Unit 5. Domesticated animals

Lexis: Zoology / Animal science / Ethology / Genetics / Bioengineering Listening. 3 texts

Text a. Canine evolution

to tame – приручить, укротить canids – собачьи

Exercise 1. The following text (Script 9) correlates with Text A The Origin of Dogs (Book I, exercise 2, page 30) and provides more information about other studies of domestic dog origin. Listen to the text and and say what the following figures refer to in the text:

18 36,000-15,000 49 77 4

3 1,000 and 8,500 15,000 10,000

Exercise 2. Listen to the text again and compare the information given in this text with the information in the reading passage.

Exercise 3. Did the studies described obtain consistent results? Did both teams of scientists use similar methods? How can you interpret the conclusions of both studies?

Text b. Fish farming

Exercise 4. Before listening to the text discuss what you know about selective breeding, in particular:

1. animal breeding;

2. plant breeding;

3. selective breeding in aquaculture.

impetus – побудительный мотив flounders - речная камбала trout - форель amberjack - лакедра (желтохвост) signpost – указатель to swap – обменивать pestilence – эпидемия, чума

Exercise 5. Listen to the text (Script 10) to find out about a serious problem of fish farming. How it was overcome?

Exercise 6. Listen to the text again and say if the following statements are true or false according to the text or no information is given. Correct the false ones.

1. Grown together in large numbers fish quickly develop resistance to diseases.

2. Scientists sequenced full genomes of the three species involved.

3. Genetic signposts are inherited together with blocks of DNA from both parents.

4. Genetic signposts determine the degree of gene expression.

5. Genetic maps include information on which signposts are associated with disease resistance.

6. Genetic maps present an efficient tool for breeding healthier fish.

7. The new method combines genetic engineering with traditional selective breeding.

8. Dr Sakamoto's research group has successfully applied the new method.

Text c. Animal rights

Exercise 7. Before listening to the text discuss the following questions:

1. What features distinguish cetaceans from other mammals?

2. What do people and cetaceans have in common?

3. Do you think animals should enjoy some inalienable rights just as humans do?

civil rights – гражданские права to confer – предоставлять, даровать, обеспечивать self-awareness – самосознание, самоосмысление controversial – спорный, вызывающий полемику spindle cell – веретенообразная клетка pod – группа китов

Exercise 8. Listen to the text (Script 11) to find out why some scientists think that cetaceans can be afforded special rights.

Exercise 9. Listen to the text again. Who are the following scientists and what points of view do they present in the text:

- Lori Marino of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia;

- Thomas White of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California;

- Chris Butler-Stroud of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society in Britain;

- Kari Koski of the Whale Museum in San Juan Island, Washington state;

- Peter Singer, an Australian philosopher.

Exercise 10. Discuss the following questions using information from the text:

1. What arguments support the proposition that whales – or some other mammals as well – should be given rights?

2. What examples do you know of animals being afforded some rights?

3. Do you support the proposition that animals should be given rights?