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  3. One reason why a sheep, a less well-understood experimental subject than the laboratory mouse, should have proved easier

One reason why a sheep, a less well-understood experimental subject than the laboratory mouse, should have proved easier

admin2011-01-17  128
问题             One reason why a sheep, a less well-understood experimental subject than
       the laboratory mouse, should have proved easier to clone may stem from
       differences in the initial stages of the two species’ embryonic development.
Line    After reaching maturity in the ovary of the mother, the unfertilized eggs of all
(5)     mammals accumulate a supply of proteins, and the means of producing fresh
       protein. In this way, the mammalian egg brings with it a larder for the embryo
       to make use of until its own genes activate and supply this requirement
       themselves. The sheep embryo disposes of its store properly and need not
       depend on its own genes until the sixteen-cell stage, four cell divisions
(10)     successive to fertilization, while in contrast, the mouse embryo commences this
       process more precociously, becoming reliant on the activity of its own genes
       after just the first division when the fertilized egg becomes two cells.
       Therefore, a foreign nucleus introduced into a sheep egg exploits a respite in its
       host’s biological development, allowing it to adapt to its new role before
(15)     assuming genetic control.
           Concomitantly, a nucleus introduced into a mouse egg must acclimatize
       quickly for its genes to be able to direct embryonic development within a single
       cell division, so perhaps there is insufficient time for the extensive re-
       programming of compulsory gene activity. The human embryo is thought to rely
(20)     on its own genes after three cellular divisions, which might or might not
       provide time enough for a foreign nucleus to acclimate.  However, were
       scientists to comprehend the nature of the indispensable re-programming then
       there is every likelihood that both mice and humans could be cloned.
           Despite the long-standing availability of this technology, there has until
(25)     recently been little interest in it. Some people suffering from infertility as a
       result of rare hereditary diseases could produce offspring, but cloned individuals
       may be at risk given scientists’ limited knowledge of the long term effects of
       allowing an "old" adult cell nucleus to commence life again in an egg. The
       nucleus of a skin cell could have accumulated a multitude of genetic mistakes of
(30)     no consequence to its role in the skin, but the same cell could prove deleterious
       in other tissues, or immensely increase the probability of the affliction with
       cancer. The threat to general human health posed by cloning, as opposed to the
       individual, is difficult to determine, but the risks are almost certainly lower
       than those encountered in the effective inbreeding of consanguine marriages,
(35)     and thus there are no scientific grounds per se for banning cloning. Like other
       practices inconsequential to the physical well being of humanity, but generally
       deemed undesirable on moral or social grounds, the prohibition of human
       cloning will ultimately rest with only a simple pragmatic decision.
Which of the following hypothetical scientific discoveries, if made, would weaken the author’s arguments concerning the ethical risks of human cloning?
选项 A、Through careful and documented study, cloning proves to be less risky than consanguineous breeding.
B、A laboratory process for reducing the number of stages in the cell division process is developed.
C、A non-cloning method for curing human fertility is discovered, thereby reducing the need to rely upon cloning.
D、A procedure for easing the acclimation of a foreign nucleus in the embryonic host is established.
E、A means of assessing genetic mistakes in a foreign nucleus before its implementation into a clone is devised.
答案E
解析
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