英文故事剧 遗传学之父(Father of Genetics)

讲到遗传学，我们不能不提孟德尔。他的研究奠定了遗传学和现代生命科学的基础。1900年以后，世人才公认他对遗传学的贡献。据说他在1865年宣读论文的时候，台下的听众没几个人听得懂他在讲什么。

His name is introduced to biology students, but often forgotten after the final exam. His pioneering discoveries went unnoticed by the world until years after his death.

But now, in the era of genetic¹ engineering and cloning debates, scientists are elevating Johann Gregor Mendel to his rightful place in history alongside better-known, 19th century contemporaries such as Charles Darwin.

Experts and scientists have collected artwork and artifacts inside the partially² restored Abbey of St. Thomas in Brno, a Czech city where Mendel lived, experimented with pea plants and published his historic findings in 1866, becoming the "father of genetics."

The abbey, which dates from the 14th century, was seized from the Augustinian monks³ by communists in 1950 and returned to the religious order after the Velvet⁴ Revolution in 1989. A restoration project began in 1996. Yet much of the stone complex remains⁵ unused.

Mendel was born to a farming family in what's today the eastern Czech Republic. He became a priest in 1847 and later studied science at the University of Vienna. Fascinated by plant hybridization, he began experimenting in the abbey garden with pea plants.

During the 1850s Mendel carefully and systematically⁶ crossbred the plants until reaching conclusions that form the basis for the laws of heredity. He presented his landmark⁷ paper in 1865 and had it published the next year. But no one noticed.

According to scholars, Mendel's contemporaries failed to grasp the significance of his discoveries. But around 1900 -- long after his death in 1884 -- a British zoologist⁸ re-introduced the Czech scientist and his work, sparking an era of medical, agricultural and scientific progress that continues today.

Indeed, thanks to Mendel and his peas, modern man understands why children inherit their parents' traits, what roles are played by chromosomes⁹ and DNA¹⁰ in living things and how genetics can be used to improve human health.

More recently his findings led to the famous cloning of Dolly the sheep, as well as ethical¹¹ debates over human cloning and farming with genetically¹² modified crops.

1 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。

2 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

3 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 systematically   

adv.有系统地

参考例句：

• This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。

7 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

8 zoologist   

n.动物学家

参考例句：

• Charles darwin was a famous zoologist.查尔斯达尔文是一位著名的动物学家。
• The zoologist had spent a long time living with monkeys.这位动物学家与猴子一起生活了很长时间。

9 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》

10 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。

11 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

12 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