21. [Brave] New World, [Same] Old Patterns

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Two yellowish strands wrapped around each other. The image of the DNA molecule (see ‘Lost for Words, Spoilt for Choice’) brought back a precious memory: the double helix staircase in the Castle of Chambord (Val de Loire) – most likely designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Déjà vu. The puzzlement you feel while realizing that, unless you go down the stairs again, you will never meet the ones who went up the other stairs. The dizziness overwhelming you while looking down into the stairwell’s vanishing point.

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And it’s all here, around us, from the bottom of the oceans to the nebulae in outer space.

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Would mankind evolve more quickly if someone were able to find The Pattern – that which is reproduced in so many natural phenomena from the atom to the Cosmos?  

But even if we cannot, we may hope that others – our children, or, for that matter, their children – will finally find it.

a model of da Vinci's staircase

But the time hasn’t come yet to leave the solid ground of scientific discourse. Writing one yourselves is always the best practice one can think of, so here’s the basis for writing an expository essay:

Being familiar with the conventions of essay writing is far from being sufficient in order to readily write it; first, it is only after a number of trials that the writer begins to feel the independence of his or her own creation, namely, the way the ideas follow each other in a logical succession; second, only by acquiring mobility in using synonymous words, phrases, and structures can the author be satisfied with the final version. So let’s take for granted that handling a fair amount of linguistic resources may be seen a potential skill in view of writing an essay (the first good one is the toughest to produce) and, while coming closer to reality, let’s revise the basic features, or key points, of essays.

·        Layout

Introductory paragraph which introduces the topic (in this case, Genetic Engineering);

Main body (a number of paragraphs containing the main points).

Concluding paragraph summarising the points you have made.

·        Preparation

Work out your ideas and write out an outline or plan in note form before you begin the essay.

·        Style

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Use formal vocabulary - avoid colloquialisms and slang. Avoid contractions and exclamations.

Use ‘objective language’ whenever possible – use passive forms, avoid extreme adjectives.

Do not use the personal pronoun ‘I’ unless the title specifically asks for your personal opinion/experience.

Always back up your points with reasons and examples.

Here is a model answer; there’s something wrong with it, though: some of the words are missing, and you must provide them yourself!

[Adapted from Distinction: English for Advanced Learners – Teacher’s book, by Mark Foley & Diane Hall]

In (1)… last few decades a new branch of Science, genetic engineering, has opened up new possibilities for medicine and health. These new possibilities are the result of biotechnology, (2)… allows scientists to interfere with and alter the biological processes of life itself. In genetic engineering, scientists can take strands of human DNA and copy and improve (3)… before putting them back in the body. Doctors are hoping (4)… this will lead to the ability to correct flaws and defects in the unborn child, a process known (5)… genetic therapy.

Genetically engineered drugs are now becoming available and can be used to combat many serious diseases. One of the (6)… exciting of these is an antibody which can be used (7)… fight cancer. Known as ‘magic bullets’, these substances will be able to carry radioactive drugs to the cancerous cells. Biotechnology (8)… also made it possible to use human insulin to treat diabetes, replacing the use of pigs as donors and thus reducing the risk of infection. (9)… example is IGF: within twenty years, doctors hope that this will be available to fight bone disease. One genetically engineered drug which is already (10)… trial is Interferon, which is being tested for use against arthritis.

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Scientists have also developed (11)… technique of using chemical proteins called enzymes to cut out the unwanted parts of the DNA. These can then be repaired and put (12)… into the body.

This opens up the possibility of identifying faulty genes (13)… unborn children and treating them (14)… they are still in the womb. The children would then be born free of all genetic defects (15)… as hereditary diseases, leading to a much healthier and longer life.

Of course, (16)… of these treatments can change our susceptibility to environmental factors such as diet and nutrition, and these (17)… continue to have a major effect on human health. (18)… is more, although biotechnology has succeeded in producing new and effective drugs, the possibility of interfering (19)… human genes is still the subject of ethical debate, and it may be many years before the techniques which are now theoretically possible become (20)… everyday reality.

Take a piece of paper and write down the missing words. Not until you finish should you

(1) the - (2) which – (3) them - (4) that - (5) as - (6) most - (7) to - (8) has - (9) Another - (10) on - (11) a - (12) back - (13) in - (14) while - (15) such - (16) none - (17) will - (18) What - (19) with - (20) an