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科学美国人60秒 SSS 基因突变使早期人类获得优势

时间:2019-09-29 08:41:03

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(单词翻译)

This is Scientific American — 60-Second Science. I'm Christopher Intagliata.

这里是科学美国人——60秒科学。我是克里斯托弗·因塔利亚塔。

Homo sapiens are nowhere near the fastest runners in the animal kingdom. But what we lack in speed, we make up for in endurance. And we're specially1 equipped to go the distance. We've got bigger butt2 muscles than other primates3. We lost most of our fur, too, and sprouted4 lots of sweat glands5, to help us cool off.

智人的速度远不及动物界跑得最快的动物。但我们的耐力优势弥补了我们在速度上的不足。而且我们还拥有特殊的“装备”帮助我们跑长跑。我们的臀肌比其它灵长类动物要大。我们还褪去了大部分皮毛,长出大量汗腺帮助我们降温。

Scientists believe our endurance running abilities began to appear two to three million years ago, around the time the genus homo came about. And a new study suggests that a mutation6 in one key gene7 had something to do with it.

科学家认为我们的耐力跑能力在200万到300万年前开始产生,大约是人属出现前后。一项新研究发现,一个关键基因的突变与此有关。

The mutation, in what's called the CMAH gene, altered the types of sugar molecules8 that decorate the surfaces of every cell in our bodies. Which in turn may have made our muscles less prone9 to fatigue10.

这种被称为CMAH基因的突变,改变了附着在我们体内每个细胞表面的糖分子的类型。这反过来可能令我们的肌肉不易疲劳。

Researchers have now found that mice bred with that same mutation can run longer without tiring, compared to regular mice. The mice with the gene alteration11 also logged more miles running on their wheels, apparently12 for fun. And they had more capillaries13 in their back leg muscles—which would increase the delivery of nutrients14 and oxygen during endurance exercise.

研究人员现在发现,与普通小鼠相比,基因突变的小鼠能跑得更久而不累。基因突变的小鼠还在轮子上跑了更多距离,这显然是为了好玩。它们的后腿肌肉中有更多毛细血管,这会在耐力训练中增加营养和氧气的输送。

The complete stats are in the Proceedings15 of the Royal Society B.

这项研究的完整统计数据刊登在《英国皇家学会学报:B辑》上。

It's unclear if this small genetic16 tweak endows humans with the same benefits as the mice. But if it does, it could help explain how early humans got a leg up on their competitors. Or, really, two legs.

目前并不清楚这种微小的基因变异是否能使人类获得与小鼠一样的好处。但是如果可以,那将有助于解释早期人类是如何在竞争中占据优势的。或者,实际上是获得了压倒性的优势。

Thanks for listening for Scientific American — 60-Second Science. I'm Christopher Intagliata.

谢谢大家收听科学美国人——60秒科学。我是克里斯托弗·因塔利亚塔。


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 specially Hviwq     
adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地
参考例句:
  • They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
  • The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。
2 butt uSjyM     
n.笑柄;烟蒂;枪托;臀部;v.用头撞或顶
参考例句:
  • The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
  • He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。
3 primates 9536f12c27d026e37c108bd6fc53dbba     
primate的复数
参考例句:
  • Primates are alert, inquisitive animals. 灵长目动物是机灵、好奇的动物。
  • Consciousness or cerebration has been said to have emerged in the evolution of higher primates. 据说意识或思考在较高级灵长类的进化中已出现。
4 sprouted 6e3d9efcbfe061af8882b5b12fd52864     
v.发芽( sprout的过去式和过去分词 );抽芽;出现;(使)涌现出
参考例句:
  • We can't use these potatoes; they've all sprouted. 这些土豆儿不能吃了,都出芽了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The rice seeds have sprouted. 稻种已经出芽了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5 glands 82573e247a54d4ca7619fbc1a5141d80     
n.腺( gland的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a snake's poison glands 蛇的毒腺
  • the sebaceous glands in the skin 皮脂腺
6 mutation t1PyM     
n.变化,变异,转变
参考例句:
  • People who have this mutation need less sleep than others.有这种突变的人需要的睡眠比其他人少。
  • So far the discussion has centered entirely around mutation in the strict sense.到目前为止,严格来讲,讨论完全集中于围绕突变问题上。
7 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。
8 molecules 187c25e49d45ad10b2f266c1fa7a8d49     
分子( molecule的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
  • Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里,大分子裂变为小分子。
9 prone 50bzu     
adj.(to)易于…的,很可能…的;俯卧的
参考例句:
  • Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
  • He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。
10 fatigue PhVzV     
n.疲劳,劳累
参考例句:
  • The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
  • I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。
11 alteration rxPzO     
n.变更,改变;蚀变
参考例句:
  • The shirt needs alteration.这件衬衣需要改一改。
  • He easily perceived there was an alteration in my countenance.他立刻看出我的脸色和往常有些不同。
12 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
13 capillaries d0d7ccc2f58ea09ec26e13a0d6ffd34a     
毛细管,毛细血管( capillary的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。
  • While Joe sleeps, a large percentage of his capillaries are inactive. 当乔睡觉时,他的毛细血管大部分是不工作的。
14 nutrients 6a1e1ed248a3ac49744c39cc962fb607     
n.(食品或化学品)营养物,营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
  • Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 proceedings Wk2zvX     
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报
参考例句:
  • He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
  • to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼
16 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。

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