美国有线新闻 CNN 美国将释放7.5亿只转基因蚊子减少疾病传播

Saltmarsh, Culex and Asian Tiger are all types of what? Ferns, wasps¹, mosses² or mosquitoes.

盐沼、库蚊和亚洲虎都指的是什么？蕨类、黄蜂、苔藓还是蚊子？

These are all mosquitoes in addition to the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads a number of diseases.

这些都是蚊子，此外还有传播多种疾病的埃及伊蚊。

For the first time ever, genetically⁴ modified mosquitoes are being released in the U.S. The project's taking place in the Florida Keys.

美国将释放转基因蚊子，这是有史以来首次。该项目计划在佛罗里达群岛进行。

It was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last May and the state of Florida issued an experimental use permit last June.

去年5月，美国环境保护署批准了这一计划，去年6月，佛罗里达州颁发了实验性使用许可证。

It allows the release of up to 750 million genetically altered mosquitoes this year and next.

这允许在今年和明年释放多达7.5亿只转基因蚊子。

The targeted mosquito can spread yellow fever, dengue and the Zika virus.

目标蚊可传播黄热病、登革热和寨卡病毒。

There've been at least two small outbreaks of dengue in the Keys over the last 12 years.

过去12年，关键地区至少爆发了两次小规模的登革热疫情。

The project will release genetically altered male mosquitoes

该项目将释放经过基因改造的雄性蚊子，

with the idea that they'll mate with the females and pass along a deadly gene³ that kills female mosquito larvae⁵.

让它们将与雌性交配，并将杀死雌蚊幼虫的致命基因传递给它们。

Only female mosquitoes bite. So the intent is to wipe out biting mosquito populations in the Keys.

只有雌蚊咬人。因此，该项目的目的是消灭群岛上咬人的蚊子种群。

The company that produces the GMO mosquitoes says a different type of it has been used in Brazil, the Cayman Islands and Panama and that it's been widely successful.

制造转基因蚊子的公司表示，一种不同类型的蚊子已释放到巴西、开曼群岛和巴拿马，目前已取得广泛的成功。

But critics, including the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition⁶, say the project's being forced on them. That they're being treated as guinea pigs.

但包括佛罗里达州群岛环境联盟在内的批评人士表示，该项目系被迫实施。它们被当作小白鼠对待。

They're concerned that the newer GMO mosquitoes being released haven't been tested as long

他们担心，计划释放的新型转基因蚊子尚未经过长时间测试，

and they question what could happen to people or animals health of genetically modified females survive and then bite.

他们想知道转基因雌蚊存活之后进行叮咬会对人类或动物的健康产生何种影响。

Critics are considering legal action but the trial has begun.

批评人士正在考虑采取法律行动，但试验已经开始。

1 wasps   

黄蜂( wasp的名词复数 )； 胡蜂； 易动怒的人； 刻毒的人

参考例句：

• There's a wasps' nest in that old tree. 那棵老树上有一个黄蜂巢。
• We live in dread not only of unpleasant insects like spiders or wasps, but of quite harmless ones like moths. 我们不仅生活在对象蜘蛛或黄蜂这样的小虫的惧怕中，而且生活在对诸如飞蛾这样无害昆虫的惧怕中

2 mosses   

n. 藓类, 苔藓植物 名词moss的复数形式

参考例句：

• Ferns, mosses and fungi spread by means of spores. 蕨类植物、苔藓和真菌通过孢子传播蔓生。
• The only plants to be found in Antarctica are algae, mosses, and lichens. 在南极洲所发现的植物只有藻类、苔藓和地衣。

3 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。

4 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

5 larvae   

n.幼虫

参考例句：

• Larvae are parasitic on sheep.幼虫寄生在绵羊的身上。
• The larvae prey upon small aphids.这种幼虫以小蚜虫为食。

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。