VOA慢速英语2018 加州火灾受害者家属要求提供DNA协助确认身份

California Fire Victims’ Families Asked to Give DNA¹

Officials in Northern California say a deadly wildfire that began two weeks ago is almost completely contained.

加州北部的工作人员表示，2周前烧起来的一场致命大火基本上已经全部扑灭。

The Associated Press reports that the wildfire, known as the “Camp Fire,” was 95 percent contained Thursday. It has been blamed for more than 80 deaths. Three other people died in a second major fire near the city of Los Angeles.

据美联社报道，周四，这场名为“营火”的大火有95%的部分已经扑灭。这次火灾导致80多人死亡。还有3人在洛杉矶附近的第二场大火中死亡。

State officials are using DNA tests in an effort to identify those killed by the Northern California wildfire. DNA is a substance that carries genetic² information in the cells of plants and animals. The testing tool produces results in just two hours.

加州工作人员正在通过脱氧核糖核酸（DNA）检测来确认加州北部大火中的死者身份。DNA这种物质携带着遗传信息，存在于植物和动物体内。DNA检测仅需要2小时就可以出结果。

The test, called Rapid DNA Identification³, can examine DNA from small pieces of bone or other human remains⁴. It then compares it to genetic material provided⁵ by relatives of the missing⁶ individuals.

这项测试名为快速DNA鉴定。该测试可以鉴定骨头等人类残骸中的细小部分。然后将得到的结果与失踪者家属提供的遗传物质进行比对。

But the technology depends on people willing to volunteer their DNA for testing. And there have not been nearly as many volunteers as officials had hoped for.

但这项技术需要有人自愿做DNA检测的志愿者。而志愿者的人数比工作人员希望的人数少。

The Camp Fire destroyed the town of Paradise⁷ and caused heavy damage to nearby areas. As of Thursday night, at least 84 people were confirmed dead. And the official list of those missing had about 700 names.

这场大火摧毁了天堂镇，导致邻近地区损失严重。截至周四晚上，至少有84人已确认死亡。官方的失踪者名单有700个名字。

The Associated Press noted⁸ Wednesday that only about 60 people had provided DNA samples to area laboratories⁹. That number came from Annette Mattern, a representative of ANDE – the company that donated the technology.

美联社称，周三，只有近60人提供了DNA样本给地区的各实验室。这个数字是安妮特提供的，她是安德森公司的代表。正是该公司捐献了这项技术。

Mattern said, “We need hundreds. We need a big enough sample for us to make a positive identification on these and to also give a better idea of how many losses there actually are.”

安妮特表示，我们需要上百名志愿者，我们需要足够大的样本数量才能较为准确地确认死者身份，让大家更了解实际损失情况。

Differences in information, the inability of relatives to travel to Northern California and mistrust of the government may be keeping the sample number low.

安妮特表示，当地的执法人员正在想办法让生活在加州北部之外的家庭更容易提供样本。

当地执法机构和该公司都表示，DNA样本如果不需要了，就会销毁。

One woman’s story

Tara Quinones says she had not heard from her uncle, David Marbury, for eight days before she drove from the San Francisco area to give a DNA sample. A worker took samples from her skin and inside her cheek and then asked questions about who she was looking for and their relationship.

The owner of her uncle’s home confirmed the house burned down. The uncle’s car was still on the property.

But Quinones had no idea if any remains were found. She said giving her DNA sample is the one way she could help find her uncle.

Like Quinones, some people have offered their DNA after learning¹⁰ about the identification effort. Others offered it after officials told them that remains from a probable¹¹ family member had been found.

Mattern said it has been surprisingly easy to get DNA from the remains of those who died in the fire.

ANDE won a contract in 2009 to do research and development for federal¹² government agencies¹³. The company’s technology has been used in test programs for many years.

But this is the first time ANDE has helped identify victims after a natural disaster. The company has donated seven machines and over 10 workers to the effort.

Mattern said local law enforcement¹⁴ officials are seeking a way to make it easier for families who live outside northern California to provide samples.

Local law enforcement and the company have said that the DNA samples would be destroyed once they are no longer needed.

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

positive – adj. sure or likely; hopeful

contract – n. an agreement between two or more persons or sides

uncle – n. the brother of someone’s father or mother; the husband of the sister of a parent

cheek – n. skin inside the mouth

1 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。

2 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。

3 identification   

n.视为同一，证明同一，确认

参考例句：

• He's made a formal identification of the body.他正式确认了死者身份。
• We should have identification card on the person when we go out.我们外出时应随身携带身份证。

4 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。

5 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

6 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

7 paradise   

n.伊甸乐园，天堂

参考例句：

• My house had a small backyard,the paradise of children.我那幢房子有一个小后院，那是孩子们玩耍的乐园。
• On a hot day a dip in the sea is sheer paradise.热天洗个海水澡是十分令人惬意的事。

8 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。

9 laboratories   

n.实验室( laboratory的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• For, eight years, Marie Curie worked in cold laboratories with poor equipment. 整整八年，居里夫人在设备简陋、冰冷的实验室里做着实验。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• Some commercial laboratories use periodic nitrate tests as guides. 许多商业性的试验室已应用定期的硝态氮分析作为指导。 来自辞典例句

10 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

11 probable   

adj.可能的，有望发性或实现的

参考例句：

• It is probable to finish the job before dark.天黑之前有可能完成这项工作。
• It is hardly probable that he will succeed.他不会成功。

12 federal   

adj.联盟的；联邦的；(美国)联邦政府的

参考例句：

• Switzerland is a federal republic.瑞士是一个联邦共和国。
• The schools are screaming for federal aid.那些学校强烈要求联邦政府的援助。

13 agencies   

n.代理( agency的名词复数 )；服务机构；（政府的）专门机构；代理（或经销）业务（或关系）

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations. 联合国有许多专门机构。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The project is funded by the World Bank and other multilateral agencies. 这项计划由世界银行和其他多国机构资助。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 enforcement   

n.实施, 执行

参考例句：

• MPs called for tougher enforcement of the existing laws on drugs. 下院议员呼籲加强现行毒品法律的执行力度。
• The court is ineffective because it lacks the necessary enforcement machinery. 法院效率低是因为缺乏必要的执行机制。