VOA常速英语2008年-Using DNA to Unravel Health Secrets

By Suzanne Chislett
London
07 March 2008
 

Fifty years ago scientists were still working hard at cracking the human genetic¹ code - now researchers are able to break down an individuals DNA² in just a matter of hours. The advance not only allows doctors to find the cause of many illnesses and diseases but also to predict what patients could be susceptible³ to in the future. In Britain it is an area of medical testing that is becoming more and more popular as Suzanne Chislett explains from London.

Our genes⁴ make us who we are - Tall, short, brunettes or red-heads. They are the building blocks that decide our physical shape and also have a major impact on our health.

Advances in science now mean it is possible to break down DNA and examine its genetic sequence for possible defects, which could lead to illnesses and diseases such as diabetes⁵, cardiovascular problems and muscular dystrophy.

"The technology for testing DNA has come on in leaps and bounds. It's much, much quicker and much, much easier now to read large amounts of DNA," says Doctor Fred Kavalier, a geneticist at Guy's Hospital in London.

Gathering⁶ information direct from our genes is not only useful to help doctors diagnose illnesses; it has also spawned⁷ a growing business in Britain.

People are increasingly turning to companies like Genetic Health here on London's famous Harley Street to get a personal breakdown⁸ of their genetic sequence and an assessment⁹ of what medical problems they could develop.

A simple swab test provides all the DNA needed for analysis.

"We'll provide them with a 50 page report that not only gives them the current clinical evidence that is out there at the moment but shows them what data we've drawn¹⁰ on to produce their risk but gives them an indication of how they can reduce their risk," says Brian Whitley, who is Managing Director of Genetic Health.

While some companies offer an impersonal¹¹ service, sending out swab kits¹² and then mailing clients back the analysis, others like to meet their potential clients.

"We put it in context with the whole other medical history of the individual but we won't leave the individual just hanging with their genetic data. They can come back and ask more questions, they're encouraged to go and do their own research and we can provide other support structures for them, such as exercise concepts, nutrition information - depending on where their level of interest is," Whitley said.

But there are wider concerns within Britain's scientific community that while the study of our genes is progressing apace - there are still too many unknowns to make any analysis as useful as it may appear.

As well as working at London's Guy's Hospital, Dr. Fred Kavalier is spokesperson for the British Society for Human Genetics. He says, "We don't know enough about all the genes that are involved in these diseases. We know about some of the genes but there are probably thousands of genes that are involved so it's really like looking at a couple of cards in a pack of cards and trying to say what the whole deck looks like."

Doctor Kavalier is concerned that people may take unnecessary risks with their health if told their risk of disease is low, or worry without cause if told they are in danger of developing a serious illness.

Current genetic profile tests cost between $1,000 and $2,000 U.S.

While some say that is a high fee to pay for information that, at the end of the day, can not change a person's medical fate, but others say knowing what could affect you later in life is priceless.

1 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

2 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

3 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

4 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

5 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

6 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

7 spawned   

（鱼、蛙等）大量产（卵）( spawn的过去式和过去分词 )； 大量生产

参考例句：

• The band's album spawned a string of hit singles. 这支乐队的专辑繁衍出一连串走红的单曲唱片。
• The computer industry has spawned a lot of new companies. 由于电脑工业的发展，许多新公司纷纷成立。

8 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

9 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

10 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

11 impersonal   

adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的

参考例句：

• Even his children found him strangely distant and impersonal.他的孩子们也认为他跟其他人很疏远，没有人情味。
• His manner seemed rather stiff and impersonal.他的态度似乎很生硬冷淡。

12 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。