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VOA科学技术2022--瑞典科学家因早期人类研究获得诺贝尔医学奖

时间:2022-11-04 01:34:45

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Swedish Scientist Wins Nobel Prize in Medicine for Research on Early Humans

Swedish scientist Svante Paabo won the Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for his discoveries on human evolution. His work shows how our immune system works differently from our long-ago ancestors, the Nobel group said.

New methods

Paabo has led the development of new methods that permit researchers to compare the genes2 of modern humans, also known as Homo sapiens, and that of some human relatives, like the Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Scientists first found Neanderthal bones in the mid-19th century. But looking at their genetic3 code, or DNA4, helps them fully5 understand the links between species. Paabo studies the time when modern humans and Neanderthals went separate ways as a species. That was around 800,000 years ago.

Anna Wedell is chair of the Nobel Committee. She said, "Paabo and his team also surprisingly found that gene1 flow had occurred from Neanderthals to Homo sapiens, demonstrating that they had children together during periods of co-existence."

This movement of genes between ancient human species affects how the immune system of modern humans reacts to infections, such as the coronavirus. People outside Africa have 1-2 percent of Neanderthal genes.

Discovery of a new human species

Paabo and his team also recovered some DNA from a tiny finger bone found in a cave in Siberia. This led to the recognition of a new species of ancient humans they called Denisovans.

Wedell described this as "a sensational6 discovery." With that information, researchers showed Neanderthals and Denisovans to be related groups. They split from each other around 600,000 years ago. Denisovan genes have been found in up to 6 percent of modern humans in Asia and Southeast Asia.

"By mixing with them after migrating out of Africa, Homo sapiens picked up sequences that improved their chances to survive in their new environments," said Wedell. For example, Tibetans share a gene with Denisovans that helps them live in high mountain areas.

Nils-Goran Larsson is a Nobel Assembly member. He told the Associated Press, "Svante Paabo has discovered the genetic makeup7 of our closest relatives. And the small differences between these extinct human forms and us as humans today will provide important insight into our body functions and how our brain has developed and so forth8."

Paabo was surprised to learn of his win on Monday. He thought something had been broken in his summer house when he got the call from the Nobel committee.

Father and son both Nobel winners

Paabo, 67, did his work at the University of Munich and at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary9 Anthropology10 in Leipzig, Germany. Paabo is the son of Sune Bergstrom, who won the Nobel prize in medicine in 1982. The Nobel Foundation says this is the eighth time that the son or daughter of a Nobel prizewinner also won a Nobel Prize.

David Reich is a geneticist at Harvard Medical School. He said by recognizing that DNA can be preserved for tens of thousands of years — and developing ways to recover it — Paabo and his team created a completely new way to answer questions about our past. Their work, he added, led to "explosive growth" of ancient DNA studies.

Katerina Harvati-Papatheodorou is a professor of paleoanthropology at the University of Tübingen in Germany. She said the award draws attention to the importance of understanding human evolution to gain insights about human health, such as COVID infections, today.

The medicine prize begins a week of Nobel Prize announcements. The prizes carry a cash award of nearly $900,000.

Words in This Story

evolution – n. a process of gradual change that takes place over many generations, during which species of animals, plants, or insects slowly change some of their physical characteristics

species – n. class of plants or animals whose members have the same main characteristics and are able to breed with each other.

occur – v. to happen

sensational adj. so remarkable11 that it causes great excitement and interest.

sequence - n. a DNA sequence is the order in which the elements making up a particular gene are combined

insight – n. knowledge and understanding


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1 gene WgKxx     
n.遗传因子,基因
参考例句:
  • A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
  • The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。
2 genes 01914f8eac35d7e14afa065217edd8c0     
n.基因( gene的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因,所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪
3 genetic PgIxp     
adj.遗传的,遗传学的
参考例句:
  • It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
  • Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。
4 DNA 4u3z1l     
(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸
参考例句:
  • DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
  • Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。
5 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
6 sensational Szrwi     
adj.使人感动的,非常好的,轰动的,耸人听闻的
参考例句:
  • Papers of this kind are full of sensational news reports.这类报纸满是耸人听闻的新闻报道。
  • Their performance was sensational.他们的演出妙极了。
7 makeup 4AXxO     
n.组织;性格;化装品
参考例句:
  • Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
  • Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗?
8 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
9 evolutionary Ctqz7m     
adj.进化的;演化的,演变的;[生]进化论的
参考例句:
  • Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
  • These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。
10 anthropology zw2zQ     
n.人类学
参考例句:
  • I believe he has started reading up anthropology.我相信他已开始深入研究人类学。
  • Social anthropology is centrally concerned with the diversity of culture.社会人类学主要关于文化多样性。
11 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

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