【英语时差8,16】蟑螂对抗辐射: 谁是赢家？ -下

But get this-cockroaches are radiation wimps¹ compared to some other insects. Adult fruit flies have survived doses of 1600 Grays, and some ant species can handle doses up to 2250 Grays. We don’t really know what gives insects so much better radiation resistance than us. Radiation penetrates² their cells as well as it does ours. Scientists suspect that one reason could be that insect cells usually contain fewer chromosomes³, and so less DNA⁴, than mammal cells. Since radiation poisoning is the result of destruction or mutation⁵ of DNA, having relatively⁶ less DNA in your cells may make it easier for those cells to survive radiation exposure.

1 wimps   

n.懦弱的人，无用的人( wimp的名词复数 )v.懦弱的人，无用的人( wimp的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• No. Seatbelts are for wimps. Besides, I'm a great driver. 不。只有懦夫才系安全带。我驾车很在行。 来自互联网
• Good news for wimps (a weak person), then. 这对于那些白面小生来说可是个好消息。 来自互联网

2 penetrates   

v.穿过( penetrate的第三人称单数 )；刺入；了解；渗透

参考例句：

• This is a telescope that penetrates to the remote parts of the universe. 这是一架能看到宇宙中遥远地方的望远镜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dust is so fine that it easily penetrates all the buildings. 尘土极细，能极轻易地钻入一切建筑物。 来自辞典例句

3 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》

4 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。

5 mutation   

n.变化，变异，转变

参考例句：

• People who have this mutation need less sleep than others.有这种突变的人需要的睡眠比其他人少。
• So far the discussion has centered entirely around mutation in the strict sense.到目前为止，严格来讲，讨论完全集中于围绕突变问题上。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。