世界上首只试管企鹅诞生 暂命名为"184"

 　　A baby bird in California has made history after becoming the world’s first penguin¹ to be conceived using artificial insemination.

　　The unnamed female Magellanic penguin was hatched in May at SeaWorld California after sperm² was frozen and then thawed³.

　　The 12-week-old penguin was hand-reared at the attraction’s Penguin Encounter nursery, but is now feeding on fish.

　　Although she doesn't have an official name, she is referred to as 184. She has now joined other Magellanic penguin chicks that were conceived naturally at the attraction.

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　　Researchers are hoping to use these artificial insemination techniques to increase the genetic⁴ diversity of penguin species, and learn more about their biology.

　　This research could then be used to sustain, or improve, penguin populations around the world.

　　After the bird hatched, she was fed a special formula of ground herring fillets, krill, minerals, vitamins and water five times a day during the first four weeks.

　　The scientific first is the result of a decade of research by Dr. Todd Robeck, SeaWorld’s vice⁵ President of Theriogenology, and Dr. Justine O’Brien, the reproductive centre’s Scientific Director.

　　Dr. Justine O’Brien said: ‘The goal of our research centre is to study a species’ reproductive biology, to learn as much as we can about that, and use this to not only monitor the health of not only our zoological populations but wild populations as well.

　　‘We have also use this information to develop system reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination and semen preservation⁶.

　　‘These technologies are important conservation tools as they allow us to maximise the genetic diversity of these populations and ensure there’s sustainability into the long term.’

　　For more than 30 years, SeaWorld San Diego has run a successful penguin breeding program.

　　Since 1980, more than 600 penguin chicks have been hatched and raised at the marine⁷ park, including the first-ever chinstrap and emperor penguins⁸.

　　【新闻快讯】

　　世界上首只“试管企鹅”在美国加利福尼亚诞生。

　　这只刚出生的母麦哲伦企鹅宝宝是由冷冻精子受孕而生，她暂时还没有名字，研究人员称她为“184”。

　　研究人员希望通过人工授精的方式来增加企鹅的物种多样性。

　　麦哲伦企鹅多分布于南美洲，是著名航海家麦哲伦于1519年最早发现的，后世科学界遂以他的名字命名该物种。

1 penguin   

n.企鹅

参考例句：

• The penguin is a flightless bird.企鹅是一种不会飞的鸟。
• He walked with an awkward gait like a penguin.他走路的步子难看得就像企鹅。

2 sperm   

n.精子，精液

参考例句：

• Only one sperm fertilises an egg.只有一个精子使卵子受精。
• In human reproduction,one female egg is usually fertilized by one sperm.在人体生殖过程中，一个精子使一个卵子受精。

3 thawed   

解冻

参考例句：

• The little girl's smile thawed the angry old man. 小姑娘的微笑使发怒的老头缓和下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He thawed after sitting at a fire for a while. 在火堆旁坐了一会儿，他觉得暖和起来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

7 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

8 penguins   

n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why can penguins live in cold environment? 为什么企鹅能生活在寒冷的环境中？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Whales, seals, penguins, and turtles have flippers. 鲸、海豹，企鹅和海龟均有鳍形肢。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》