Unit 8 Legal and Moral Implications of Cloning
Part I Background information
How were you born?
In traditional reproduction, a child gets half its genes from its mother (in her egg) and half from its father (in his sperm).
Cloning is the process of making a genetically identical organism through nonsexual means. It has been used for many years to produce plants (even growing a plant from a cutting is a type of cloning). Animal cloning has been the subject of scientific experiments for years, but garnered little attention until the birth of the first cloned mammal in 1997, a sheep named Dolly. Since Dolly, several scientists have cloned other animals, including cows and mice. The recent success in cloning animals has sparked fierce debates among scientists, politicians and the general public about the use and morality of cloning plants, animals and possibly humans.
HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING
Human genetic engineering means changing the genes in a living human cell. Suppose you had a lung disease caused by defective genes in your lung cells. If there was a way to fix those genes, you might be cured.
Scientists change the genes in living cells by putting the desired "new" gene into a little virus-like organism which is allowed to get into your cells and which inserts the new gene into the cell along with the "old" genes:
In this article, we will examine how cloning works and look at possible uses of this technology.
Part II Text Structure Analysis
The essay focuses on one central theme: the legal and moral implications of cloning. One characteristic writing technique that runs throughout the reading passage is listing. The essay lists a number of questions about the legal and moral implications that arise from cloning. The whole essay can be divided into 4 parts:
1. The first part is Paragraph 1. It deals with the background situation of the passage. With the success of cloning an adult mammal, a world with human clones was suddenly within reach. It was just like science fiction coming to life.
2. The second part is made up of 2 paragraphs, Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3. The two paragraphs are about the strong and immediate responses to the background situation mentioned in the first paragraph. Governments hurried to draft guidelines for an unknown future and President Clinton ordered a national commission to study the relative issues. Some countries began examining the moral implications of cloning other species. At the same time cloning has generated a long list of difficult puzzles for scientists, politicians, and philosophers just like the Theory of Relativity, the splitting of the atom, and the first space flight.
3. The third part is the major part of the essay, consisting of 15 paragraphs, from Paragraph 4 to Paragraph 18. In this part the author lists as many as 6 puzzles or questions on the issue of cloning. The 6 puzzles are: 1) Why would anyone want to clone a human being in the first place? 2) Will it be possible to clone the dead? 3) Would a cloned human be identical to the original? 4) What if parents decided to clone a child in order to harvest organs? 5) How would a human clone refer to the donor of its DNA? 6) What are the other implications of cloning for society? All the 6 questions are about the legal and moral implications of cloning. We can find that the questions are provided with complete or partial answers from the up-to-date knowledge.
3. The fourth part is Paragraph 19, which is a reiteration that the list of questions could go on and people are just beginning to wonder about the future of the world after cloning.
4. GENES
Genes are strings of chemicals that help create the proteins that make up your body. Genes are found in long coiled chains called chromosomes. They are located in the nuclei of the cells in your body:
Main idea:
When a world with human clones was suddenly within reach, people’s reactions to it were strong and varied. They puzzled over a number of questions about the legal and moral implications that had arisen from cloning.
Part III New words & Expression
1. implication
1) [C] sth. that is suggested or sth. that is not openly stated 含义，暗示
I know that the company is cutting back its spending but I'm not sure what the implications are for our department.
2) [U] involving or being involved, esp. in a crime 牵连，卷入
His implication in the crime was obvious to all.
The trial resulted in the implication of several major figures in the organization.
2. draft
1) vt. make a preliminary version of (a document) 起草，草拟
draft a constitution 起草宪法
draft a telegram 草拟一份电报稿
She's busy drafting her speech for next week's conference.
2) vt. engage someone to enter the army 征募，征召
He was drafted by the army and served for 4 years. 他被征召入伍，在部队里服役了4年。
3) n. a preliminary written version of sth. 草稿，草案，草图
By the end of the year Jim had produced a first draft of his new novel.
I've made a first draft of my speech for Monday's meeting.
4) n. a written order for money to be paid by a bank, esp. from one bank to another 汇票
I arranged for some money to be sent from London to Madrid by banker's draft.
A bank cannot refuse to cash a banker's draft, whereas it can refuse to cash a cheque.
3. prohibit
1) forbid, esp. by law or rule; prevent, make impossible 禁止；阻止，使不可能
Parking is strictly prohibited between these gates. 在这些大门之间严禁停车。
We are prohibited from drinking alcohol during working hours. 工作时间内禁止我们喝酒。
4. split
1) vt (cause sth. to) break into two or more parts, esp. from end to end
（使）裂开，（使）破裂
This soft wood splits easily. 这种软木容易裂开。
2) vt (cause sb. to) separate or divide into groups or parties
（使）分裂
The teacher split the children into three groups. 老师把孩子们分成三组。
The judges split on the decision, 2 for and 2 against.
法官们对这一判决有分歧，两人赞成，两人反对。
3) [C] splitting; division or separation resulting from splitting 裂缝，分裂
Rain was getting in through a split in the wall. 雨水从墙上的裂缝中渗进来。
Argument over policy led to a split in the party. 政策上的争论导致了该党的分裂。
5. mount
1) vi. increase in amount or degree 增加，上升
Sales were mounting after prices were lowered. 价格降低后，销售量就上去了。
Tension mounted as we waited for the decision. 我们等待着决定时，气氛越来越紧张。
2) vt.go up or onto 登上
mount the stairs 上楼梯
She mounted her horse and rode off. 她骑马而去。
He mounted the platform and began to speak. 他走上讲台开始讲话。
3) vt. prepare and produce; organize 准备并进行；组织，发动
mount an exhibition 筹备展览
The opposition is getting ready to mount a powerful attack on the government. 反对派正准备对政府发动一次有力的进攻。
4) n. a lightweight horse, etc. kept for riding only 坐骑
The old donkey is an excellent mount for a child. 这头老驴是孩子的好坐骑。
5) n. sth. forming a back that is added for strengthening
I'm looking for something I can use as a mount for this picture. 我在找裱这幅画的纸。
6．transplant (review: transform, transition, transfer, transmit, transport)
1). n. an organ or plant moved from one person or one place to another
The transplant was accepted by the body. 移植器官被身体接受了。
2) n. the act or process of transplanting 移植
a heart transplant 心脏移植 / a kidney transplant 肾脏移植 a liver transplant operation 肝脏移植手术
3) v. move (a plant) from one place and plant it in another 移种
Tea was transplanted from China to India and Sri Lanka.
4) v. move (an organ) from one part of the body to another or from one person or animal to another 移植
His face was badly burned and he had to have skin transplanted.
5) v. move from one place and settle or establish elsewhere 移居
Adults are not flexible, so they do not transplant comfortably to another place.
成年人适应性差，所以移居别处会感到不舒服。
The entire business — factories, offices and warehouse(仓库) — was transplanted to Texas.
7. resemble:
1) vt. look or be alike; be similar, esp. in appearance to (sb./ sth.)
He was not beautiful; he did not resemble his mother.
We have produced a cloth made of pineapple fibre, closely resembling cotton but stronger.
8. deliberate: a. (注意读音)
1) a. planned
The group decided to commit several acts of deliberate violence.
这伙人打算制造几起蓄意暴力事件。
The car crash wasn't an accident; it was a deliberate attempt to kill him. 蓄意谋害他。
2) moving, acting or thinking slowly and usu. carefully
We made a deliberate decision to live apart for a while.
Her way of talking is slow and deliberate.
3）v. think or talk seriously and carefully about 仔细斟酌
The Senate has been deliberating the question for three days. 一直在仔细斟酌这个问题。
They met to deliberate on possible solutions to the problem. 开会仔细研讨
9．debate:
1）v. discuss seriously on a subject with many people taking part
The authorities debated whether to build a new car park. 当局就是否要建一个新的停车场展开辩论。
2）n. serious discussion of a subject in which many people take part
a debate in Parliament on educational reform 国会就教育改革进行的辩论
Education is the current focus of public debate. 教育是当今公众议论的焦点。
10. intact:
a. complete and in the original state
The church was destroyed in the bombing but the statue survived intact.
It's difficult to emerge from such a scandal with your reputation still intact.
11. breed:
1) vi. (of animals) produce young
Thousands of waterfowl breed round the lake. 成千上万的水鸟在湖边繁衍后代。
2) vt. keep (animals or plants) for the purpose of producing young animals or plants
They've bred a new variety of rose with larger flowers. 他们栽培了能开大花朵的新品种玫瑰。
Only the Chinese have successfully bred pandas and raised their babies in captivity.
3) n. a particular type of animal or plant
They also cultivate fine breeds of silkworms. 他们也培育出了桑蚕的良种。
1. work for
1) apply to 适用于
Some of the results scientists have obtained from experiments on animals may work for humans as well. 科学家在动物身上做实验取得的结果有些也适用于人。
These rules work for the teachers, too. 这些规则也适用于老师。
2) 2) make efforts to achieve sth. 为...... 工作
Leaders of many nations are still working for peace. 许多国家的领导还在为和平而努力。
2. within (one's) reach:
1) inside the distance that a hand, etc. can touch
He's grown so much that now even the top shelf is within (his) reach.
他长得真快，现在连最高的一层架子都能够着了。
2) inside the distance that can be (easily) travelled
I see that you live within reach of Seattle. 我知道你住得离西雅图很近。
Compare:
beyond/out of (one's) reach: the opposite of “within (one's) reach”
An expensive trip like that would be completely beyond / out of (my) reach. 像这样费用高昂的旅行，我是负担不起的。
Promotion seemed out of reach for me, even though I had been in the company for over twelve years. 尽管我在这家公司工作12年多了，看来还是没有提升的机会。
be identical to/ with: be exactly the same as
The tests are identical to those carried out last year.
His behavior is identical to betraying us. 他的行为等于把我们出卖了。
3. come to life: be alive or vivid
When I mentioned our plans for a trip abroad, the kids came to life at once.
我一提起到国外旅游的打算，孩子们顿时显得兴致勃勃。
The dull play really came to life through the performance of these young people.
4. in the wake of: coming after or following
Airport security was extra tight in the wake of yesterday's bomb attacks.
Human societies have to suffer one disaster after another that follows in the wake of the ecological damage.
5. in the first place: at first; at the beginning
They very quickly forgot that I never wanted Feldman involved in the first place. 他们很快就忘记了，我一开始就不希望费尔德曼卷进来。
It is unwise to love at first sight. In the first place you know little about each other and in the second it is hard for such love to last long.
Compare:
in the first place …, in the second (place) …: as the first point (as in the development of an argument)…, as the second point…
It was unwise to suggest that others should store tinned food. In the first place few people would have room to store much and in the second tinned food should be treated with great care. fall into
Things of a kind come together; people of a mind fall into a group.
7. break apart (relative phrases: break away from, break in, break out, break down, break down, break into, break through, break up)
break in pieces without force being used; come apart
Tribes grow and become powerful under brave and successful leaders, and then shrink or break apart when their chieftain is eventually defeated or killed. 部落在勇敢有作为的领导人的带领下会发展壮大, 而当酋长最终被击败或杀死时, 部落就会萎缩乃至土崩瓦解。
Compare:
break off: (cause to) come apart from sth.
The wing of the plane broke off and the plane crashed. 飞机的一个机翼脱落，飞机坠毁了。
Mary broke off some of the chocolate to give to the children. 玛丽掰下几块巧克力给孩子们。
8. identical to/ with: be exactly the same as
The tests are identical to those carried out last year. 这些考试和去年的考试相同。
His indulgence in online love affairs is identical to neglecting his studies.
8. what if
What would happen if What if the car breaks down? 如果汽车坏了怎么办？
Don’t get involved in love games too early. What if you suffer from failure in love?
9. with …in mind
Failure is the mother of success. With this in mind, he began to take a new look at the failure in this experiment.
10. get around / round:
overcome; avoid or find a satisfactory way of dealing with
The administration got around this problem by introducing a new law.
If we can get round these difficulties, we'll be able to discuss the really important points.
She is trying to get round this tricky problem by changing the subject.
11. refer to:
1) use a particular word, expression, or name to mention or describe sb. / sth.
The scientists referred to the discovery as the most exciting new development in this field.
Please note in this sense the phrase is often followed by "as".
2) talk about a particular subject or person
In her autobiography she often refers to her unhappy schooldays.