Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verb Groups › Passive › Passive In Context
These are excerpts from the original article.
"Mapping the human genome has been compared with putting a man on the moon. However, I believe it is more than that," said Dr. Michael Dexter, the director of the Wellcome Trust, which funded the British part of the Human Genome Project.
The medical benefits of genome science, scientists agree, must be used to benefit all people, not only a privileged few. Individual privacy must be protected as science moves forward with the project, and the information must not be used to discriminate against any group or person.
"This is the most important, most wondrous map ever produced by humankind," Clinton said in Washington. "Humankind is on the verge of gaining immense new power to heal. Genome science will revolutionize the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of most, if not all, human diseases."
All the researchers involved praised the high level of international cooperation that enabled them to reach this stage, and they pledged to keep that momentum going.
Mapping the chemical sequences for human DNA -- the chemical "letters" that make up the recipe of human life -- is a breakthrough that is expected to revolutionize the practice of medicine by paving the way for new drugs and medical therapies.
Ninety-nine percent of the human genome has
been sequenced and 3.21 billion letters of genetic code have
been assembled by Celera. In the final step, each gene and its function must
be identified. Scientists will look for the genetic variations
in people — variations that could be the cause of countless diseases.
That step is expected to take several years to complete. However, scientists said doctors one day would be able to study a person's genetic profile, determine his susceptibility to various diseases, and design a course of treatment to prevent illness.
Despite the potential for medical advancements, many Americans are divided over the implications of the genome project.
analysis (N) – take apart and examine elements
benefit (N) – something that is advantageous or good; an advantage
gene therapy – is the use of DNA as a pharmaceutical agent to treat disease
benefits – aspects (things) that are favorable, good, advantageous
diagnosis (N) – the process of determining by examination the nature and circumstances of a diseased condition; finding the cause of illness or difficulty
genome (N) – full set of chromosomes; all the genes in one cell of a living thing
immense (Adj) – vast; huge; very great
implication (N) – a possible future effect or result of an action,
map (V) – chart, diagram, draw a model of
the human genome – the complete set of human genetic information, stored as DNA sequences within the 23 chromosome pairs of the cell nucleus
milestone (expression) – a major mark of progress
molecular biology – the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity
momentum (N) – force or speed of movement
pave (V) – prepare for, facilitate, make a roadway for something
potential (N) – future possibility; what something could be in the future
prevention (N) – the act of stopping or blocking something from happening
private sector – nongovernmental funded research
privileges (N) – a benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most
sequence (N) – the following of one thing after another; succession
susceptibility (N) – likely to suffer from a particular illness or be affected by a particular problem
treatment (N) – managing the application of medicine or surgery
verge (N) – the edge, the margin (the beginning of something)
wondrous (Adj) – wonderful, remarkable