B. Keywords.
genetically modified organism (GMO), genetical engineering (GE), organic, transgenic organisms, pharming, Frankenstein.
Vocabulary.
pest, pun, pharmaceutical, subhuman.
Here are the definitions of some words. Listen carefully, fill in the blanks with what you hear and study the definitions carefully.
1. GMO and GE.
Basically, genetical modification is when a scientist removes a gene that carries particular instructions for a particular characteristic from the DNA of one organism and inserts that gene into the DNA of another (sometimes very different) organism.
The result is called Genetically Modified Organism or GMO.
This technology is also referred to generally as genetically engineering or GE.
2. Organic, Semi-organic.
Organic generally refers to farming using no artificial fertilizers or pest-control chemicals and the food produced by this farming method.
Semi-organic means farming using as little artificial fertilizers. etc as possible.
Semi means half.
3. Transgenic organisms.
Transgenic organisms are created when a short section of genetic material from an unrelated species is introduced into another species.
For example, animal genes to a plant.
Trans means going across.
4. Pharming.
A pun on the word for farming.
It means using farm animals such as cows, goats and pigs, that have been genetically changed, to produce pharmaceutical drugs.
Pharming beginning with a "ph", is pronounced the same as farming beginning with an "f".
5. Frankenstein
Frankenstein refers to the novel of that name by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851).
The novel is about a scientist who creates a subhuman creature that ends up destroying him.
So Frankenstein means any creations that ends up destroying the creator.
