| He | appeared | to have forgotten my address. | Виявилось, що він забув мою адресу. |
| seems | Здається, він забув мою адресу. |
І. Decide which of these statements are true and which are false.
1. The researchers have been stretching strands of DNA for ages. 2. The scientists have divided strands of DNA into two different parts. 3. A single-stranded DNA is as long as a double-stranded one. 4. The structure of a single molecule can be changed under pressure.
ІІ. Answer the following questions.
1. Who carried out a DNA-stretching experiment? 2. What was the DNA-stretching experiment? 3. What happened to a molecule of DNA when it was stretched to its breaking point? 4. Is this experiment useful? Why?
Text 14. Status of Genetically Modified Products
Active Vocabulary:
| advance | рух уперед | raw material | сировина |
| tissue | тканина | objection | заперечення |
| to emerge | з’являтися | consumer | споживач |
| crop breeding | вирощування зерна | detrimental | нищівний |
| benefit | прибуток, перевага | affordable | доступний |
| enhanced crop yield | підвищений врожай зерна | current | сучасний |
| nutritious | поживний | to assist | сприяти, допомагати |
| efficiency | ефективність | to reduce | зменшувати |
The development of modern biotechnology is really a ground-breaking advance because of its enormous power to transform living things. New techniques such as tissue culture, cell culture and embryo transfer, as well as various techniques of molecular manipulation, have emerged. Transgenic technologies such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are now being widely used in crop breeding and commercial production.
There are a number of actual or potential benefits from GM crops. These include:
· Enhanced crop yield and productivity;
· More nutritious and higher quality products;
· Less need for pesticides and herbicides;
· Greater efficiency in resource management;
· Role as a bioreactor to produce raw materials for pharmaceuticals and other industries.
For critics, there are four main objections:
· Consumers do not have enough information about GMOs.
· There may be potential detrimental effects from eating GM foods, while there have not yet been objective studies to identify such effects, if they exist.
· There may be unexpected environmental problems.
· Using of GM crops may go against certain religious beliefs and traditions.
So, rapid introduction of GM products into the market is really amazing. Many of the key technologies are in the hands of the private sector, and dominated by a few companies. The use of transgenic modification could have benefits for developing countries only, due to an affordable cost.
So, there are some more problems of using these products.
· Many developing countries can not afford the cost of biotechnology.
· The crop genetic improvements that are currently available are not suitable for developing countries.
· The question is who will assist developing countries, and what type of assistance is appropriate.
Population growth and food distribution will most likely remain the two most critical problems which mankind must face for many years to come. Biotechnology offers the potential to reduce uncertainty in the world’s future food supply, in the face of a growing population and the limited carrying capacity of the Earth.