万物简史 第583期:生命的物质(9)

The problem, however, remained the next level of biological intricacy: the enigmatic genes¹ and the DNA² that composed them. These were much trickier³ to isolate⁴ and understand. As late as 1933, when Morgan was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work, many researchers still weren't convinced that genes even existed. As Morgan noted⁵ at the time, there was no consensus⁶ "as to what the genes are — whether they are real or purely⁷ fictitious⁸."

不过，在下一个生物学的复杂层面上，问题依然存在着，这就是有些神秘的基因及构成它们的DNA非常难于分解和研究。直到1933年底，摩尔根获得诺贝尔奖时，许多研究人员连对基因的存在都依旧表示怀疑：正如摩尔根当时所指出的那样，“基因是什么——它们是真实存在还是纯属想像”，人们很难达成一致意见。

It may seem surprising that scientists could struggle to accept the physical reality of something so fundamental to cellular⁹ activity, but as Wallace, King, and Sanders point out in Biology: The Science of Life (that rarest thing: a readable college text), we are in much the same position today with mental processes such as thought and memory. We know that we have them, of course, but we don't know what, if any, physical form they take. So it was for the longest time with genes. The idea that you could pluck one from your body and take it away for study was as absurd to many of Morgan's peers as the idea that scientists today might capture a stray thought and examine it under a microscope.

一种在细胞活动中具有如此至关重要的作用的东因，科学家们对于它的真实性总是迟迟不愿意承认，这也许是令人惊讶的。在《生物学：生命科学》（一本可读性极强的十分珍贵的大学课本）一书中，华莱士、金和桑德指出，对于思考、记忆这样的精神活动，我们今天大体上处于同样的情况。毫无疑问，我们知道我们拥有它们，但是我们不知道它们取何种具体的存在形式，如果有的话。在很长时间里基因也是如此。对于摩尔根同时代的人来说，你可以从你身上取下一个基因拿去作研究，这种想法非常荒谬，如同今天有人认为科学家可获取一束思想并在显微镜下加以检验一样。

What was certainly true was that something associated with chromosomes¹⁰ was directing cell replication.

当时可以肯定的是，某种与染色体相关的东西支配着细胞的繁殖。

1 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

2 DNA   

(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。

3 trickier   

adj.狡猾的( tricky的比较级 )；（形势、工作等）复杂的；机警的；微妙的

参考例句：

• This is the general rule, but some cases are trickier than others. 以上是一般规则，但某些案例会比别的案例更为棘手。 来自互联网
• The lower the numbers go, the trickier the problems get. 武器的数量越低，问题就越复杂。 来自互联网

4 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

7 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

8 fictitious   

adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的

参考例句：

• She invented a fictitious boyfriend to put him off.她虚构出一个男朋友来拒绝他。
• The story my mother told me when I was young is fictitious.小时候妈妈对我讲的那个故事是虚构的。

9 cellular   

adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的

参考例句：

• She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。
• Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。

10 chromosomes   

n.染色体( chromosome的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Chromosomes also determine the sex of animals. 染色体也决定动物的性别。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Each of four chromosomes divide longitudinally. 四种染色体的每一种都沿着纵向分裂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》