Physics and chemistry have furnished the techniques for biologists to take the exploration of life to its logical conclusion. Th

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问题     Physics and chemistry have furnished the techniques for biologists to take the exploration of life to its logical conclusion. This event demands a wider audience. The pattern of discovery cannot be predicted, but the tool kit now in the possession of biologists is so powerful that no known problem seems likely to hold its mysteries for long. By usurping the tools with which living cells manipulate DNA, biologists can cut the genetic material at chosen points and amplify target segments for further study. Techniques and software for sequencing the order of chemical units in DNA are now so sophisticated that the full human gene set seems likely to be sequenced within the next ten years.
    It is only a matter of time before biologists catalogue the 75,000 or so human genes; identify the signals that switch each gene on and off; figure out what sets of active genes characterize each of the 200 or so major types of human cells, and determine how the consortium of interacting cells, and determine how the consortium of interacting cell types operates as an organism.
    Such knowledge has larger consequences than scientists can deal with alone. Genes do not determine everything, but they set the boundaries of an individual’ s full potential. They probably decree major elements of personality and intelligence. They create a predisposition to various diseases. Knowledge of how the human machine is assembled implies the knowledge to repair, refine and improve it.
    The first attempts at gene therapy have mostly stumbled, but the technique will surely be made to work eventually. The idea of correcting defective genes is not particularly controversial. But a fundamental solution to the creeping burden of Medicare — equipping every embryo with a birthright package of genes for good health, longevity and aversion to nicotine and violence — would raise knottier issues.
    Critics will doubtlessly warn darkly of dangerous knowledge. But more knowledge is generally better than less. Molecular biology, long gathering speed, is about to take off. It is almost ready to become a spectator sport, not just a private club for academics and biotechnology companies.
The biological advances mentioned in the passage______.

选项 A、will change the nature of biology
B、will happen as scheduled
C、are what the author is expecting in the future
D、are only a dream that will never come true

答案C

解析 作者在末段提到:“Molecular biology,long gathering speed,is about to take off.”,这表示了作者的期盼,与C选项意思相符。此外,作者还把生物学进展比喻为“a spectator sport”,寓意深刻,也与C选项呼应,故C为正确答案。
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