阅读理解
Chinese scientists recently have
produced two monkeys with the same gene, Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, using the
same technique that gave us Dolly the sheep. These monkeys are not actually the
first primates(灵长类)to be cloned. Another one named Tetra was produced in the
late 1990s by embryo(胚胎)splitting,
the division of an early-stage embryo into two or four separate cells to make
clones. By contrast, they were each made by replacing an egg cell nucleus(原子核)with DNA from a differentiated body
cell. This Dolly method, known as somatic cell nuclear transfer(SCNT), can
create more clones and allows researchers greater control over the edits they
make to the DNA.
Success came from adopting several new
techniques. These included a new type of microscopy to better view the cells
during handling or using several materials that encourage cell reprogramming,
which hadn't been tried before on primates. Still, the research process proved
difficult, and many attempts by the team failed. Just two healthy baby monkeys
born from more than 60 tested mothers. This leads to many researchers' pouring
water on the idea that the team's results bring scientists closer to
cloning humans. They thought this work is not a stepping stone to establishing
methods for obtaining live born human clones. Instead, this clearly remains a
very foolish thing to attempt, it would be far too inefficient, far too unsafe,
and it is also pointless.
But the scientists involved emphasize
that this is not their goal. There is now no barrier for cloning primate
species, thus cloning humans is closer to reality. However, their research
purpose is entirely for producing non-human primate models for human diseases;
they absolutely have no intention, and society will not permit this work to be
extended to humans. Despite limitations, they treat this breakthrough a novel
model system for scientists studying human biology and disease.
(1)
What do we know about the technology called SCNT?
A . It created the first two primates.
B . It may contribute to editing the DNA.
C . It can divide an early-stage embryo into several cells.
D . It produced two cloned monkeys with different genes.
(2)
What does the author mean by “pouring water on the idea” in paragraph 2?
A . Keeping a hot topic of it.
B . Attaching no importance to it.
C . Having a low opinion of it.
D . Adding supportive evidence to it.
(3)
What is the scientists' purpose to clone these monkeys?
A . To prepare for their research on human cloning.
B . To serve as a stepping stone to their reputation.
C . To help with the study of human diseases.
D . To raise money for holding an exhibition of novels.
(4)
What can we infer from the passage?
A . Cloning humans is already on its way.
B . New techniques seem to be pointless.
C . Society won't agree to clone another monkey.
D . The success rate of cloning a monkey was not high.
答案: B
C
C
D