The three-parent baby

6 Minute English

语言学习

2015-04-02

6 分钟
PDF

单集文稿 ...

  • This is a download from BBC Learning English.

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  • Hello, welcome to 6 Minute English.

  • I'm Neil and with me in the studio today is Harry.

  • Hello, we all have two biological parents.

  • But in the future, if someone from the UK tells you they have three parents,

  • it might be true.

  • That's right.

  • This is because the UK has become the first country to approve laws,

  • allowing the creation of babies with DNA from three people.

  • DNA is the chemical structure present in the centre of a cell which defines somebody's characteristics.

  • This is to fight a particular disease.

  • Yes, some parts of the DNA, called genes, are faulty.

  • It means they don't work properly and this might cause problems later on.

  • A new technique will allow some of these genes to be replaced by healthy ones from a third person.

  • This practice is controversial.

  • People argue about it.

  • They fear we're going to mess with nature and end up with a Frankenstein's monster.

  • Wow, that would be frightening.

  • Let's hope it doesn't happen.