IQ-gene

    In the angry debate over how much of IQ comes from the genes that children inherit from parents and how much comes from experiences, one little fact gets overlooked¹ ： no one has identified any genes ( other than² those that cause retardation) that affect intelligence. So researchers led by Robert Plomin of London"sInstituteofPsychiatrydecided to look for some. They figured that if you want to find a “ smart gene, ” you should look in smart kids. They therefore examined the DNA of students like those who are so bright that they take college entrance exams four years early — and still score at Princeton-caliber levels³. The scientists found what they sought.⁴ “ We have，” says Plomin，“ the first specific gene ever associated with general intelligence. ”

    Plomin"s colleagues drew blood from two groups of 51 children each, all 6 to 15 years old and living in six counties aroundCleveland. In one group, the average IQ is 103. All the children are white. Isolating the blood cells, the researchers then examined each child"s chromosome 6. Of the 37 landmarks on chromosome 6 that the researchers looked for, one jumped out⁵ ： a form of gene called IGF2R occurred in twice as many children in the high-IQ group as in the average group — 32 percent versus 16 percent. The study, in the May issue of the journal Psychological Science, concludes that it is this form of the IGF2R gene that contributes to intelligence.

    Some geneticists see major problems with the IQ-gene study⁶. One is the possibility that Plomin"s group fell for⁷ ” chopsticks fallacy". Geneticists might think they"ve found a gene for chopsticks flexibility, but all they"ve really found is a gene more common in Asians than, say, Africans. Similarly, Plomin"s IQ gene might simply be one that is more common in groups that emphasize academic achievement⁸. “ What is the gene that they"ve found reflects ethnicity?" asks geneticist Andrew Feinberg ofJohnsHopkinsUniversity. “ That alone might explain the link to intelligence, since IQ tests are known for being culturally sensitive and affected by a child"s environment. ” And Neil Risch of Standford University points out that if you look for 37 genes on a chromosome，as the researchers did，and find that one is more common in smarter kids，that might reflect pure chance rather than a causal link between the gene and intelligence⁹. Warns Feinberg： “I would take these findings with a whole box of salt¹⁰. ”

 

词汇：

psychiatry / saɪˈkaɪətri/ n. 精神病学 

caliber /"kælɪbə/ n. 能力，才干，水准
chopsticks /"tʃɒpstɪks/ n. 筷子 

ethnicity /eθˈnɪsəti/ n. 民族特性
figure /ˈfiɡə/ vt. 估计，想象 

geneticist /dʒəˈnetɪsɪst/ n. 遗传学家
fallacy /ˈfæləsi/ n. 谬误

causal / ˈkɔ:zl / adj.原因的，因果关系的

注释：

1.one little fact gets overlooked：有一个小事实被忽视了。这里get与过去分词一起相当于被动语态。
2.other than：除了……（以外）
3.score at Princeton-caliber levels：得分可列入像美国普林斯顿大学那样的重点大学的才子之列。
4.The scientists found what they sought.科学家们发现了他们所要寻找的东西。
5.jump out：显得突出
6.see major problems with the IQ-gene study：发现了智商基因研究的主要问题
4.fall for：受到……的蒙蔽
8.groups that emphasize academic achievement：强调学术成就的群体
9. ... that might reflect pure chance rather than a causal link between the gene and intelligence. ……那也许纯属偶然，而不反映基因与智力间的因果关系。
10. I would take these findings with a whole box of salt.我对实验的发现抱很大的怀疑。斜体部分 源自固定短语take sth. with a grain of salt，意为“抱有怀疑”。

Plomin"s IQ-rgene study is similar to the chopsticks gene finding in that____

A:there may not be a causal link between gene and intelligence B:there is a close correlation between gene and intelligence C:there may be a close relation between chopsticks flexibility and children"s academic score D:there is not a close relation between chopsticks flexibility and children"s academic score

Gene

In the angry debate over how much of IQ comes from the genes that children inherit from parents and how much comes from experiences, one little fact gets overlooked: no one has identified any genes (other than those that cause retardation) that affect intelligence. So researchers led by Robert Plomin of London’s Institute of Psychiatry decided to look for some:
Plomin’s colleagues drew blood from two groups of 51 children each. They are all White living in six counties around Cleveland. In one group, the average IQ is 136. In the other group, the average IQ is 103. Isolating the blood cells, the researchers then examined each child’s chromosome 6 (One of the 23 human chromosomes). Of the 37 land marks on chromosome 6that the researchers looked for, one jumped out: a form of gene called IGF2R occurred in twice as many children in high IQ group as in the average grouw-32 percent versus 16 percent. The study concludes that it is this form of the IGF2R gene, called allele 5, that contributes to intelligence.
Plomin cautions that "This is not a genius gene. It is one of many." (About half the differences in intelligence between one person and another are thought to reflect different genes, and half reflect different life experiences.)The gene accounts for no more than four extra IQ points. And it is neither necessary nor sufficient for high IQ: 23 percent of the average-IQ kids did have it, but 54 percent of genius kids did not.
The smart gene is known by the snappy name "insulin like growth factor 2 receptor" (IGH2R to its fun). It lets hormones like one similar to insulin dock with cells. Although a gene involved with insulin is not the most obvious candidate for an IQ gene, new evidence suggests it might indeed play the role. Sometimes when s hormone docks with the cell, it makes the cell grow; sometimes it makes the cell commit suicide. Both responses could choreograph the development of the brain. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health find that insulin can stimulate nerves to grow. And in rat brains, regions involved in learning and memory are chock full of insulin receptors.
Even though this supports the idea that IGF2R can affect the brain and hence intelligence, some geneticists see major problems with the IQ-gene study. One is the possibility that Plomin’s group fell for what’s called the chopsticks fallacy. Geneticists might think they’ve found a gene for chopsticks dexterity, but all they’ve really found is a gene more common in Asians than, say, Africans. Similarly, Plomin’s IQ gene might simply be one that is more common in groups that emphasize academic achievement. "What if the gene they’ve found reflects ethnicity" asks geneticist Andrew Feinberg of Johns Hopkins University. "I would take these findings with a whole box of salt./
It is found that insulin______.

A:is IQ gene B:has nothing to do with IQ gene C:stimulates nerves to grow D:is decisive to the development of intelligence

Text 3
In the angry debate over how much of IQ comes from the genes that children inherit from parents and how much comes from experiences, one little fact gets overlooked: no one has identified any genes (other than those in the case of retardation) that affect intelligence. So researchers led by Robert Plomin of London’s Institute of Psychiatry decided to look for some.
Plomin’s colleagues drew blood from two groups of 51 children each. They are all White living in six counties around Cleveland. In one group, the average IQ is 136. In the other group, the average IQ is 103. Isolating the blood cells, the researchers then examined each child’s chromosome 6 ( One of 23 human chromosomes along which genes made of DNA). Of the 37 landmarks on chromo- some 6 that the researchers looked for, one jumped out: a form of gene called IGF2R occurred in twice as many children in high-IQ group as in the average group -- 32 percent versus 16 percent. The survey concludes that it is this form of the IGF2R gene, called allele 5, that contributes to intelligence.
Plomin cautions that "this is not a genius gene. h is one of many." ( About half the differences in intelligence between one person and another are thought to reflect different genes, and half reflect different life experiences. ) The gene accounts for no more than four extra IQ points. And it is neither necessary nor sufficient for high IQ: 23 percent of the average-IQ kids did have it, but 54 percent of genius kids did not.
The smart gene is known by the interesting name "insulinlike growth factor 2 receptor" (IGF2R to its fun). It lets hormones like one similar to insulin dock with cells. Although a gene involved with insulin is not the most obvious candidate for an IQ gene, new evidence suggests it might indeed play the role. Sometimes when a hormone docks with the cell, it makes the cell grow; sometimes it makes the cell commit suicide. Both responses could organize the development of the brain. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health find that insulin can stimulate nerves to grow. And in rat brains, regions involved in learning and memory are chock full of insulin receptors.
Even though this supports the idea that IGF2R can affect the brain and hence intelligence, some geneticists see major problem with the IQ-gene study. One is the possibility that Plomin’s group fell for what’s called the chopsticks fallacy. Geneticists might think they’ve found a gene for chopsticks skill, but all they’ve really found is a gene more common in Asian than, say, Africans. Similarly, Plomin’s IQ gene might simply be one that is more common in groups that emphasize academic achievement. "What if the gene they’ve found reflects ethnic differences" asks geneticist Andrew Feinberg of Johns Hopkins University. "I would take these findings with a whole box of salt."

It is found that insulin（）

A:is IQ gene. B:encourages nerves to grow. C:has nothing to do with IQ gene. D:is decisive to the development of intelligence.

gene family; gene cluster

Among all the fast growing science and technology, the research of human genes, or biologi cal engineering as people call it, is drawing more and more attention now. Sometimes it’s a hot topic discussed by people.
The greatest thing that gene technology can do is to cure serious diseases that doctors at present can almost do nothing with, such as cancer and heart disease. Every year, millions of people are murdered by these two killers. And to date, doctors have not found an effective way to cure them. But if the gene technology is applied, not only these two diseases can be cured completely, bringing happiness and more living days to the patients, but also the great amount of money people spend on curing their diseases can be saved, therefore it benefits the economy as well. In addition, human life span(寿命)can be prolonged.
Gene technology can help people to give birth to more healthy and clever children. Some families, with the English imperial(皇帝的)family being a good example, have hereditary(遗传的)diseases. This means their children will for sure have the family disease, which is a great trouble for these families. In the past, doctors could do nothing about hereditary diseases. But gene technology can solve this problem perfectly. Scientists just need to find the wrong gene and correct it, and a healthy child will be born.
Some people are worrying that the gene research can be used to manufacture(生产)human beings in large quantities. In the past few years, scientists have succeeded in cloning a sheep; therefore these people predict that human babies would soon be cloned. But I believe cloned babies will not come out in large quantities, for most couples in the world can have babies in very normal way. Of course, the governments must take care to control gene technology.

In what way can gene technology help to treat hereditary diseases（　）

A:Gene technology helps people with hereditary diseases to live longer. B:Using gene technology, scientists find the wrong gene and correct it. C:Using gene technology, human babies can be cloned. D:Doctors can cure cancer and heart disease with the help of gene technology.

Among all the fast growing science and technology, the research of human genes, or biologi cal engineering as people call it, is drawing more and more attention now. Sometimes it’s a hot topic discussed by people.
The greatest thing that gene technology can do is to cure serious diseases that doctors at present can almost do nothing with, such as cancer and heart disease. Every year, millions of people are murdered by these two killers. And to date, doctors have not found an effective way to cure them. But if the gene technology is applied, not only these two diseases can be cured completely, bringing happiness and more living days to the patients, but also the great amount of money people spend on curing their diseases can be saved, therefore it benefits the economy as well. In addition, human life span(寿命)can be prolonged.
Gene technology can help people to give birth to more healthy and clever children. Some families, with the English imperial(皇帝的)family being a good example, have hereditary(遗传的)diseases. This means their children will for sure have the family disease, which is a great trouble for these families. In the past, doctors could do nothing about hereditary diseases. But gene technology can solve this problem perfectly. Scientists just need to find the wrong gene and correct it, and a healthy child will be born.
Some people are worrying that the gene research can be used to manufacture(生产)human beings in large quantities. In the past few years, scientists have succeeded in cloning a sheep; therefore these people predict that human babies would soon be cloned. But I believe cloned babies will not come out in large quantities, for most couples in the world can have babies in very normal way. Of course, the governments must take care to control gene technology.

What is the main purpose of writing this passage（　）

A:Expressing the writer’s idea that gene technology will benefit people. B:Telling people the advantages and disadvantages of gene technology. C:Telling the readers that gene technology will not benefit people. D:Explaining that gene technology will also do harm to the humanity.

Among all the fast growing science and technology, the research of human genes, or biologi cal engineering as people call it, is drawing more and more attention now. Sometimes it’s a hot topic discussed by people.
The greatest thing that gene technology can do is to cure serious diseases that doctors at present can almost do nothing with, such as cancer and heart disease. Every year, millions of people are murdered by these two killers. And to date, doctors have not found an effective way to cure them. But if the gene technology is applied, not only these two diseases can be cured completely, bringing happiness and more living days to the patients, but also the great amount of money people spend on curing their diseases can be saved, therefore it benefits the economy as well. In addition, human life span(寿命)can be prolonged.
Gene technology can help people to give birth to more healthy and clever children. Some families, with the English imperial(皇帝的)family being a good example, have hereditary(遗传的)diseases. This means their children will for sure have the family disease, which is a great trouble for these families. In the past, doctors could do nothing about hereditary diseases. But gene technology can solve this problem perfectly. Scientists just need to find the wrong gene and correct it, and a healthy child will be born.
Some people are worrying that the gene research can be used to manufacture(生产)human beings in large quantities. In the past few years, scientists have succeeded in cloning a sheep; therefore these people predict that human babies would soon be cloned. But I believe cloned babies will not come out in large quantities, for most couples in the world can have babies in very normal way. Of course, the governments must take care to control gene technology.

What is the main purpose of writing this passage（　）

A:Expressing the writer’s idea that gene technology will benefit people. B:Telling people the advantages and disadvantages of gene technology. C:Telling the readers that gene technology will not benefit people. D:Explaining that gene technology will also do harm to the humanity.