2018年经济学人 熊猫遗传学:熊猫的第二拇指(1)

熊猫遗传学:熊猫的第二拇指(1)

The anatomy-related adaptations were those that seemed to control the development of the pandas’ second thumbs.

与生物体结构相关的基因有可能控制熊猫第二拇指的生长。

Two genes² in particular, DYNC2H1 and pericentrin, have mutations that cause identical changes in each type of panda in the proteins encoded by these genes.

特别是DYNC2H1和中心粒周围蛋白这两种基因的突变，会导致在每种类型的熊猫中，由这两种基因控制编码的蛋白质产生相同变化。

In mice, mutations in these genes are known to encourage extra digits³ to grow, so it is not unreasonable⁴ to suspect that they are also the cause of this in pandas.

在小鼠中，这些基因的突变可导致小鼠额外足趾的生长，所以有理由认为熊猫第二拇指生长的原因也是基因突变。

The appetite-modifying change involved one of the disabled genes.

食欲修饰基因的改变是丧失功能的基因中的一个。

When working, this gene¹ encodes a protein which forms part of the tongue’s taste buds for umami, a savoury “meatiness” separate from the other four tastes of sweetness, sourness, bitterness and saltiness.

该基因在工作时，会编码一种组成舌头味蕾中鲜味的蛋白质，是区别于酸甜苦咸四种味道的可口的“肉味”。

Umami perception is stimulatedby glutamicacid, one of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins—but one that is more characteristic of animal proteins than plant ones.

鲜味感觉是由谷氨酸激发的产生的，它是组成蛋白质的20个氨基酸之一，但相比于植物蛋白，它更具有动物蛋白的特性。

Sensitivity to umami is valuable to a carnivore but unnecessary (and possibly harmful) to a herbivore.

对鲜味的敏感程度对食肉动物而言非常重要，但对食草动物来说，这是不必要并且可能是有害的。

The other genetic⁵ convergences Dr Hu recorded were related to the digestion⁶ and metabolism⁷ of substances scarce in, or absent from, bamboo.

胡博士记录的其他遗传转化与竹子中缺乏或缺失的物质的消化和代谢有关。

1 gene   

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   

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 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 unreasonable   

adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的

参考例句：

• I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
• They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。

5 genetic   

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。

6 digestion   

n.消化，吸收

参考例句：

• This kind of tea acts as an aid to digestion.这种茶可助消化。
• This food is easy of digestion.这食物容易消化。

7 metabolism   

n.新陈代谢

参考例句：

• After years of dieting,Carol's metabolism was completely out of whack.经过数年的节食，卡罗尔的新陈代谢完全紊乱了。
• All living matter undergoes a process of metabolism.生物都有新陈代谢。