二〇一八年，一位中国科学家宣布世界上第一对“基因编辑婴儿”诞生，随即引发了全球范围的强烈谴责。
In 2018 a Chinese scientist announced the birth of the world's first "gene-edited babies," which immediately drew fierce condemnation worldwide.
争论的核心并不在于技术本身，而在于人类是否有资格改写生命的说明书。
The heart of the dispute lies not in the technology itself, but in whether human beings have the standing to rewrite the instruction manual of life.
支持者指出，如果一项技术能让孩子免于遗传疾病的折磨，放弃使用它同样是一种残忍。
Supporters point out that if a technology can spare a child the torment of a hereditary disease, refusing to use it is a cruelty of its own.
反对者则担心，一旦编辑生殖细胞的口子被打开，“治病”与“改良”之间的界限就会越来越模糊。
Opponents, for their part, worry that once the door to editing reproductive cells is opened, the line between "curing" and "enhancing" will grow ever blurrier.
今天允许修改致病基因，明天是否就要挑选身高和智商？
If modifying disease-causing genes is permitted today, will we be choosing height and IQ tomorrow?
更现实的问题是费用：昂贵的技术往往先服务于富人，从而可能把社会差距刻进基因里。
An even more practical worry is cost: expensive technology tends to serve the wealthy first, and could thereby carve social inequality into our genes.
值得注意的是，用于治疗成年病人的基因疗法争议要小得多，因为它的影响不会传给下一代。
It is worth noting that gene therapies used to treat adult patients are far less controversial, because their effects are not passed on to the next generation.
无论支持还是反对，双方至少在一点上是一致的：这类决定不该由某个实验室单独作出。
Whether they support it or oppose it, both sides agree on at least one point: a decision like this should not be made by a single laboratory alone.
技术跑得越快，社会就越需要停下来，先把规则讨论清楚。
The faster the technology runs, the more society needs to stop and talk the rules through first.
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Key words 生词
基因jīyīngene
谴责qiǎnzéto condemn; condemnation
遗传yíchuánhereditary; to pass on genetically
界限jièxiànboundary; dividing line
模糊móhublurred; vague
疗法liáofǎtherapy; course of treatment
Grammar note 语法点
不在于…，而在于…
'It lies not in A, but in B' — a formal way to redirect the reader from a false focus to the real one, common in argumentative essays. 例：成功不在于速度，而在于方向。
争论的核心并不在于技术本身，而在于人类是否有资格改写生命的说明书。 — The core of the debate lies not in the technology itself but in whether humans have the standing to rewrite the manual of life.
一旦…，就…
'Once A happens, B follows' — 一旦 introduces a hypothetical but consequential turning point; the clause with 就 states the result that then becomes hard to stop. 例：一旦养成习惯，就很难改掉。
一旦编辑生殖细胞的口子被打开，界限就会越来越模糊。 — Once the door to editing reproductive cells is opened, the line will grow ever blurrier.
越 A，就越 B
'The more A, the more B' — links two variables that rise together. Each 越 attaches directly to a verb or adjective. 例：他越解释，大家就越糊涂。
技术跑得越快，社会就越需要停下来。 — The faster technology runs, the more society needs to stop.
Check yourself 小测验
1. According to the text, where does the heart of the gene-editing dispute lie?
2. What argument do supporters of the technology make?
3. Why does the text say gene therapy for adult patients is far less controversial?
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