This may seem impossible,
这看似不可能,
but an American company is 【seeking to change】 farm animals by cutting or adding to their genes.
试图做某事
Eg: The government is seeking to reduce the unemployment rate.
但一家美国公司正试图通过减少或增加基因,改变农场动物。
By using a process called gene editing,
通过一种叫做基因编辑的方法，
the company, Recombinetics,
这家名叫Recombinetics的公司称,
says it may be able to 【remove problem-causing genetic traits from】 some animals.
remove…from……
Eg: The ordinary washing powder cannot remove stubborn stains from clothes.
它能够删除-些动物身上引起问题的基因特征。
Recombinetics says it can produce cows born without horns
Recombinetics表示这种方法可以繁殖没有角的奶牛
一those sharp objects on top of their heads.
角就是指它们头部的尖状物
The company must first persuade United States government officials that
该公司首先必须说服美国政府官员
gene-edited animals are safe, and 【no different than】 the ones bred the traditional way.
与……没什么不同
经过基因编辑的动物是安全的,与通过传统方式繁殖的动物没有什么不同。
There has been debate as to whether people would want to eat food that comes from gene-edited animals.
关于人们是否想吃由经过基因编辑的动物制成的食物这个问题，一直存在争议。
Last month, the FDA announced an action plan
上个月,美国食品及药物管理局(FDA)宣布了一项行动计划，
that 【described the steps it will take to support】 both plant and animal biotechnology,
take steps to do sth. 采取措施做某事
计划描述了支持植物和动物生物技术的步骤，
while safeguarding public health.
但同时保障公众健康。
To make this technology more acceptable,
为了让这项技术更容易被接受，
Recombinetics is not yet changing animals genes to greatly increase their growth or productivity.
Recombinetics并未改变动物的基因,来极大地加快动物的生长、提高产出。
That could make the animals 【seem strange to people】.
seem +adj. to sb. 某人觉得……
这可能会让人们觉得动物太过怪异。
Instead, the company says it is adding gene-edited traits to ease animals' suffering.
相反，该公司表示,它正在添加经过基因编辑的特征,以减轻动物的痛苦
"It's a better story to tell." Tammy Lee told the Associated Press.
“这是一个更好的故事,”塔米·李告诉美联社。
She is chief executive officer of the company,based in St. Paul, Minnesota.
塔米·李是Recombinetics公司的首席执行官,该公司总部位于明尼苏达州的圣保罗市。
Cow horns can hurt other cows, animals and people.
牛角可能伤及其他牛、动物和人。
Animal rights activists criticize the way farmers currently remove cow horns.
They use hot irons or a caustic, burning substance to remove the bone
他们使用热熨斗或腐蚀性的燃烧物质来移除骨头。
Critics question whether using this technology is"playing God," doing something that is not natural.
批评者质疑,使用这项生物技术是不是在“扮演上帝”,做的是反自然的事。
Paul Thompson is a professor of agriculture at Michigan State University.
保罗汤普森是密歇根州立大学的农业教授。
He told the Associated Press that gene editing
他告诉美联社,基因编辑
may 【serve as evidence of 】how modern food production already treats animals.
作为……的证据
可以作为现代食品生产行业如何对待动物的证据。
Thompson said there has been a debate for at least 20 years,
汤普森说，至少20年来人们一直在争论，
of whether you need to change the animal or change the system.
“是需要改变动物还是改变体系”。
Support for changing the genes may also 【depend on】 how the technology is used.
取决于/视……而定
对基因改变的支持,也可能取决于这项技术的运用方式。
For example, will it be used to help the animals,prevent disease, or increase productivity?
例如，它会被用来帮助动物、预防疾病,或提高生产力吗?
A Pew Research Center study last August found 43 percent of Americans
皮尤研究中心(Pew Research Center)去年8月的一项研究发现, 43%的美国人
supported genetically engineering animals for more nutritious meat.
支持通过基因工程改造动物,以获取更有营养的肉类。
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