VOA慢速英语:Scientists Dispute Study of Genetically Modified Corn

Scientists are criticizing a study that said laboratory rats developed tumors after they ate genetically modified corn. The research appears in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology and includes pictures of rats with large tumors. The study said the animals developed the growths after two years of being fed genetically changed maize.
科学家批评了一项研究，称实验室小鼠在吃了转基因玉米后身上长肿瘤。这项研究发表在杂志《食品与化学毒理》上，附有长了大瘤子的老鼠的图片。研究称这些老鼠在吃了两年的转基因玉米后就长了肿瘤。

Gilles-Eric Seralini from the University of Caen in French was the lead author.
法国卡昂大学的Gilles-Eric Seralini是研究的主要负责人。

"GM foods have been evaluated in an extremely poor and lax way with much less analysis than we have done," he says. 
“之前人们对转基因食品进行的评估很少，也很随意，远没有我们做的分析多。”

Several French scientific organizations and the European Food Safety Authority disputed the study.
法国几个科学组织和欧洲食品安全局对研究表示否定。

Alan McHughen of the University of California, Riverside, is a genetic expert with the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.
加州大学河岸分校的Alan McHughen是美国国家科学院的基因专家。

"First of all, the authors of the study used a line of rats that was genetically predisposed to form tumors in the first place. So right off the bat the whole study was suspect."
“首先，作者使用一组基因上决定会长肿瘤的老鼠来做实验，因此我们对整个研究表示质疑。”

At the University of California, Davis, toxicologist Alison van Eenennaam suggested that the study was an attempt to scare the public.
加州大学戴维斯分校的毒理学家Alison van Eenennaam说研究是想吓唬公众。

"I think it was a cynical ploy to exploit the scientific process to create fear in the minds of consumers."
“我认为这是个愤世嫉俗的策略，意在通过科学手段来使消费者害怕。”

Even opponents of genetic engineering agree there were some problems with the study methods. Michael Hansen with the group Consumers Union says there should be more long-term studies -- and more rules for genetically modified foods.
甚至是反对基因工程的人也认为研究方法有问题，消费者联盟的迈克尔•汉森说应该进行长期的研究，并对转基因食品实施更多规则。

"There should be required safety assessments before these crops are put on the market. That is not what happens in the United States."
“应该在把粮食投入市场之前进行安全评估，而美国并没有这么做。”

Safety assessments are voluntary when companies ask the government to approve new GM crops. These assessments often include ninety-day rat feeding tests. This is the international standard. And Alison van Eenennaam says longer studies have not found major problems.
当商家请求政府通过新的转基因作物时，安全评估是资源进行的。评估内容包括90天的喂食老鼠实验，这是国际标准。Alison van Eenennaam说长期研究并没有发现重大问题。

Several French science academies said the release of a book and film about the work at the same time as the study raised ethical concerns. The French food safety agency called for more publicly funded research that would last the lifetime of the experimental animals.
法国一些科学院称与这项研究同时期发布的一本书和一部电影引发了道德担忧，该食物安全机构呼吁进行更多由公共资金支持的研究，从而延续实验用动物的生命。

In the United States, the Grocery Manufacturers Association says about eighty percent of processed foods sold in supermarkets contain genetically modified ingredients.
在美国，食品杂货制造商协会称超市卖的加工食品中有80%的都含有转基因成分。

Voters in California will vote Tuesday on a ballot measure to require special notices on all foods made with genetically modified organisms.
加州的选民周二将投票要求对所有用转基因生物制作的食物进行特别关注。

"A new study links genetically engineered corn to tumors and organ damage."
“一项新研究将转基因玉米与肿瘤和器官损害联系起来。”

Supporters of the ballot question have used the disputed new study to push their campaign for required GMO labeling in California.
投票支持者使用这项有争议的新研究来在加州推动实施转基因食品加标签的运动。