2019年经济学人 基因编辑(1)

基因编辑(1)

As far as experts are concerned, the technology of gene¹ editing is nowhere near ready to be used to create gene-edited babies.

就专家而言，基因编辑技术还远不足以被用于创造基因编辑婴儿。

This, of course, is separate from the question of whether it is morally right to do so.

当然，这要和道德正确性的问题区分开来。

Nevertheless, around the world, would-be baby tinkerers have failed to get the memo².

但在世界各地，想成为婴儿工匠的人并没有获得谅解备忘录。

This week a Russian scientist announced his ambition to repeat a Chinese scientist's gene-editing experiment on human embryos³,

本周，一名俄罗斯科学家宣布了他重复中国科学家基因编辑人类胚胎实验的雄心，

which lead to the birth of two babies with modified ccr5 genes⁴ last year.

去年在该中国科学家的实验中，两名携带修改ccr5基因的婴儿出生。

The Chinese effort was roundly condemned⁵ on grounds of safety and ethics⁶.

出于安全和道德因素，这名中国科学家的努力遭到谴责。

Moreover, at the start of June evidence emerged that the genetic⁷ mutation⁸ in the gene CCR5,

而且在六月初，有证据表明CCR5基因中的基因突变

one that offers protection against infection from HIV, is also associated with slightly earlier death.

一种预防HIV感染的基因，也和早逝有些关联。

The finding highlights the need to understand far more about how alterations⁹ in a cell's DNA¹⁰ translate into changes in how it functions.

这一发现强调，我们有必要进一步了解细胞DNA 的变化如何转化为细胞功能中的变化。

There are also a variety of concerns about the basic technology

人们对于这项基本技术也有各种各样的担忧

that need to be dealt with before it can be used widely in treatments for the sick—let alone to tinker with healthy embryonic¹¹ humans.

在广泛应用于治疗病人之前，需要解决这些担忧—更不用说对健康的胚胎人类进行修补了。

CRISPR-Cas genome-editing systems, often just known as CRISPR,

CRISPR-Cas基因编辑系统，也常被称为CRISPR

are molecular¹² machines that can be programmed to home in on specific sections of DNA in the genome

是分子机器，可以通过编辑锁定基因组中的特殊DNA部分，

and cut both strands¹³ of the double helix molecule¹⁴. This system allows genes to be knocked out or, in some cases, added.

并切断双螺旋分子的两条链。这一系统能让基因被敲除或在一些情况下被添加。

It is not a perfect mechanism¹⁵. One concern, for example,

它并不是一个完美的机制。例如，担忧之一是

is that editing can alter DNA in places it isn't supposed to and that these "off-target" effects could trigger cancers.

编辑可以改变本应不该被更改的DNA并且这些“偏离目标”的效果可以引发癌症。

A second worry is that the cell can fill gaps with random¹⁶ DNA when it is making repairs.

第二个担忧是，当细胞进行修复时，它可以用随机DNA填补缺口。

These could silence genes that the organism may need.

这可能会抑制生物体可能需要的基因。

A third concern is that although CRISPR successfully hunts down and cuts out faulty DNA,

第三个担忧是，虽然CRISPR成功找到并切除了错误的DNA，

it is harder to get it to insert the right new genes.

但要让它嵌入正确的新基因更难。

Firms involved in developing CRISPR editing for use in medicines have downplayed concerns.

参与开发药用CRISPR编辑的公司并没有重视这些担忧。

Perhaps that was inevitable¹⁷ as they depend on investors¹⁸' optimism.

或许这是不可避免的，因为他们依赖于投资者的乐观。

Rapid advances in many areas have supported the optimists¹⁹' case that the gremlins in the new techniques can be overcome in time.

很多领域的迅速发展为这些乐观者提供了支持—新技术中的捣蛋鬼迟早会被克服。

"Yesterday's problems are not necessarily tomorrow's," observes Helen O'Neill, a molecular geneticist at University College London.

“昨天的问题不一定会是明天的问题，”伦敦大学学院分子遗传学家Helen O'Neill观察道。

In that vein²⁰ come two papers describing a way to improve CRISPR.

基于这种思路，两篇论文描述了一种改进CRISPR的方法。

The first from a team led by Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was published on June 6th, in Science.

第一篇是由马萨诸塞州坎布里奇博德研究所的张峰所领导的团队于6月6日发表于《科学》杂志上的。

The second comes this week in Nature from Samuel Sternberg's team at Columbia University in New York.

第二篇是本周由纽约哥伦比亚大学 Samuel Sternberg的团队发表于《自然》杂志上的。

1 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• 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。

2 memo   

n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章

参考例句：

• Do you want me to send the memo out?您要我把这份备忘录分发出去吗？
• Can you type a memo for me?您能帮我打一份备忘录吗？

3 embryos   

n.晶胚；胚，胚胎( embryo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Somatic cells of angiosperms enter a regenerative phase and behave like embryos. 被子植物体细胞进入一个生殖阶段，而且其行为象胚。 来自辞典例句
• Evolution can explain why human embryos look like gilled fishes. 进化论能够解释为什么人类的胚胎看起来象除去了内脏的鱼一样。 来自辞典例句

4 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

5 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

6 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

7 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。

8 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。

9 alterations   

n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变

参考例句：

• Any alterations should be written in neatly to the left side. 改动部分应书写清晰，插在正文的左侧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code. 基因突变是指DNA 密码的改变。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 embryonic   

adj.胚胎的

参考例句：

• It is still in an embryonic stage.它还处于萌芽阶段。
• The plan,as yet,only exists in embryonic form.这个计划迄今为止还只是在酝酿之中。

12 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

13 strands   

n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Twist a length of rope from strands of hemp. 用几股麻搓成了一段绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She laced strands into a braid. 她把几股线编织成一根穗带。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 molecule   

n.分子，克分子

参考例句：

• A molecule of water is made up of two atoms of hygrogen and one atom of oxygen.一个水分子是由P妈̬f婘̬ 妈̬成的。
• This gives us the structural formula of the molecule.这种方式给出了分子的结构式。

15 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

16 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

17 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

18 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

19 optimists   

n.乐观主义者( optimist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Even optimists admit the outlook to be poor. 甚至乐观的人都认为前景不好。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Optimists reckon house prices will move up with inflation this year. 乐观人士认为今年的房价将会随通货膨胀而上涨。 来自辞典例句

20 vein   

n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络

参考例句：

• The girl is not in the vein for singing today.那女孩今天没有心情唱歌。
• The doctor injects glucose into the patient's vein.医生把葡萄糖注射入病人的静脉。