Every baby born a decade from now will have its genetic code mapped at birth, a genome sequencing company has predicted.A complete DNA read-out for every newborn will be technically feasible and affordable in less than five years, promising a revolution in healthcare, says the chief executive of Illumina.This will open a new approach to medicine, by which conditions such as diabetes and heart disease can be predicted and drugs prescribed more safely and effectively.The development, however, will raise difficult questions about privacy and access to individuals’ genetic records. Many people may be reluctant to have their genome read, for fear that the results could be used against them by an employer or insurance company.The prospect of genome screening for all has emerged because of the plummeting cost of the relevant technology.The Human Genome Project, which published its first rough sequence of mankind’s genetic code in 2001, cost an estimated $4 billion. By the time the scientists James Watson and Craig Venter had their genomes mapped two years ago, the cost had fallen to about $1 m.Last month, Illumina announced a deal with a British company that is developing a new approach to sequencing that could bring costs down further. In an interview with The Times, Dr. Flatley said a genome sequence should be available for less than $1,000 in three to four years.“The limitations are sociological; when and where people think it can be applied, the concerns people have about misinformation and the background ethics questions.”“I think those are actually going to be the limits that push it out to a ten-year timeframe,” he added.By examining which genetic variants a person has inherited, it is possible to identify raised risks of developing an array of conditions, including cardiovascular disease and many cancers. Those at high risk can then be screened more regularly, or given drugs or dietary advice to lower their chances of becoming ill.Personal genome sequencing, however, will raise legitimate concerns about privacy, “Bad things can be done with the genome. It could predict something about someone—and you could potentially hand information to their employer or their insurance company,” said Dr. Flatley, “Legislation has to be passed.”Complete genetic privacy, however, was unlikely to be possible, he added.“People have to recognize that this horse is out of the barn, and that your genome probably can’t be protected, because everywhere you go you leave your genome behind.”As the benefits become clearer, however, he believes that most people will want their genomes read and interpreted. The apparent benefits would soon eclipse the hazards.26. A complete DNA read-out is possible in the near future because ______.27. When will genome screening be actually applied to public, according to Dr. Flatley?28. The underlined word “conditions” in the text most probably means ______.29. What might be the “bad thing” associated with personal genome sequencing?30. What does Dr. Flatley think about genome screening?
He thought that he might be able to avoid paying some of his taxes by taking advantages of the ______ in the law.
Hearsay evidence consists of statements made out of court by someone who is not present to testify under oath at a trial.
我们必须以极大的热情坚持不懈地工作,去跨越科学进步与我们道德进步之间的鸿沟。人类最大的问题之一是我们蒙受精神上的贫困,它与我们科学技术方面的富有形成鲜明的对照。我们在物质上越富有,在道德和精神上就越贫困。每个人都生活在两个世界之中,内心世界和外部世界。内心世界是用艺术、文学、道德和宗教表达的精神目标的世界。外部世界是我们赖以生存的装置、技术、机械和手段的综合。我们今天的问题是我们允许内心世界丧失于外部世界之中。我们允许赖以生存的手段超越生活的目标。这是现代人类面临的严重困境及萦绕心头的重要问题。
Although the Arab cutbacks represented a loss of less than 7 percent in world supply, they created panic on the part of oil companies, consumers, oil traders, and some governments.
That part of the city has long been ______ for its street violence.