一起聽英語 262 你吃過紫色的西紅柿嗎？

你吃過紫色的西紅柿嗎，這是科學家研究出來的一個新品種，是不是很神奇呢?

Rob: Hello I’m Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. With me today is Finn. Hello

Finn.

Finn: Hello Rob.

Rob: Now Finn, I'd like to start by asking you a question. Would you eat a purple

coloured tomato?

Finn: Purple? Well, that depends. Is it a naturally coloured tomato? Where does it

come from? Is this an artificial tomato? Rob, tell me more.

Rob: Artificial – yes, you mean is it man-made and trying to copy something that

is natural? Well, in a way - yes. Because scientists have developed a

genetically modified purple tomato; they took red tomato plants and

changed their genetic patterns so that they now produce new, purple

tomatoes.

Finn: Yes, so this would be an example of GM – genetically modified – food. It's

something we'll be discussing more soon and, of course, looking at some

related vocabulary.

Rob: But here's another question for you Finn that hasn't been modified – or

changed – in any way! GM food has been researched and experimented with

for many years but do you know when the first genetically modified food was

first sold commercially? Was it in:

a) 1974

b) 1984

c) 1994

Finn: Well, we think of GM food as a recent thing so I'll say the opposite, a) 1974.

Rob: OK, we’ll find out if you're right later on. Let's talk more now about

genetically modified food – or GM food. It's called this because the food's

genes have been changed. This means the way it grows is different from the

way it grows when it isn’t touched by humans.

Finn: Yes, so, growing GM food – or crops – is controversial. Some scientists think

it's needed to meet the world's growing demand for food.

Rob: Yes, GM food can resist – or stop the effects of – some pests or bad

weather. It can grow more quickly, meaning even more crops can be

cultivated – or grown.

Finn: But opponents of GM food – people who argue against it – say we don't know

enough about its effect on the environment.

Rob: And then there are the fears about who controls what's grown.

Finn: Yes, but despite this, GM food has become an important part of food

production. Crops like sweetcorn, rape plants, wheat and tomatoes have all

been genetically modified.

Rob: Yes, like the purple tomato, which was recently developed in the UK. It has a

dark pigment – or colour – which gives it the same potential health benefits

as blueberries.

Finn: Well, that sounds like a good thing. And not only that, it has an antioxidant

– that's a substance that stops the decaying process – which tests show

could help fight cancer.

Rob: One day we could see these purple tomatoes on pizzas or in our tomato

ketchup. Let's hear from Professor Cathie Martin who is a plant biologist from

The John Innes Centre who developed this tomato. What does she say is

good about this new food?

Professor Cathie Martin, Plant Biologist, John Innes Centre:

With these purple tomatoes, you can get the same compounds that are present in

blueberries and cranberries that give them their health benefits but you can apply them

to foods that people actually eat in significant amounts and that are reasonably

affordable.

Rob: So she says the good thing about this development is we can get health

benefits from something we eat significant amounts of – so lots of – and

they will be reasonably affordable – so it will be cheap.

Finn: Yes but there's still maybe a problem with the colour. We are affected by the

colour of stuff we put in our mouths. I mean, who eats blue food?!

Rob: That's true. And also because the European Union has restrictions on growing

GM food, this tomato has to be grown in Canada where rules are more

supportive of GM foods.

Finn: OK. Well, Professor Nick Pidgeon, who is an Environmental Psychologist, says

in the UK there is some distrust of GM food.

Rob: He says some people are concerned all this is messing with nature – it's not

natural – and maybe we don't know what the long-term consequences are.

Finn: And a big concern is that large corporations will have control over the

technology. And this could mean they control food prices too. You know Rob,

I think this is a debate that will go on and on and on.

Rob: Indeed. But it's now time to reveal the answer to today's question. Earlier I

asked you if you knew when the first genetically modified food was first sold

commercially.

Finn: I said a) 1974.

Rob: Interesting. The answer is actually 1994. A company called Calgene sold a

product that delayed the ripening of tomatoes.

Finn: OK, well, I guess that means the fruit could last longer and it would stop it

going soft?

Rob: That was the idea. Now, before we go, Finn, could you remind us of some of

the vocabulary that we've heard today?

Finn: Yes, I will.

artificial

genetically modified

genes

resist

pests

cultivated

pigment

antioxidant

significant

affordable

distrust

ripening

Rob: Well, that brings us to the end of today's 6 Minute English. We hope you’ve

enjoyed today’s programme. Please join us again soon.

Both: Bye.