News in Liberal Studies
Wednesday 2 December 2015
Text: Anvil Ong
Public Health
LS in action
6 terms to know
New weapon in war on malaria
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Scientists create special mosquito strain
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Worksheet
gene (n) 基因
• Certain genes are responsible for the colour of
hair.
A.
State whether the sentences below are true (T), false (F), or not given (NG).
offspring (n) 後代
1. Anopheles stephensi is a type of mosquito that spreads malaria in India.
_____
• The female of this species may give birth to as
many as six offspring.
2. Scientists made the genes of mosquitoes to block malaria.
_____
3. Scientists believe they can stop malaria by altering the genes of
mosquitoes alone.
_____
4. Eradication of mosquito-breeding sites and preventive drugs are useless
in stopping the spread of malaria.
_____
genetically modified (adj phr) 基因改造的
• Some people refuse to eat genetically modified
food.
potent (adj) 強有力的
• The university said it has found a potent cure for
Aids.
for more
True, false, or not given
B.
Open Cloze
Fill in each blank with only ONE word. The word may or may not appear in the article.
Scientists said that they 1. _____ the genes of a species of mosquitoes 2. _____ Anopheles
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eradicate (v) 杜絕
• There seems to be no way to eradicate the
problem.
stephensi so that the mosquitoes will no 3. _____ be able to spread malaria. The
mosquitoes they created have genes that prevent malaria 4. _____ by producing malariablocking antibodies that are passed on to almost all 5. _____ .
plummet (v) 暴跌
• After the bad news was announced, the
company’s shares plummeted.
瘧疾是由通過被
感染的雌性蚊子
背
景
資
料
Answers on E.12
C.
叮咬傳播給人類
的寄生蟲病。這
Scientists have successfully created mosquitoes that resist malaria. (AP)
種疾病的症狀包
括發熱、乏力、
S
嘔吐和頭痛。嚴
重的甚至會皮膚
發黃、抽搐、昏
迷，甚至死亡。
世界衛生組織
稱，瘧疾影響在
世界最貧困地區
的近一半人口，
是一個主要的健
康問題。
CIENTISTS aiming to take the bite out of malaria
have produced a strain of mosquitoes carrying genes
that block its transmission, with the idea that they could
breed with other members of their species in the wild and
produce offspring that cannot spread the disease.
of California-San Diego (加州大學聖地牙哥分校) biologist
Valentino Gantz said.
The researchers said they used gene-editing on a species
called Anopheles stephensi that spreads malaria in urban India
(印度).
“We do not propose that this strategy alone will eradicate
malaria,” University of California-Irvine molecular biologist
Anthony James said.
They created mosquitoes with genes that prevent malaria
transmission by producing malaria-blocking antibodies that are
passed on to 99.5 percent of offspring.
But in conjunction with treatment and preventive drugs,
future vaccines, mosquito-blocking bed nets and eradication of
mosquito-breeding sites, it could play a major role in sustaining
the elimination of malaria, James said.
The goal is to release genetically modified mosquitoes to
mate with wild mosquitoes so that their malaria-blocking genes
enter the gene pool and eventually overrun the population.
“It can spread through a population with great efficiency,
increasing from one percent to more than 99 percent in 10
generations, or about one season for mosquitoes,” University
Biologist Ethan Bier, from the same university, called this
a “potent tool in sustainable control of malaria,” as all the
mosquitoes in a given region would carry anti-malarial genes.
Other scientists also have been working to create genetically
engineered mosquitoes. One group last year said it created a
strain carrying a gene leading nearly all offspring to be male,
which could cause wild populations to plummet.
(Reuters, 24 November 2015)
E.06
@
Malaria
Website www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en
HHMI – Life cycle of malaria parasite in the mosquito
Media
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvlTOhCmxvY
Evaluation
Use the table below to list out some problems faced in fighting malaria. Suggest some
corresponding solutions, and evaluate your solutions.
Problems
Writing Tips
Mosquitoes spread malaria
through their bites
Pass on
Solutions
Scientists created a strain
carrying a gene leading
nearly all offspring to be
male
Evaluation
The system is not flexible
because it causes mosquito
populations in the wild to
fall sharply
Pass something on (to somebody) means give
something to somebody else, especially after
receiving it or using it oneself.
Pass the buck means blame or make someone
responsible for a problem that one should deal
with.
• He should not try to pass the buck because it is
really his fault.
Pass the hat around means try to collect money
by asking people or organisations.
• The street performers passed the hat around
after the show and collected over $1,000.
D.
Critical Thinking
1. What are the risks of modifying the genes of mosquitoes?
2. Why did a biologist say that the gene modification strategy alone should not be used to
eradicate malaria?
3. Should scientists develop a vaccine for malaria? Why?
Pass (all) belief means be very difficult to believe.
• It passes all belief that he could have said that
to me.
4. What is the most ‘flexible’ way of fighting malaria?
5. Why is malaria particularly serious in places like India?
6. What can governments do to help their people fight malaria?