Unit EightUnit Eight

CloningCloning

What is cloning?What is cloning?

• Cloning is the process of making a Cloning is the process of making a genetically identical organism genetically identical organism through nonsexual means.through nonsexual means.

• In genetic engineering, cloning In genetic engineering, cloning refers to the copying of DNA refers to the copying of DNA molecules. molecules.

Cloning MilestonesCloning Milestones• 19381938 Cloning is envisioned. Cloning is envisioned. Hans Spemann Hans Spemann nucleus nucleus 细胞核细胞核 • 19521952 First cloning experiment with frogs. First cloning experiment with frogs. Robert Briggs and T. J. King Robert Briggs and T. J. King pipette pipette （尤指用于化学实验的）移液管（尤指用于化学实验的）移液管 did not developdid not develop

• 19841984 First embryo cloning with sheep is First embryo cloning with sheep is reported.reported.

Steen WilladsenSteen Willadsen

• 19941994 First cloning of First cloning of more advanced more advanced embryo cells. embryo cells.

Neal FirstNeal First

• 19961996 Dolly the sheep. Dolly the sheep.

Dr. Ian Wilmut and his Dr. Ian Wilmut and his teamteam

• 19971997 Polly. Polly.

a team led by Drs. a team led by Drs. Ian Wilmut and Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell Keith Campbell (U.K.) (U.K.)

the first sheep with the first sheep with a human genea human gene

• 2000 2000 a baby bull from a bull that was a a baby bull from a bull that was a clone itself clone itself

Japanese scientistsJapanese scientists

mammal mammal 哺乳动物哺乳动物

• 2002 2002 the first cloned petthe first cloned pet

a team of scientists at Texas A&M a team of scientists at Texas A&M UniversityUniversity

China’s Breakthroughs in China’s Breakthroughs in CloningCloning• 1999 1999 an embryo of a giant panda an embryo of a giant panda a breakthrough that could save the a breakthrough that could save the

endangered animal endangered animal introduced cells of a dead female introduced cells of a dead female

panda into the egg cells of a panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbitJapanese white rabbit

• 20032003 human embryonic stem cells human embryonic stem cells the first time human embryonic stem the first time human embryonic stem

cells had been generated via cloningcells had been generated via cloning

Human cloningHuman cloning

•Human cloning is a very Human cloning is a very controversial issue and there are controversial issue and there are many advantages and many advantages and disadvantages.disadvantages.

Major Advantages of human Major Advantages of human CloningCloning• One advantage would One advantage would

be the issue of talents be the issue of talents and that some of them and that some of them seem to be influenced seem to be influenced genetically, such as genetically, such as musical ability. Cloning musical ability. Cloning using the DNA from an using the DNA from an adult who is musically adult who is musically talented could result in talented could result in a cloned child growing a cloned child growing up to be equally up to be equally talented.talented. (continued) (continued)

• In the case where a husband is sterile and In the case where a husband is sterile and can not produce a child sexually he could can not produce a child sexually he could contribute a cell from his body and through contribute a cell from his body and through this type of cloning the wife and husband this type of cloning the wife and husband could both contribute to a cloned child, could both contribute to a cloned child, where the wife would provide the so called where the wife would provide the so called factory for raising the baby while the factory for raising the baby while the husband would provide the genetic husband would provide the genetic information. This could be a viable option information. This could be a viable option instead of using sperm from another man. instead of using sperm from another man. A similar situation might be if two women A similar situation might be if two women would like to have a child together. They would like to have a child together. They could use this cloning technique instead of could use this cloning technique instead of going the way of artificial insemination.going the way of artificial insemination.

Major Disadvantages of Human Major Disadvantages of Human CloningCloning

• there is a high chance that the clone will there is a high chance that the clone will not be normal. It may have some not be normal. It may have some disorder; either starting at birth or the disorder; either starting at birth or the clone may get a disorder or disease clone may get a disorder or disease related to the cloning process later in life. related to the cloning process later in life.

• There is also the issue of the cells aging. There is also the issue of the cells aging. Cells are believed to have a set life span Cells are believed to have a set life span and that using an aged cell of, say an and that using an aged cell of, say an adult human would result in the cloned adult human would result in the cloned child starting off with cells already aged, child starting off with cells already aged, thus having an effect on that child’s life thus having an effect on that child’s life span. span.

• Another problem is that Another problem is that after the technique of after the technique of using a female egg and using a female egg and a female cell to make a a female cell to make a clone there would really clone there would really be no genetic need for be no genetic need for men.men.

• Another issue is Another issue is diversity; if cloning is diversity; if cloning is done large scale done large scale genetic diversity could genetic diversity could be depleted. Diversity be depleted. Diversity is really what the is really what the human race is all human race is all about, so this could be about, so this could be a disaster. a disaster.

• A huge case against human cloning is the A huge case against human cloning is the emotional effects on the clone, for example emotional effects on the clone, for example a cloned child would in effect be a twin of a cloned child would in effect be a twin of one of his parents which could lead to one of his parents which could lead to serious emotional difficulties. serious emotional difficulties.

• There is also the religious side of things. There is also the religious side of things. For example, whether or not removing the For example, whether or not removing the nucleus is murder or whether or not the nucleus is murder or whether or not the cloned human would have a soul. Some cloned human would have a soul. Some religious people believe that the soul enters religious people believe that the soul enters the body when a sperm fertilizes an egg, the body when a sperm fertilizes an egg, but since sperm is not used during the but since sperm is not used during the reproductive cloning process there may not reproductive cloning process there may not be a soul present, which gets into some be a soul present, which gets into some pretty deep controversy. pretty deep controversy.

Text AText A

A Clone Is BornA Clone Is Born

Text OrganizationText Organization

• Part OnePart One

(Paras 1-2)(Paras 1-2)

Dolly the sheep, Dolly the sheep, a clone, was a clone, was born.born.

• Part TwoPart Two

(Paras 3-6)(Paras 3-6)

Dolly’s birth has Dolly’s birth has made cloning a made cloning a reality and reality and human cloning a human cloning a possibility.possibility.

• Part ThreePart Three

(Paras 7-11)(Paras 7-11)

People have to face the ethical People have to face the ethical problems of human cloning.problems of human cloning.

This part can be further divided This part can be further divided into…into…

Section One (Paras 7-9): Human Section One (Paras 7-9): Human cloning has given rise to the question cloning has given rise to the question of what implications the technology of what implications the technology may have for mankind.may have for mankind.

Section Two (Paras 10-11): The Section Two (Paras 10-11): The making of the atomic bomb had a making of the atomic bomb had a tremendous impact on scientists.tremendous impact on scientists.

• Part FourPart Four

(Paras 12-16)(Paras 12-16)

Cloning technology could benefit Cloning technology could benefit people in more than one way.people in more than one way.

Cultural NotesCultural Notes

• NarcissusNarcissus

• PrometheusPrometheus

• Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer, (Julius) Robert(Julius) Robert

• HiroshimaHiroshima

• NagasakiNagasaki

Language PointsLanguage Points

• institute: a society or organization institute: a society or organization formed to do special work or for a formed to do special work or for a special purposespecial purpose 一般指学院，院校，研究所，一般指学院，院校，研究所，学会学会

• institution: a habit, custom etc. that has institution: a habit, custom etc. that has been in existence for a long timebeen in existence for a long time 惯例，惯例，制度，习俗；制度，习俗； an organization usually long-an organization usually long-established or well respectedestablished or well respected 社会机构社会机构

Language PointsLanguage Points

• give birth togive birth to: produce young; bring about: produce young; bring aboutThe cat gave birth to five kittens.The cat gave birth to five kittens.This issue gave birth to a dispute.This issue gave birth to a dispute.

• for all the world like sth. / sb. /as iffor all the world like sth. / sb. /as if: : very much or exactly like someone or very much or exactly like someone or something or as if…something or as if…

She carried on with her work for all She carried on with her work for all the world as if nothing had happened.the world as if nothing had happened.

• fusefuse: join sth. or become joined by means : join sth. or become joined by means of heatof heat

In her richest work she fuses comedy In her richest work she fuses comedy and tragedy.and tragedy.

• residence:residence: process of residing; place in process of residing; place in which one liveswhich one lives

Residence among the poor is Residence among the poor is suggested as a way of understanding their suggested as a way of understanding their problems.problems.

Downing Street is the British Prime Downing Street is the British Prime Minister’s official residence.Minister’s official residence.

• identical identical (to / with): exactly alike; the same(to / with): exactly alike; the sameOn Monday, the pupils wear identical school On Monday, the pupils wear identical school

uniforms.uniforms.

cp. identify & indentitycp. identify & indentityidentify (with): consider as identical or unitedidentify (with): consider as identical or united

We shouldn’t identify happiness with We shouldn’t identify happiness with wealth.wealth.identity: the set of behavioral or personal identity: the set of behavioral or personal characteristicscharacteristics

This check will be cashed on proof of This check will be cashed on proof of identity.identity.

Language PointsLanguage Points

• raise…as: raise…as: 把把……作为作为……提出提出 raise the issue as a topic for raise the issue as a topic for

discussiondiscussion

• dismiss…as: dismiss…as: 以以……（作为理由）驳回（作为理由）驳回 dismiss the question as irrelevantdismiss the question as irrelevant

• in principlein principle: as far as basic principles are : as far as basic principles are concerned; in general but not in detailconcerned; in general but not in detail

Though there is no reason in principle Though there is no reason in principle why women cannot be top leaders, they work why women cannot be top leaders, they work in reality under men more often than not.in reality under men more often than not.

They have agreed to the proposal in They have agreed to the proposal in principle but we still have to negotiate the principle but we still have to negotiate the terms.terms.

• offensiveoffensive: upsetting or annoying; : upsetting or annoying; disgusting or repulsivedisgusting or repulsive

Why did he make such offensive Why did he make such offensive remarks at the meeting?remarks at the meeting?

An offensive smell greeted my nose An offensive smell greeted my nose when I opened the door.when I opened the door.

cp. offend: cause displeasure; violate a cp. offend: cause displeasure; violate a rule or lawrule or law

Some music offends, rather than Some music offends, rather than pleases, the ear.pleases, the ear.

Language PointsLanguage Points

• plague: annoy sb., esp. by repeatedly plague: annoy sb., esp. by repeatedly asking questions or making demands asking questions or making demands 烦扰；烦扰； causing suffering or discomfort causing suffering or discomfort 折磨折磨

She plagued me with requests for She plagued me with requests for money.money.

His life was plagued by poverty His life was plagued by poverty and illness.and illness.

Language PointsLanguage Points

• divorce: [oft pass] to separate a person, divorce: [oft pass] to separate a person, an idea, a subject, etc. from sth.; to keep an idea, a subject, etc. from sth.; to keep two things apart two things apart 使分离；使脱离使分离；使脱离

divorce sb./sth. from sth.divorce sb./sth. from sth. They believed that Olympics should be They believed that Olympics should be

divorced from politics.divorced from politics. When he was depressed, he felt utterly When he was depressed, he felt utterly

divorced from reality.divorced from reality. Many people believe that we can’t Many people believe that we can’t

divorce science from ethical questions.divorce science from ethical questions.

• compromisecompromise: n. giving up of certain : n. giving up of certain demands by each side in a dispute, so that demands by each side in a dispute, so that an agreement may be reached which an agreement may be reached which satisfied both; v. settle a dispute by making satisfied both; v. settle a dispute by making compromise (on / over)compromise (on / over)

The NATO countries have finally The NATO countries have finally reached a compromise over whether the US-reached a compromise over whether the US-led multinational troops are justified in led multinational troops are justified in launching attacks against Iraq.launching attacks against Iraq.

I want to go Greece, and my wife wants I want to go Greece, and my wife wants to go to Spain, so we compromise on Italy.to go to Spain, so we compromise on Italy.

• let looselet loose: release: releaseWhen we escape, shall we let loose When we escape, shall we let loose

other prisoners?other prisoners?Just close your eyes and let loose Just close your eyes and let loose

your imagination.your imagination.

• deadlydeadly: causing or likely to cause death: causing or likely to cause deathdeadly weaponsdeadly weapons

cp. deathly: like or suggesting deathcp. deathly: like or suggesting deathThe whole village was shrouded in The whole village was shrouded in

deathly silence.deathly silence.

Language PointsLanguage Points

• chilling: frightening chilling: frightening 令人毛骨悚然的；令人毛骨悚然的； causing causing to feel cold to feel cold 使感到寒冷使感到寒冷

the chilling sound of wolves howlingthe chilling sound of wolves howling

He told me a chilling ghost story.He told me a chilling ghost story.

The prospect of the world economy is The prospect of the world economy is chilling, considering the current financial chilling, considering the current financial meltdown.meltdown.

Opening the door, I felt a chilling shiver.Opening the door, I felt a chilling shiver.

• lash out atlash out at: make a sudden violent attack on : make a sudden violent attack on with blows or wordswith blows or words

He lashed out at the ruling party’s foreign He lashed out at the ruling party’s foreign policies.policies.

• start outstart out: intend when starting; begin (a journey): intend when starting; begin (a journey)They started out to want a house, but They started out to want a house, but

eventually bought a flat.eventually bought a flat.With the help of the Spanish king, he With the help of the Spanish king, he

started out his journey across the Atlantic Ocean.started out his journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Language PointsLanguage Points

• merge: cause two things to come merge: cause two things to come together and combine together and combine 合并；融合合并；融合

merge A with B / merge A and B merge A with B / merge A and B together/intotogether/into

In this great melting pot cultures In this great melting pot cultures are merged and traditions lost.are merged and traditions lost.

Fudan University was merged with Fudan University was merged with Shanghai Medical University.Shanghai Medical University.