【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. niche market /nɪtʃ ˈmɑr kɪt/ (n.) – a small but profitable market that specializes on a certain product or commodity
Example: Her hobby of making recyclable pens generated a niche market in the neighborhood.
2. livestock /ˈlaɪvˌstɒk/ (n.) – animals that are bred and nurtured in a farm for a profit
Example: The family never goes to the supermarket because they have livestock of their own.
3. cattle /ˈkæt l/ (n.) – farm animals domesticated for meat, milk, and other purposes
Example: The tastiest beef comes from cattle.
4. breeder /ˈbri dər/ (n.) – a person who farms or breeds animals as a profession
Example: He is both a breeder and a racer of horses.
5. ban /bæn/ (v.) – to stop the use or practice of something by making it illegal
Example: The government decided to ban the import and export of chicken because of the sudden virus outbreak.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
An American reproductive technology company generates 100 cloned cows every year to expand the niche market of using cloning technique in livestock farming.
Located in Sioux [soo] Center, Iowa, Trans Ova [OH-vuh] Genetics is considered the only major company to commercially produce cloned livestock in the United States. Though the company is best known for its cattle reproduction, it also breeds cloned pigs and horses.
Trans Ova Genetics openly upholds the benefits of the technique. Company director of marketing and genomics Mark Allan claims that the method enables breeders to preserve and improve the quality of meat. He further adds that cloning livestock enables the industry to meet the global demands of a growing population.
The technique has also been equally criticized in terms of health safety. The non-profit organization Center for Food Safety (CFS) disapproves of cloning livestock mainly because of the unclear long-term effects of eating meat from cloned animals. Additionally, CFS senior policy analyst Jaydee [jey-dee] Hanson emphasized that cloned animals have higher death rates and have more problematic pregnancies compared with naturally bred animals.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved the farming and eating of cloned livestock in 2008. However, cloning livestock continues to be looked down on in other countries. For instance, countries under the European Union are considering various policies to prevent cloned livestock farming and importing in the continent. In fact, the European Commission is currently proposing to ban the breeding and eating of cloned animals, while the European Parliament urges the need to trace the origin of livestock in order to prevent products that come from the descendants of cloned animals.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Who do you share opinions with on the cloning technique, the Trans Ova Genetics or the Center for Food Safety? Kindly explain your answer.
· Would you approve of cloned livestock farming and consumption in your country? Why or why not?
Discussion B
· What animal would you want to clone? Kindly explain your answer.
· Do you think it is a good idea to start cloning human beings? Why or why not?
