Listen&Learn: Cloning

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

The history, facts, and controversy of genetic copying.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• genetic: relating to genes
• identical: exactly the same
• organism: any individual living thing
• embryo: an unborn, developing organism
• advanced: modern and complex
• ethical: relating to the moral concepts of “right” or “wrong”

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11 — 1.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Gapfill exercise

Cloning is the process of a genetically identical copy of an organism. Researchers have been experimenting with cloning since the 1900s, when they attempted to create genetic copies of animal embryos. As became more advanced, it became possible to make clones of fully-grown creatures. The first successful cloning of an adult organism was in 1996, when a British group managed to produce a cloned sheep. The sheep’s name was Dolly, and she lived for six years. Scientists have since managed to clone many other types of animals. In fact, there are now that offer expensive pet cloning services. The idea of human cloning has come up in scientific , but many people have ethical concerns about the consequences. Because of this, human cloning is illegal in several countries.

Comprehension questions

1. In the 1900s, researchers attempted to clone

adult humans

fully-grown animals

animal embryos

Correct! Wrong!

In the 1900s, researchers attempted to clone animal embryos.

2. The 1996 cloning experiment produced a cloned

baby

pet dog

sheep

Correct! Wrong!

The 1996 cloning experiment produced a cloned sheep.

3. Scientists have not cloned humans because

they don't know how to do it

people have ethical concerns

it costs too much money

Correct! Wrong!

Scientists have not cloned humans because people have ethical concerns.

Discussion/essay questions

1. The article says that many people have ethical concerns about the consequences of human cloning. What do you think some of those concerns might be?
2. Do you think human cloning should be legal? Why or why not?

Transcript

Cloning is the process of creating a genetically identical copy of an organism. Researchers have been experimenting with cloning since the 1900s, when they attempted to create genetic copies of animal embryos. As technology became more advanced, it became possible to make clones of fully-grown creatures. The first successful cloning of an adult organism was in 1996, when a British research group managed to produce a cloned sheep. The sheep’s name was Dolly, and she lived for six years. Scientists have since managed to clone many other types of animals. In fact, there are now companies that offer expensive pet cloning services. The idea of human cloning has come up in scientific discussions, but many people have ethical concerns about the consequences. Because of this, human cloning is illegal in several countries. 

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

© EnglishClub.com

Subscribe to EnglishClub Podcasts

15 comments

• Oyedele Vincent says:
  

  I want to be a member of this group.

• Crispin Ilunga-Mulala Mushagalusa says:
  

  This text is really interesting.

• Luis says:
  

  Correction from yesterday writing about this topic.

  1.We are not ready to realize such human clones because our mind is not prepared to accept with the advance of science. We require regulating it, and for specific reasons I think, it would be possible for an exact part of the body, respecting human rights.

  2.It will be possible in the future, when humans accomplish a big development and they regulate with detail this sort of issues. Then, religion groups will work in this matter for enhancing human quality instead of discussing the existence of God. God will guide us that we get science advances instead of fighting among us for whom will be more powerful around the world. Finally, ethical concerns are the core of discussion, but God will give us the right way to agree in this topic.

• Luis Humberto JIMÉNEZ MEDINA says:
  

  1 We are not ready to realize this kind of human clones because of our mind isn’t prepared to accept this advances of the science. we require to regulate it, and for an specific cases might be possible for specific part of de body, respecting human rights.

  It will be possible in the future, when human being accomplish a big development and they regulate with detail this sort of issues. Then, religion groups will work in this matter for enhance human quality instead of discuses the existence of God. God will guide us to get science advances instead of fighting among us for whom will be more powerful around the world. Finally, ethical concerns is the core of discussion, but God will give us the right way to reach an agreement in this topic.

• Caridadgomo says:
  

  it is interesting.

• Isabel says:
  

  Very intresting article. Thank!

• Eliels says:
  

  I guess whem you talk about clone human organ it sounds good for me, because that can save human lives, but clone humans it’s against the natural las.
  Thanks for teaching us.

• The King Of Love From IRAN says:
  

  Thank you,

• mari carmen says:
  

  I think that isn’t a good idea. Those experiments because can be bad in the wrong hands

• Martha Cecilia Urrea says:
  

  1, I think it is a process of divine order
  2. I Think of course I think that is should not be legal, respect the natural order.

• Vivan Akinyosoye says:
  

  i want to thank you for this information

• Reycard Gayondato says:
  

  I want to become a member it can help me a lot for my pronunciation and how to speak proper grammar

• daiz says:
  

  it helps you to exercise your Listening skills, particularly in English language. I had fun listening, listening tract is informative. I love it!

• Jn Matulnes says:
  

  I want to be a member of this club

• Sakhawat hosen says:
  

  Just test purpose for English learning.