Exercise 6. Listen to the text again and say if the following statements are true or false according to the text or no information is given. Correct the false ones.

1. Grown together in large numbers fish quickly develop resistance to diseases.

2. Scientists sequenced full genomes of the three species involved.

3. Genetic signposts are inherited together with blocks of DNA from both parents.

4. Genetic signposts determine the degree of gene expression.

5. Genetic maps include information on which versions of which signposts are associated with disease resistance.

6. Genetic maps present an efficient tool for breeding healthier fish.

7. The new method combines genetic engineering with traditional selective breeding.

8. Dr Sakamoto's research group has successfully applied the new method.

Text C. Animal rights

Exercise 7. Before listening to the text discuss the following questions:

1. What features distinguish cetaceans from other mammals?

2. What do people and cetaceans have in common?

3. Do you think animals should enjoy some inalienable rights just as humans do?

civil rights – гражданские права to confer – предоставлять, даровать, обеспечивать self-awareness – самосознание, самоосмысление controversial – спорный, вызывающий полемику spindle cell – веретенообразная клетка pod – группа китов

Exercise 8. Listen to the text (Script 11) to find out why some scientists think that cetaceans can be afforded special rights.

Exercise 9. Listen to the text again. Who are the following scientists and what points of view do they present in the text:

- Lori Marino of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia;

- Thomas White of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles;

- Chris Butler-Stroud of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society in Britain;

- Kari Koski of the Whale Museum in San Juan Island, Washington state;

- Australian philosopher Peter Singer.

 

Exercise 10. Discuss the following questions using information from the text:

1. What arguments support the proposition that whales – or some other mammals as well – should be given rights?

2. What examples do you know of animals being afforded some rights?

3. Do you support the proposition that animals should be given rights?

 

Unit 6. Brain

Lexics: Neurobiology / Molecular neurology / Neurodegenerative diseases Listening. 3 texts

 

Text A. Diagnosing dementia

Exercise 1. What do you know about Alzheimer’s disease? Answer the questions:

1. What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?

2. Why is it difficult to diagnose and treat?

3. What are the prospects for Alzheimer’s patients?

 

to administer drugs / treatment – применять, вводить лекарственные препараты, осуществлять лечение plaque – бляшка; пятно to turn out – производить, вырабатывать

 

Exercise 2. Listen to the text (Script 12) to find out about a new method of early Alzheimer’s diagnostics.

Exercise 3. Listen to the text again and explain what the following figures refer to in the text:

1) 5 5) 1995

2) 60-90 6) 1997-1999

3) 1077 7) 60%

4) 43 8) 2002-2004

 

Exercise 4. Using information from the text answer the questions:

1. What research of dementia was conducted?

2. Why are its conclusions applicable to women only?

3. What discrepancy in the results was revealed?

4. How was it interpreted?

 

Text B. Growing model brains

Exercise 5. Discuss the following questions:

1. What are the ethical issues of neurological research?

2. What are the technical and methodological challenges of studying the brain?

3. Why neurology is said to be one of the most challenging research fields?

 

Exercise 6. Explain the following terms:

regenerative medicine induced pluripotent cells endoderm / mesoderm / ectoderm

cortex ventricle cerebrospinal fluid meninge

 

desiderata – искомое, желаемое, недостающее choroid plexuses – хороидное сплетение, сосудистое сплетение

 

Exercise 7. Listen to the first part of the text (Script 13.1) presenting a new development which may facilitate neurological research and describe why and how the organoid was produced.

Exercise 8. Listen to the text again and put the stages of the experiment in the correct order. Describe each stage in detail:

a. The droplets of gel floated in a nutrient broth in a gently rotating bioreactor.

b. Stem cells / induced pluripotent cells were obtained.

c. Ectodermal cells were put into droplets of gel.

d. The organoid grew for a year.

e. Scientists observed evidence of retina, meninges and hippocampal cells in the organoid.

f. The organoid developed some regions similar to those in a real brain.

g. The organoid developed neurons.