万物简史 第599期:生命的物质(25)

We have forty-six chromosomes¹, but some ferns have more than six hundred. The lungfish, one of the least evolved of all complex animals, has forty times as much DNA² as we have. Even the common newt is more genetically³ splendorous than we are, by a factor of five.

我们有46对染色体，但是有些蕨类植物的染色体多达600多对。肺鱼，所有动物中一种进化最不完善的鱼类，其染色体数是我们的40倍。即便是普通的水螈，其基因数也是我们的5倍。

Clearly it is not the number of genes⁴ you have, but what you do with them. This is a very good thing because the number of genes in humans has taken a big hit lately. Until recently it was thought that humans had at least 100,000 genes, possibly a good many more, but that number was drastically reduced by the first results of the Human Genome Project, which suggested a figure more like 35,000 or 40,000 genes — about the same number as are found in grass. That came as both a surprise and a disappointment.

显然，问题的关键并不在于你有多少基因，而在于你怎样对待它们。人类基因数近来成了人们热烈讨论的一个话题，这是一件好事情。直到不久以前，许多人以为人类至少有10万个基因，也许还更多，但是人类基因工程的第一批研究结果使得这个数字大大缩水。研究表明，人类只有3.5万 — 4万个基因——与草的基因数相同。这个结果既令人吃惊，又不免有些令人失望。

It won't have escaped your attention that genes have been commonly implicated⁵ in any number of human frailties⁶. Exultant⁷ scientists have at various times declared themselves to have found the genes responsible for obesity⁸, schizophrenia, homosexuality, criminality, violence, alcoholism, even shoplifting and homelessness. Perhaps the apogee⁹ (or nadir) of this faith in biodeterminism was a study published in the journal Science in 1980 contending that women are genetically inferior at mathematics. In fact, we now know, almost nothing about you is so accommodatingly simple.

你大概已经注意到，基因已经非常频繁地很人类的众多病症扯在一起。欣喜若狂的科学家一次又一次地宣称他们已经发现了导致肥胖症、精神分裂症、同性恋倾问、犯罪行为、暴力、酗酒乃至商场扒窃和流浪的基因。这种基因决定论的最高潮（或最低潮）就是发表于1980年《科学》月刊的一篇论文，该文十分肯定地宣称妇女的基因构成先天注定了她们在数学方面能力低下。事实上，我们现在知道，有关你的任何方面都不是那么简单的。

1 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》

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 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

4 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

5 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 frailties   

n.脆弱( frailty的名词复数 )；虚弱；（性格或行为上的）弱点；缺点

参考例句：

• The fact indicates the economic frailties of this type of farming. 这一事实表明，这种类型的农业在经济上有其脆弱性。 来自辞典例句
• He failed therein to take account of the frailties of human nature--the difficulties of matrimonial life. 在此，他没有考虑到人性的种种弱点--夫妻生活的种种难处。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

7 exultant   

adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的

参考例句：

• The exultant crowds were dancing in the streets.欢欣的人群在大街上跳起了舞。
• He was exultant that she was still so much in his power.他仍然能轻而易举地摆布她，对此他欣喜若狂。

8 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

9 apogee   

n.远地点；极点；顶点

参考例句：

• The orbit of the artificial satellite has an apogee of 200 miles from the earth.这个人造卫星的轨道，其最远点在离地球200英里的地方。
• Apogean tides occur when the moon is at the apogee of its orbit.远月潮在月球位于其轨道的最远点时发生。