / expensive) services widely available to the public, just
what sort of people would benefit? Why, anyone who has the money for such a costly (habit / extravagance / thing). (In cases of
health, all people should be equally eligible.) But in the capitalist society, many parents would be unable to (give / afford / accept)
bioengineering for their offspring.
Although it's true that the above (predictions / plans / ideas) are a bit far-fetched, advances in genetic engineering could make
them all possible. But what if we take a different route? Let's (take / imagine / see) it's the year 2150. Genetically (produced / made /
engineered) babies have been bouncing around for some time now. Satisfaction and contentment (show / characterize / describe)
most of the world's populace. Our planet is at rest: all of today's (lethal / dead / unavoidable) bacteria and viruses have been (killed /
exterminated / ousted) and humans are now engineered with only "good" genes. But, during this period of global health and well-

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