You Are What You Eat
食物影响你的身（你是你所吃进去的）
Genetic（基因的）engineering is the scientific change of the genetic material in a
living organism．It allows scientists to identify specific genes,to remove them from
an organism's chromosomes （染色体）,improve them,analyze them,and possibly clone them,and to then reinsert the changed gene into the original organism,or a completely different organism．Unlike traditional breeding （繁殖）,where a desired quality would be bred within the same species,genetic engineering can insert desired ones into organisms of different species．Wow…Did you catch that?
基因工程一个研究生物体内遗传物质的变化的学科.它使科学家们能够定义具体的基因,并通过移动生物体内染色体上的基因来提升和分析这些生物,甚至可能克隆它们.之后,科学家们会重新把提取出的已经改变了的基因注射回原来的生物体内,或者注射到完全不同的一个个体中.不像传统的繁殖需要通过繁衍同一个高质量的物种,基因工程可以导入基因到不同的物种里.哇.你跟上了吗?
Genetic engineering creates many positive contributions to agriculture．For example,by genetically engineered（GE）foods,anti-cancer agents,minerals and vitamins can be increased．Improved taste,shelf life,and better transport are all possible．Also,GE plants can increase pest and bacterial resistance,therefore,making the food safe for consumers．
基因工程对农业做出了很多好的贡献.比如说,通过传基因技术的食物在抗癌物质,矿物质和维他命方面都有提高.口感,在超市的货价摆放时间以及运输上都有更高的提升空间.另外,转基因植物的抗害虫和细菌的能力都有曾强,所以可以提供出更加完全的食物.
The public is also concerned about the unknown health risks．With limited understanding of genes,scientists cannot predict possible effects．Because most genes introduced into GE plants come from sources not introduced into the human
body,it is impossible to know if they will cause reactions．Moreover,due to the lack of labeling if allergies develop,it will be extremely difficult to find the origin of them．
同时,公众也会担心这些转基因食物所带来的未知的风险.由于对于基因理解的局限性,科学家们也不能预测出可能的影响.因为大多数用于转基因植物的基因的来源并没有人类采用过,所以也不能知道人在摄取转基因食物后体内会有什么反应.另外,由于缺乏在商品上对过敏的标识,很能判断出在人的体内的不良反应的准确来源（也有可能是由过敏导致的）.
There is also a major moral question in many minds．For many,the conflict is not if it is safe or not,but it disturbs them because it is unnatural and unnecessary．We are currently producing one and a half times the amount of food needed to feed the
world,yet one in seven people are starving．GE food is unnecessary,and fails to address the root of hunger．Many believe that the only people who will benefit are the corporations that produce it．
很多人也会把转基因食物的问题引伸到道德上的问题.对于很多人来说,他们担心的不是安全性而是转基因食物的非自然和非必要性.我们人类目前产出的食物是世界所需总量的1.5倍,但是还是有很多地区的人面临着饥荒.转基因食物不是必需的,而已无法根治饥荒.很多人相信只有生产这些作物的集团公司可以从中获益.
Scientists cannot foresee the possible effects of GE foods,yet we eat them every day without even knowing it．We already have enough food,so why create more that
could be potentially harmful to us,to the Earth and to all wildlife?I think that the benefits are amazing,but until we know for sure how these foods will affect us,they are not worth the risk．
科学家不能预测转基因食物对人类社会所带来的影响,但是我们却不知道我们现在每天就在吃这些转基因食物.我们已经有足够的食物,所以如果再继续生产食物会不会对我们,对地球,对野生动物产生潜在的危害?我（笔者）认为转基因食物所带来的利益是不可想像的,但是我们不值得尝试这些食物的潜在风险知道我们可以确定它们会给我们带来什么影响.