节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-03-26
难易度:High
关键字:therapy, revolutionize, uncontrollable, alternative, molecular biologist,
defective
Hello, and welcome back.
Today we are taking a short look at gene therapy.
Gene therapy has offered hope to patients suffering from various kinds of
diseases.
How? Well, although research for it is still in its beginning stages, there have
been some success stories,
stories of people who have been healed of diseases when nothing else seemed to
work.
In the next section of our lesson, we will discuss one of these diseases and how
gene therapy is coming to the rescue.
So let's read it now.
(Music).
Gene Therapy.
This disease most often begins to destroy the brain when children are between 1
and 2, stopping them from walking and talking.
By inserting normal, healthy genetic material into a virus and then infecting
the patients, scientists seem to be able to cure the disease.
The children given the therapy are now in kindergarten and living normal lives.
Gene therapy has also been used to help older patients.
These people suffer from a disease that causes slow movement and uncontrollable
shaking because part of the brain dies.
Those treated with gene therapy showed a 23.1 percent improvement when tested
six months later.
Gene therapy appears to be a more positive alternative to surgery or medicine.
But more research is needed to assure its safety.
(Chinese).
And now let's get back to our teachers.
Thank you, Michelle.
Well, now I understand why gene therapy isn't just practiced all the time.
More research is needed to assure its safety.
Scientists want to make sure gene therapy is completely safe for those who
receive it.
Well, now let's take a look at the disease described here in this section.
We read this disease most often begins to destroy the brain when children are
between 1 and 2, stopping them from walking and talking.
Man, that is sad.
Oh, yes, it is.
What this means is that these children can't develop to the point of doing
simple things like walking and talking.
But we see a phrase there: this disease stops them from walking and talking.
Does something ever stop you from doing something?
Let's try to use this phrase in other ways.
OK. I stopped my friend from watching a movie.
I thought it was a bad movie and a waste of time and money, so I told him not to
watch it.
I stopped him from watching it.
Or the police stopped the singer's fan from running on stage during her
performance.
So the singer was stinging, and a fan wanted to run on stage, but the police
stopped her from doing that.
Well, right now it's time for us to stop for a moment and enjoy some time with
Steve and Ken in the Information Cloud.
Today's lesson mentions infants and their development both physically and
verbally.
So let's talk about this a little more, how a baby might learn a language.
OK. One component of this very broad topic is something we call baby talk.
You know, that senseless and silly language we mature adults use when we talk to
babies?
Baby talk uses shorter phrases, simplier grammar and made-up words.
We might even slow down our speech and change the pitch of our voice.
I bet many of you use baby talk and don't even know it.
Like when you talk to your pet:
Who's a good boy? OK.
All right. There is an ongoing debate as to whether baby talk actually helps an
infant's language skills or not.
Many researchers and child psychologists say yes, baby talk plays a vital role
in a child's language development.
While others say no, it's not essential.
After all, there are some cultures, like in Western Samoa, that don't ever use
baby talk, but their children grow up speaking just fine.
So the verdict is out still on baby talk.
However, if you're serious about developing your toddler's language ability and
English ability, get a book and read to them.
(Chinese).
Thanks, guys.
Well, we read on here:
By inserting normal, healthy genetic material into a virus and then infecting
the patients, the disease seems to be cured.
OK, so it seems to be cured.
In the last paragraph of our lesson, we see a similar phrase: gene therapy
appears to be a positive alternative.
These words can be used in the same way.
So gene therapy appears to be working.
Well, that sounds like wonderful news.
And there are so many things we're learning about gene therapy that I think we
should take time to watch a review skit.
And then we'll join Linda for the Editor's Summary.
So, professor, what are you working on today?
Oh, I'm doing gene research.
Genes are very important.
Yes. And jeans are very popular, too.
Everyone likes wearing jeans.
Not jeans, J-E-A-N-S; genes! G-E-N-E-S, like DNA.
Oh, DNA kind of genes.
Well, so what are you finding out about those G-E-N-E-S?
Well, gene therapy is revolutionizing the treatment of disease.
Really? So tell me, professor, how does it work?
Well, what happens is healthy genes are introduced into defective cells.
This can prevent or even cure disease.
Really? Well, that's amazing.
It is, but the research is in the beginning stages.
Well, how is it coming along?
So far so good?
Yes. Some successes point to real benefits.
Oh. Can you give me some examples?
Well, one genetic disease destroys brain cells in children, and that stops them
from walking and talking.
Oh, that disease is terrible.
You're right.
But correct genetic material can be inserted into a virus, and then the patient
is infected.
And the disease is cured?
Yes, it seems so.
The children that were treated are now living normal lives.
Wow, professor, that's great news.
Yes, it is.
Gene therapy has also helped older patients that suffer from uncontrollable
shaking.
Well, that's great news, too. Wow.
Yes. And gene therapy appears to be an alternative to surgery or medicine.
But more research is needed.
Well, then you'd better keep on working.
Keep studying those genes... G-E-N-E-S, genes, not jeans.
Gene therapy, scientists believe it will probably change or revolutionize the
way we treat diseases.
In this therapy, healthy genes are put into defective genes.
The successes show that there may be great benefits in the future.
There was some initial treatments performed on patients whose brains would
experience destruction between one and two years of age.
Those children are now living normally and are in kindergarten.
Older patients who were experiencing a disease that cause shaking and slow
movement showed around a 23 percent improvement in function after six months.
Of course, more research is needed.
But the signs so far have been very positive.
Thanks, Linda.
Today we've had a short but encouraging look at the wonders of gene therapy.
Perhaps gene therapy is something you might want to consider if you have a
serious disease or maybe recommend to a friend who could benefit from it.
Well, we will see you again here next time on Studio Classroom.
See you then.