★★☆Scientists Discover Secrets of Coffee

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Vocabulary

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1. psychoactive /ˈsaɪkoʊˈæktɪv/ (adj.) having an effect on the brain; used to describe the effects of a drug
2. discover /dɪˈskʌvɚ/ (v.)to see, find, or become aware of (something) for the first time
3. crop /ˈkrɑːp/ (n.) a plant or plant product that is grown by farmers
4. produce /prəˈduːs/ (v.) to make (something) especially by using machines
5. species /ˈspiːʃiz/ (n.) biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus

Article

Scientists Discover Secrets of Coffee

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 (1)An international team of researchers has created a sequence, or map, of the genes of the coffee plant known as Robusta. About one-third of the coffee drunk worldwide comes from this plant.

(2) The researchers call coffee “the irresistible bean that delivers the most widely consumed psychoactive drug in the world.”

(3) Researchers hope to use the map they created to make changes to the plant’s genes.

(4) The researchers were surprised to discover the genes for caffeine. They discovered coffee’s caffeine genes are not linked to the caffeine genes in the cacao tree. Cacao beans are used to make chocolate.

(5) With the new gene map, researchers say they may be able to develop plants that can survive climate change. They may also be able to create a coffee plant that does not have caffeine. The researchers say that would let growers and coffee makers produce coffee that tastes better than the kind that has the caffeine removed.

(6) We drink 2.5 billion cups of coffee every day. Coffee is the main agricultural crop in many tropical countries.

(7) The genetic map of the coffee plant Robusta was published in the journal Science. The researchers say the plant “joins a long list of crop species that have been sequenced using ever-improving” computer programs.

Discussion

*Let’s talk about the article base on the questions below

1. How do you like your coffee? (e.g black, with milk,etc.) Why?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of drinking coffee?
3. Do you think caffeine is healthy? Why? Other than coffee, what other drink helps you to stay awake?

Tags: Business, culture, food, Health, lifestyle, Science