新奇事件簿 基因疗法删除创伤记忆

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the gene¹ that could help people forget traumatic experiences. They say the research could benefit people with painful memories. Soldiers, crime victims and people who survived natural disasters are some of the people this research could help. Many of these people suffer from very bad stress because of their memories. It is an illness called post-traumatic stress disorder² (PTSD). The scientists found the memory gene in mice. They hope that one day they can erase³ painful memories in humans. They think they can replace upsetting memories with more positive thoughts and feelings. This would help millions of people who suffer from PTSD.

来自麻省理工学院的研究人员发现了一种能够使人们遗忘惨痛经历的基因。研究人员称这项研究将有可能对那些经受过惨痛经历的人有所帮助。该项研究将有可能帮助士兵、被害人以及那些从自然灾害中生还的人。由于这些悲惨回忆，许多人倍感压力。而这也是一种名叫“创伤后应激障碍”的疾病。科学家在老鼠身上发现了这种基因。他们希望未来能够消除人类的痛苦回忆。他们认为这些痛苦回忆能够被正能量所代替。这也将帮助上百万患有“创伤后应激障碍”的病人。

The head researcher, Li-Huei Tsai, did many tests to make mice forget their fear. Scientists put the mice into a cage and gave them a small electric shock. After many shocks, the mice became afraid of the cage. They were stressed when they saw it. Once the mice had "cage shock," the scientists put the mice in the cage again but didn't give them an electric shock. After a period of time, the mice no longer feared the cage. Positive feelings replaced their stress and fear. The scientists looked at the brain activity when the mice were afraid and when they were not afraid. They were surprised to find the gene that replaced old memories with new ones. They will now try to find this gene in humans.

研究主任蔡理慧为了让老鼠遗忘痛苦做了诸多实验。科学家将老鼠放进笼子中，并对他们进行电击。经受电击以后，老鼠开始对笼子感到害怕。看到笼子会让它们倍感压力。一旦老鼠对笼子产生恐惧心理，科学家会将老鼠再次放进笼中，但是并不对其进行电击。一段时间以后，老鼠并不再感到害怕。积极思想代替了恐惧和压力。科学家分别观察了老鼠在是否感到害怕时的大脑活动。他们惊讶的发现该基因用新记忆代替了旧回忆。他们将试图在人类身上发现该基因。

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 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

3 erase   

v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹

参考例句：

• He tried to erase the idea from his mind.他试图从头脑中抹掉这个想法。
• Please erase my name from the list.请把我的名字从名单上擦去。