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How to Build a Human 复制新人类

课文朗读

课文讲解

 繁體中文譯本

Have you ever wondered how human beings have developed? Life began as tiny single cells billions of years ago, and from there the cells became the complex animal known as a human. While this natural cloning has taken billions of years to achieve, new research has discovered the key to speeding up the process. All the wonders of creation lie in the tiniest couriers: our genes.

你可曾想过人类是如何演变而来的？数十亿年前，生命以微小的单细胞型态出现，再由此发展为所谓人类的复杂动物。虽然这个天然的复制过程需要几十亿年才能完成，但新研究已发现加速此过程的关键。万物的奥妙都在最小的信差上：我们的基因。

Recent discoveries have revealed how we might manipulate our genes. After a fertilized egg begins to divide into cells, the genes carried inside the cells’ nucleus develop embryonic stem cells. These tiny cells grow into every tissue in the body, building people from the ground up.

近来的发现揭露了操作基因的可能方式。受精卵开始分裂成细胞后，细胞核内所携带的基因便会发展成胚胎干细胞。这些微小细胞会发育成身体的每一个组织，将人从头到脚打造起来。

Researchers are harvesting these stem cells before they develop in the hope of manipulating them. This new science brings hope to many. Imagine people suffering from a spinal cord injury which has left them paralyzed. Using stem cell research, scientists may be able to grow them new spinal tissue.

研究者在这些干细胞发育前就先行采集，以期能操控它们。这项新科学为许多人带来希望。试想那些因脊髓受伤而瘫痪的人，只要运用干细胞研究，科学家就有可能为他们培养新的脊髓组织。

Our genes determine every single physical characteristic about us. Some experts also believe that personality traits could be read from our genes. If this is possible, does this mean our destinies are already predetermined? People who seek dangers and thrills are known to possess a special gene that makes them crave dangerous situations.

我们的基因决定了我们每一项生理特征。有些专家相信人格特质亦可从基因解读。若真能如此，是否表示我们的命运已先注定了呢？我们已知喜欢追求危险和刺激的人拥有某种特定基因，使他们追求危险的情境。

The ability to read and manipulate our genes could lead to the ability to predict and then alter our genetic blueprints. While this genetic engineering seems very promising, some scientists feel there is a dark cloud behind this scientific silver lining. This may go against evolution as we know it.

解读并操控基因的能力能让我们预测进而改变基因蓝图。虽然这项基因工程前景看好，但有些科学家认为这背后仍有隐忧。基因工程可能违反我们所知的物种演化过程。

Vocabulary

单词发音

key [ki] n. 关键

manipulate [məˋnɪpjə͵let] v.（熟练地）操作，运用

stem cell 干细胞

suffer from 受...之苦

paralyzed [ˋpærə͵laɪzd] adj. 瘫痪的

trait [tret] n. 特性

destiny [ˋdɛstənɪ] n. 命运

crave [krev] v. 渴望﹐热望

alter [ˋɔltɚ] v. 改变

silver lining  乌云周围的白光  a metaphor for optimism

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单词发音

speed up (使)加速 to go faster

courier [ˋkʊrɪɚ] n. 信差

fertilized [ˋfɝt!͵aɪzd] adj. 受精的

nucleus [ˋnjuklɪəs] n. 细胞核

embryonic [͵ɛmbrɪˋɑnɪk] adj. 胚胎的

from the ground up 从头开始 from the very beginning

harvest [ˋhɑrvɪst] v. 获得，得到

in the hope of 希望, 以期… expecting and wishing for

thrill [θrɪl] n. 惊险刺激

blueprint [ˋbluˋprɪnt] n. 蓝图；设计图

promising [ˋprɑmɪsɪŋ] adj. 有前途的，大有可为的

课文讲解

While the debate on ethical issues of genetic research rages on, other discoveries are being made, such as what genes determine sex. Out of the 60 genes on the Y chromosome, only a very small part actually influences whether we will be male or female. It takes 30,000 genes to build a human, but only 1 to make it a man. This one gene will determine whether a fetus will become male or female. It’s interesting to know that men are basically adaptations of the female form.

当有关基因研究的伦理议题持续进行时，科学家已有其他新发现，例如何种基因决定性别。在Y染色体的60个基因中，事实上只有极小一部分影响性别。构成一个人需要三万个基因，但只有一个基因能使其成为男人。这一个基因将决定胎儿是男是女。得知男性是以女性为蓝图而发展出来是很有趣的。

Whether we are male or female, we are all subject to the aging process. Genetic research has given us a new understanding as to how it happens. What comes to mind when you hear the word “oxygen”? Most would probably say a gas that living things need to survive. However, oxygen is also one of the causes of death. Cells require oxygen to produce energy for the body, but during this chemical reaction, by-products known as “free radicals” are released. It is these by-products which break down healthy cells and cause us to age.

不论男女，我们都得历经老化的过程。基因研究已提供我们对老化原因的新见解。听到「氧气」这个名词，你会想到什么？多数人大概会说这是生物赖以存活的气体。然而，氧气亦是死亡的原因之一。细胞需要氧气为身体产生活力，但在此化学反应期间，会释放出「自由基」这个副产物。而摧毁健康细胞并使我们老化的，正是这些副产物。

For those of us wanting to turn back the clock, experts now believe the true elixir of life exists in anti-oxidants. These chemicals can reduce the damage to cells. Anti-oxidants occur naturally in different foods such as dark, green leafy vegetables like spinach, blueberries and certain types of tea. By using anti-oxidants, we can actually slow the free radicals down to a snail’s pace. All of us want the perfect body, a great personality and to be forever young. With further research into genetics, we may someday be able to build the perfect human being.

对于想使时光倒流的人，专家认为生命的真正万灵丹在于抗氧化物。这些化学物质能减少自由基对细胞的伤害。抗氧化物存在于多种天然食物中，像是菠菜这类深绿色叶菜、蓝莓和几种特定茶叶。藉由抗氧化物，我们就能大幅减缓自由基效应。所有人都想要身体完美、品格高尚和青春永驻。随着基因研究的进展，或许有朝一日我们能够创造出完美的人类。

−by Ryan Campbell

Vocabulary

单词发音

ethical [ˋɛθɪk!] adj. 伦理的，道德的

issue [ˋɪʃjʊ] n. 问题; 议题

rage on 火爆进行中

be subject to  受支配的[Z][（+to）]

chemical [ˋkɛmɪk!] adj. 化学的

break down (指某人健康状况)变得恶劣; 分解

turn back the clock 让时光倒流 to make things the same as they were at an earlier time

elixir [ɪˋlɪksɚ] n. 万能药

More Information

单词发音

chromosome [ˋkromə͵som] n.【生】染色体

fetus [ˋfitəs] n. 胎；（三个月后的）胎儿

adaptation [͵ædæpˋteʃən] n. 改编，改写

aging [ˋedʒɪŋ] n. 变老，老化

by-product 副产品

free radical 自由基

anti-oxidant [͵æntɪˋɑksədənt] n. 抗氧化剂

spinach [ˋspɪnɪtʃ] n.【植】菠菜

a snail’s pace 跟蜗牛一样慢   very slowly

Reading Questions

1. According to the article, which of the following is NOT true?

A. Genes contain a massive amount of information.

B. Stem cells are the basis of tissue growth.

C. Genetic cloning does not occur in nature.

D. Not all are pleased with the direction of genetic research.

2. Why is oxygen considered one of the causes of death?

A. Because it will eliminate all other substances in our body.

B. Because it will damage free radicals in our cells.

C. Because it creates a substance which destroys cells.

D. Because it can cause the creation of anti-oxidants in our body.

3. The phrase “a snail’s pace” in this article is closest in meaning to ______.

A. at the bottom of a snail

B. extremely slow

C. completely submerged

D. on top of a snail

4. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the article?

A. The goal of genetic research is to improve the human body.

B. The purpose of genetic research is to change the sex of a fetus.

C. The aim of genetic research is to prevent spinal injuries.

D. The intention of genetic research is to eliminate dangerous behavior.

Answer