SSS 2009-01-19
时间：2019-01-08 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(一)月
This is Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute.
A new study with worms shows that some have a gene 1 that helps them stave off infections. Not through some kind of biochemistry—but by changing their behavior.
Scientists were studying two strains of the roundworm C. elegans, one strain that is commonly used in the laboratory, another that was isolated 2 in Hawaii. The laboratory strain got fewer infections than the Hawaiian strain. That’s because the lab worms have a particular version of a gene called NPR-1. But the way the gene works is a bit of a surprise. You might think that a gene involved in fighting infections must somehow enhance an animal’s immune response.
But you would be wrong. Because a current study, published in the January 16th issue of Science, shows that’s not the case. Instead, the scientists showed that the NPR gene found in healthier worms made them picky about their location. They stayed clear of places where oxygen is scarce. As it happens, those are the neighborhoods where bacteria hang out, including the bugs 3 that can cause disease. So the gene made the worms prefer germ-free locales.
So, take a tip from a worm. If you want to avoid what’s out there this winter, just don’t go out there.
Thanks for the minute for Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin.
- 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。
- His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
- Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。
