| >
44 基因工程制造的斯达林科玉米对身体没有危害
DATE=7-10-01
TITLE=AGRICULTURE REPORT - StarLink Corn Not Linked to Allergies
BYLINE=George Grow
（Start at 59" ）This is Bill White with the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT.
Recently, American government scientists completed an (1) investigation of a product called StarLink corn. StarLink is the only (2) genetically-engineered crop grown in the United States that is not approved for human use.
The scientists said they found no (3) evidence that StarLink corn had made anyone sick. Reports said the (4) announcement could help reduce public concern that the corn represents a threat to human health.
A company called Aventis Crop Science developed StarLink corn. Scientists developed the corn by a process of (5) genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is the technology of changing the genes of living things. The changed gene (6) directs the plant or other (7) organism to do things it normally does not do.
StarLink is among several kinds of genetically-engineered corn designed to (8) resist insects. Three years ago, the (9) Environmental Protection Agency approved StarLink corn as food for animals. However, E-P-A officials expressed concern that a (10) protein in StarLink might cause (11) allergic (12) reactions in people.
Groups (13) opposed to genetic engineering have been testing food products for StarLink. Last year, tests showed it was present in some corn products for people. The makers of the corn products ordered their return. About fifty people told the Food and Drug (14) Administration they had allergic reactions after eating products they thought contained the corn. In the new study, officials from the Centers for Disease Control questioned some of the people who reported allergic reactions.
Scientists from the (15) C-D-C and the (16) F-D-A tested the blood of seventeen of the people. The scientists tested the blood for substances called (17) antibodies. The (18) presence of antibodies would show a reaction to the protein in the corn that was considered the possible (19) allergen. No such antibodies were found.
The C-D-C said the tests did not find any evidence that extreme (20) sensitivity to the protein caused an allergic reaction. An independent laboratory confirmed the findings.
(21) Critics of genetic engineering say the investigation was too limited to show that the corn is safe. But a group that represents the (22) biotechnology industry praised the findings.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by George Grow. And this is Bill White.
(1) investigation [ in7vesti5^eiFEn ] n.调查, 研究
(2) genetically-engineered adj.基因工程的
(3) evidence [ 5evidEns ] n.明显, 显著, 明白, 迹象, 根据
(4) announcement [ E5naunsmEnt ] n.宣告, 发表, 一项公告, 一项私人告示
(5) genetic engineering n.基因工程
(6) direct [ di5rekt] adj.径直的, 直接的adv.直接地 vt.指引, 指示, 指挥, 命令, 导演 vi.指导, 指挥
(7) organism [ 5C:^EnizEm ] n.生物体, 有机体
(8) resist [ ri5zist ] vt.抵抗, 反抗, 抗, 忍得住
(9) Environmental Protection Agency 环境保护局
(10) protein [ 5prEuti:n ] n.[生化]蛋白质 adj.蛋白质的
(11) allergic [ E5lE:dVik ] adj.[医]过敏的, 患过敏症的
(12) reaction [ ri(:)5AkFEn ] n.反应
(13) opposed [ E5pEuzd ] adj.反对的, 敌对的
(14) administration [ Edminis5treiFEn ] n.管理, 经营, 行政部门
(15) CDC=Central Digital Computer 中央数字计算机
(16) FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration (美国)食品及药物管理局
(17) antibody [ 5Anti7bCdi ] n.抗体
(18) presence [ 5prezns ] n.存在
(19) allergen [`AlEdVEn] n.[医]变态反应原, 过敏原
(20) sensitivity [ 5sensi5tiviti ] n.敏感, 灵敏(度), 灵敏性
(21) critic [ 5kritik ] n.批评家, 评论家, 吹毛求疵者
(22) biotechnology [ 7baiEutek5nClEdVi ] n.生物工艺学
|