TED演讲:抗击癌症的新式武器(2)

 One example is a trick in which a gene¹ allows a cell, even as the drug approaches the cell, 有一个例子很神奇，基因能让细胞在药物接近之前，

to push the drug out, before the drug can have any effect. 把药物推开，药物根本来不及起任何作用。

Imagine -- the cell effectively spits out the drug. 就好比细胞一口把药吐出去。

This is just one example of the many genetic² tricks in the bag of our supervillain, cancer. 而这仅仅是我们的大反派--癌症的众多基因把戏之一。

All due to mutant genes³. So, we have a supervillain with incredible superpowers. 这一切都跟突变基因有关。因此，我们要面对的是拥有超强能力的大反派。

And we need a new and powerful mode of attack. Actually, we can turn off a gene. 我们需要新的、更强大的攻击方式。实际上，我们可以关闭基因。

The key is a set of molecules⁵ known as siRNA. 开关是一系列叫siRNA的分子（即小分子干扰核糖核酸）。

siRNA are short sequences of genetic code that guide a cell to block a certain gene. 它是一小段基因编码，可以让细胞阻止某些特定基因（发挥作用）。

Each siRNA molecule⁴ can turn off a specific gene inside the cell. 每一个siRNA都能关闭细胞内部某个特定的基因。

For many years since its discovery, scientists have been very excited about how we can apply these gene blockers in medicine. 自siRNA被发现后，科学家们兴奋了好多年，因为他们可以将这种基因拦截者加入药物中。

But, there is a problem. siRNA works well inside the cell. 但是，有一个问题。siRNA在细胞内部可以正常发挥作用。

But if it gets exposed to the enzymes⁶ that reside in our bloodstream or our tissues, it degrades within seconds. 但如果它接触到位于我们血液或者组织中的酶的话，几秒钟内就会被降解。

It has to be packaged, protected through its journey through the body on its way to the final target inside the cancer cell. 因此，它们必须被包裹及保护起来，才能完成在人身体里的旅程，顺利抵达最终目标--癌细胞内部。

 

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 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 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

4 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。

5 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

6 enzymes   

n. 酶，酵素

参考例句：

• It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
• Among the enzymes which are particularly effective are pepsin, papain. 在酶当中特别有效的是胃朊酶、木瓜酶。