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(单词翻译)
How a sperm and an egg come together has long been a mystery.
Now, new research by scientists in Austria provides interesting insight. It shows that fertilization works like a lock and key in animals that have a backbone -- from fish to people. Such animals are called vertebrates.
"We discovered this mechanism that's really fundamental across all vertebrates as far as we can tell," said co-author Andrea Pauli. He spoke to the Associated Press from the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna, Austria.
The team found that three proteins in sperm join to form a sort of key that unlocks the egg. The process permits the sperm to attach to the egg.
The research findings come from studies in zebrafish, mice, and human cells. They show how this process has continued over millions of years of evolution.
The findings appear in the science magazine, Cell.
Scientists already knew about two proteins -- one on the surface of the sperm and another in the tissue of the egg. Working with an international team, Pauli's lab used Google DeepMind's artificial intelligence tool AlphaFold to help them find and identify a new protein. The protein permits the first molecular connection between sperm and egg.
The developers of AlphaFold won a Nobel Prize earlier this month.
However, what the researchers did not know until now was how the proteins worked together as a team to get the sperm and egg to recognize each other, Pauli said.
Scientists still do not know how the sperm gets inside the egg after it attaches. They say they hope to explore that next.
Pauli said such research could help other scientists understand infertility better or develop new birth control methods, also called contraceptives.
The work provides targets for the development of male contraceptives said David Greenstein in an email to AP. Greenstein is a genetics and cell biology expert at the University of Minnesota and was not involved in the study. The latest study also highlights the importance of this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry, he said in the email.
I'm Anna Matteo.
Laura Ungar reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.
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Words in This Story
lock - n. a fastening (as for a door) in which a bolt is operated (as by a key)
key - n. a usually metal instrument that is used to open a lock or to start or access a mechanism
mechanism - n. a process, technique, or system for achieving a result
fundamental - adj. serving as a basis supporting existence or determining essential structure or function
evolution - n. the process by which new species or populations of living things develop from preexisting forms through successive generations
0 sperm | |
n.精子,精液 | |
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0 together | |
adv.一起,共同,相结合,同时地,协调地;adj.头脑清楚的,镇定的 | |
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0 long | |
adj.长的 | |
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0 interesting | |
adj.有趣的,有意思的 | |
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0 shows | |
v.给…看( show的第三人称单数 );表现出;显露出;上演 | |
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0 key | |
n.答案;钥匙;关键;adj.基本的 | |
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0 animals | |
n.动物( animal的名词复数 );兽;兽性;粗野残暴的人 | |
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0 people | |
n.人们,人;(the-)人民;一国人民,民族 | |
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0 called | |
v.叫( call的过去式和过去分词 );通电话;认为;估计 | |
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0 really | |
adv.真正地,实际上,实际上;很;实,其实 | |
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0 team | |
n.队,组;v.协同工作 | |
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0 join | |
v.参加,加入;联合,连接;和…在一起 | |
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0 studies | |
n.研究;书房( study的名词复数 );研究论文v.学习,研究( study的第三人称单数 );想出;详细地检查;背诵(台词等) | |
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0 show | |
v.出示;告知;n.展览(会);演出,节目 | |
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0 years | |
n.年( year的名词复数 );年纪;一年的期间;某年级的学生 | |
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0 science | |
n.科学,学科,学问,自然科学; | |
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0 another | |
adj.另外的,再一,不同的;prep.另外一个,另一个人,同类的东西;pron.另一个,另外一个人,他人 | |
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0 working | |
adj.(涉及)工作的;(人)有工作的;(时间)用于工作上的;(想法等)可作为基础的v.(使)工作( work的现在分词);(使)运作;运转;(使)产生效果n.工作;活动;制作;操纵 | |
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0 help | |
v.帮助,帮忙 | |
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0 first | |
adj.第一的;adv.首先 | |
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0 between | |
prep.在…之间,在(两者)之间;adv.在中间 | |
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0 earlier | |
adj.早期的,初期的adv.早期(地),初期(地) | |
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0 month | |
n.月,月份 | |
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0 worked | |
adj.处理过的,作装饰用的v.(使)工作( work的过去式和过去分词 );(使)运作;运转;(使)产生效果 | |
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0 each | |
adj.每个,每,每一;adv.每个;int.每个,个人,个自 | |
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0 still | |
adj.静止的,寂静的;adv.还,仍然;更;安静地 | |
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0 understand | |
vt.理解,闻知;vi.理解,相信,表示同情 | |
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0 better | |
adj.更好的(good和well的比较级);更熟练的;好的;健康的; adv.更好地;更妥;更恰当 | |
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0 also | |
adv.也,亦;并且;同样;而且,还 | |
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0 work | |
n.工作,劳动 | |
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0 study | |
vt.学习;研究;细看;vi.读书;n.学习;研究 | |
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0 words | |
n.字( word的名词复数 );(说的)话;诺言;口令 | |
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0 usually | |
adv.通常,平常,一般 | |
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0 start | |
v.开始;着手;出发 | |
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0 mystery | |
n.神秘,奥秘,秘密,玄妙,不可思议的事 | |
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0 research | |
n.探索;调查;研究 vt./vi.调查;研究 | |
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0 institute | |
n.学会,协会;讲习会,讲座;vt.建立,设立;开始 | |
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0 proteins | |
n.蛋白质( protein的名词复数 ) | |
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0 sort | |
v.排序,挑选,分拣;n.种类,类别,性质,程度 | |
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0 process | |
n.程序,进行,过程;vt.加工,处理,对…处置,对…起诉;adj.经加工的,三色版的 | |
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0 surface | |
n.表面,平面;adj.表面的,肤浅的;v.使...成平面,被露出来,在表面工作 | |
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0 used | |
adj.用旧了的,旧的;习惯于…;过去惯/经常 | |
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0 identify | |
vt.识别,认明,鉴定,使等同于;vi.一致,变成一致 | |
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0 protein | |
n.蛋白质;adj.蛋白质的 | |
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0 connection | |
n.联接,连结,联系;亲戚关系 | |
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0 recognize | |
vt.认出,认可,承认,公认,识别,赏识;vi.承认,具结 | |
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0 explore | |
vt.勘探,探测;探究,探索 | |
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0 methods | |
n.method的复数:方法;方法( method的名词复数 );方法论;教学法;分类法 | |
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0 targets | |
n.(服务的)对象( target的名词复数 );(欲达到的)目[指]标;(射击的)靶子;[军事]军事攻击目标 | |
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0 male | |
n.男人,雄性动物;adj.男性的,属于雄性的,有力的 | |
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0 email | |
n.电子邮件(Electronic mail),透过电脑网路传送邮件的方式 | |
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0 expert | |
n.专家,能手;adj.熟练的,有经验的;专门的,内行的 | |
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0 involved | |
a.复杂的,有密切关系的 | |
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0 importance | |
n.重要性,重大,价值 | |
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0 adapted | |
adj.适合的v.(使)适应, (使)适合( adapt的过去式和过去分词 );改编,改写;改变…以适合(for);适应于,适应不同情况(或环境)(to) | |
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0 fastening | |
n.(门等)扣绊,拴扣物 | |
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0 instrument | |
n.乐器,工具,仪器,器械 | |
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0 access | |
n.接近;达到;进入;入口,通路;微软(Microsoft)数据库处理软件 | |
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0 technique | |
n.技术,技巧,方法,表演法,手法 | |
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0 basis | |
n.基础,主要成分 | |
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0 existence | |
n.存在,生存,生活,生活方式 | |
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0 determining | |
(使)下决心, (使)做出决定( determine的现在分词 ); 决定; 确定; 使决定 | |
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0 function | |
n.功能;作用 | |
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0 scientists | |
n.科学家( scientist的名词复数 ) | |
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0 provides | |
v.提供,供给,供应( provide的第三人称单数 );规定;提供[(+for)];装备 | |
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0 lock | |
vi.锁,锁上,锁住,紧闭;vt.锁,锁上,拘禁;隐藏;使固定,卡住;n.锁,刹车;水闸;一缕头发 | |
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0 such | |
adj.如此的,这样的;pron.这样的;adv.如此地 | |
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0 discovered | |
v.发现( discover的过去式和过去分词 );碰见;撞见;了解到 | |
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0 across | |
adv.横过,使...被理解(或接受);prep.穿过,横过 | |
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0 as | |
conj.按照;如同 | |
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0 said | |
v.动词say的过去式、过去分词 | |
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0 press | |
n.新闻界,压力;v.按,压 | |
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0 found | |
v.建立,创立,创办;vbl.(find的过去分词)找到 | |
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0 form | |
n.形式,形状,表格;v.形成,组成,建立 | |
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0 mice | |
n.(mouse的复数形式)老鼠 | |
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0 human | |
n.人,人类;adj.人类的,人性的,有同情心的 | |
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0 continued | |
adj.继续的,延续的v.继续,连续( continue的过去式和过去分词 );持续;逗留;停留 | |
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0 millions | |
n.数百万;百万( million的名词复数 ) | |
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0 appear | |
vi.出现,出场,出席,露面;似乎,好像,显得 | |
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0 magazine | |
n.期刊,杂志 | |
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0 already | |
adv.已经 | |
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0 international | |
adj.国际的 | |
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0 lab | |
n.实验室 | |
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0 tool | |
n.工具,器具 | |
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0 won | |
vt.赢得(为win的过去式) | |
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0 prize | |
n.奖,奖品,战利品;v.珍视,捕获 | |
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0 however | |
adv.然而;conj.然而,可是,不过 | |
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0 did | |
v.动词do的过去式 | |
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0 until | |
prep.直到...为止;conj.直到...时才... | |
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0 was | |
v.(is,am的过去式)是,在 | |
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0 inside | |
n.内部,内脏,内幕;adj.内部的,秘密的,户内的;prep.在...之内 | |
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0 hope | |
vt.希望,期望;vi.希望,期待;n.希望,期望 | |
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0 could | |
v.能,可能(can的过去式);aux.v.(can的过去式)能;可以 | |
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0 develop | |
v.发展;研制;开发 | |
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0 birth | |
n.出身,血统,出生,诞生,出现,起源 | |
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0 control | |
n.控制,管理,克制,控制器,调节装置;vt.控制,操纵,抑制 | |
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0 development | |
n.发育,成长;发展,进展;发达;开发 | |
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0 biology | |
n.生物学 | |
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0 university | |
n.大学 | |
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0 latest | |
adj.最新的,最近的,最后的,最迟的 | |
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0 chemistry | |
n.化学,化学作用 | |
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0 reported | |
adj.据报告的,据报导的,据传闻的 | |
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0 operated | |
adj.操作的,多操作者同时工作的v.运转( operate的过去式和过去分词 );操作;经营;管理 | |
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0 metal | |
n.金属,质料;adj.金属制的;v.以金属覆盖 | |
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0 system | |
n.系统,体系,制度,方式,秩序,分类原则 | |
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0 achieving | |
v.取得( achieve的现在分词 );获得;实现;成功 | |
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0 result | |
n.结果,成绩,答案;v.产生,起于,致使 | |
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0 serving | |
n.服务;(食物或饮料的)一份;上菜adj.用于上菜的v.(为…)服务( serve的现在分词);任(职);提供;端上 | |
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0 supporting | |
adj.支持的,支撑的v.支持( support的现在分词 );帮助;支撑;维持 | |
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0 Austria | |
n.奥地利(欧洲国家) | |
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0 associated | |
adj.联合的 | |
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0 permits | |
许可( permit的名词复数 ); 许可证; 执照 | |
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0 attach | |
v.附上,使依恋,爱慕 | |
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0 cells | |
n.细胞( cell的名词复数 );小牢房;(修道士或修女住的)小房间;电池 | |
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0 evolution | |
n.进展,发展,演变,进化 | |
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0 cell | |
n.区,细胞,血球;小室,牢房;电池,光电管;基层组织 | |
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0 intelligence | |
n.智力,聪明,智能;情报 | |
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0 attaches | |
贴上,系,附上( attach的第三人称单数 ); (有时不受欢迎或未受邀请而)参加; 把…固定; 把…归因于 | |
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0 genetics | |
n.遗传学 | |
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0 essential | |
adj.必要的,必不可少的;本质的,基本的;n.要素,要点 | |
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0 structure | |
n.结构,构造,建筑物;v.构成; | |
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0 insight | |
n.洞察力,洞悉,深刻的见解 | |
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0 unlocks | |
v.开锁( unlock的第三人称单数 );开启;揭开;开着,解开 | |
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0 works | |
n.作品,著作;工厂,活动部件,机件 | |
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0 fundamental | |
adj.基本的,主要的;基本原则,基本法则 | |
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0 findings | |
n.发现物( finding的名词复数 );调查(或研究)的结果;(陪审团的)裁决 | |
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0 tissue | |
n.组织;薄纱,薄纸,手巾纸 | |
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0 artificial | |
adj.人工的,人造的,人为的;做作的,假装的 | |
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0 highlights | |
n.头发挑染部分;全球知名儿童刊物及相关产品的发行和销售商的名称、商号及商标 | |
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0 learning | |
n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词 | |
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0 bolt | |
n.螺栓;插销;vt.闩,栓住;vi.冲出去,逃跑 | |
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0 backbone | |
n.脊骨,脊柱,骨干;刚毅,骨气 | |
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0 molecular | |
adj.分子的;克分子的 | |
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0 infertility | |
n.不肥沃,不毛;不育 | |
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0 mechanism | |
n.机械装置;机构,结构 | |
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0 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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