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It is a fact that the what-if hypothesis is one of the most prolific argumentative tools since Socratic times. It helps the speaker's line of thought to follow paths of the imagination and, in so doing, it evinces Man as a rational being.
Now,
I know what you're thinking: this goes too far back in time, it can't be one of
those up-to-the-minute topics that thicken the air in the media. Well, in fact I should
say it steps into the near future, and any exaggeration is far from getting
even close to extended metaphor.
Reading skills
Read the newspaper article below and match the headings a –
l with paragraphs 1-12.
a. Bone Growth
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c. Understanding
Disease
d. Diabetes
e. Pancreas
f. Arthritis
g. Drugs
h. Strokes
i. Revolution
j. Healing
Wounds
k. Lung Cancer
l. Heart attack
Prevention
BRAVE NEW WORLD OF GENETIC ENGINEERING BRINGS HOPE OF HEALTH AND
LONGEVITY FOR TOMORROW’S GENERATION
By Danae Brook
[Adapted
from Distinction: English
for Advanced Learners by Mark
Foley & Diane Hall]
1.
...
Proteins
like epidural growth factors, made by biotechnology, will increase the speed at
which bums, wounds and ulcers can heal. The proteins are already being marketed
in Japan.
2.
...
Pancreatic
cancer is likely to be treated with magic bullets in ten years. These are
antibodies which recognise the cancer cells and carry radioactive drugs to them
but not to the surrounding cells.
3.
...
Interferon, undergoing trials as a rheumatoid arthritis treatment,
appears to reduce inflammation and pain. Other drugs are being tested.
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Insulin-like factor (IGF), an ingredient which makes bones start to grow
again, will be available in 20 years to revolutionise bone disease treatment.
It is currently being tested on animals.
5.
...
TPA
is one of the success stories of biotechnology. It quickly dissolves blood
clots and stops heart attacks. Already saving lives, it does not stay in the
body long, but studies suggest there could be longer-lasting versions.
6.
...
Atrial
natriuretic peptide, a newly discovered hormone, may help reduce risk of
strokes. It may also be effective in other blood-related disorders.
7.
...
All
cancers may be helped by magic bullets - antibodies which carry drugs to cancer
cells - and by proteins which stimulate growth of white cells. It is hoped that
lung cancer may be stopped by chemically engineered drugs within 20 years.
8.
...
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9.
...
Our
babies may live to be more than 100. Perhaps 120. That is the gift of
technology to the human race. Advances in medical science, in a field called
biotechnology, mean super-babies may soon be a reality. Genes can actually be
identified in the womb. Tomorrow we may alter them, although the prospect is so
daunting the Government has set up a special steering committee to advise on
‘genetic therapy’. Genetic engineering is changing life. For people under 50
the implications are extraordinary.
10. ...
Scientists
can actually take human strands of DNA (the chemical that stores information
and controls all growth in our bodies) and correct any flaws they contain.
Within 50 - 100 years it may be common practice. Patients are transformed by
the artful science of genetic engineering, with which the scientist can ‘clone’
or copy the DNA strands, and put them back in the body, new, improved, and
healthy.
'This
could reverse the effect of virtually every disease the human body suffers,’
according to Dr Brian Richards, research scientist with the pharmaceutical
company, British Bio-Technology. It will revolutionise the future.
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11. ...
Developing
drugs which copy nature by genetic engineering is now the strongest weapon in
science’s armoury against killer diseases says Professor Sir David Weatherall,
who is a specialist in genetic diseases and adviser to the Government on the
ethics of what is now called genetic therapy, the possibility of one human
being physically altering another.
‘Genetic
therapy means correcting inherited defects in the womb, to make up for the
absence of normal genes. We are not actually doing this yet... but we will be.’
The
research and development on the drugs used in genetic engineering has been in
existence for fifteen years. New drugs and vaccines are being created every day
to beat hitherto fatal illnesses. There are around 50 genetically engineered
drugs already on the market, treating diseases from open wounds and the common
cold to leukaemia.
12. ...
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‘We can do it in theory;
but it may be many years before we do actually do it,’ cautions
Dr June Grindley of British Bio-technology.
Several months ago, I read 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley. It is about developments in reproductive technology and sleep-learning for changing society. I recommend it.
ReplyDeleteMari Carmen
Wonderful! This means that I can already think of the dialogue this evening's post will lead to: hopefully we're not the only ones.
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