时差N小时 狗是人类最亲密的朋友

Yael: I was walking my cocker spaniel this morning, and we ran into two other dogs---a great dane almost as tall as I am, and a tiny Chihuahua! I can't believe they are all the same species!

今天早上我在遛狗的时候碰到了两只其他的狗——一只是跟我差不多高的大丹犬，还有一只小吉娃娃。简直不能相信他们属于同一物种！

Don: You know, scientists are making great strides in understanding the genes¹ that allow such a wide range of shapes, sizes and personalities² in different dog breeds.

你知道的，科学家们在探索基因方面已经取得了长足进展，在研究这些不同形状，不同大小，不同性格特点的不同狗的种类的基因。

Did you know domestic dogs were bred from wolves about 15,000 years ago?

你知道国内的狗是由一万五千年前的狼繁衍而来的吗？

Y: That's pretty recent in evolutionary³ terms, isn't it?

从进化的角度来讲，那就是近些年的事儿，不是吗？

D: Very! Humans have sped up the diversification⁴ of dogs by selecting for particular physical or behavioral traits such as size, coat type, trainability, and hunting or herding⁵ ability.

太对了。人类通过选择特定的生理和行为特征，如大小、外观、是否可训练性和狩猎型或放牧的能力，已经加快了狗种的多样化。

But dogs still show greater variety than any other domesticated⁶ animal, and for a long time this variance⁷ has largely been unexplained.

但是相比其他家养动物而言，狗显示出更明显的多样性，并且在很长的一段时间内，人们无法解释这种多样性。

A group of genetics researchers collaborated⁸ with dog breeders and veterinarians to study the DNA⁹ from 148 different dog breeds.

一个基因研究小组与狗的饲养者和兽医合作研究了来自148个不同狗品种的DNA。

With such a large sample of genes from very different kinds of dogs, they were able to identify regions in the dog DNA that are important in regulating some key traits that differ between breeds.

在来自不同的狗的DNA大样本的研究下，他们鉴定出狗DNA中的区域特征在决定狗的某些区别与其他狗的关键特征方面有着至关重要的作用。

Four regions were found that may regulate life span, a breed characteristic that usually decreases with increasing body size.

有四个区域可以调节寿命，而且品种的特性会随着体型的变大而逐渐消失。

Regions associated with some behavioral stereotypes¹⁰ like herding, pointing and boldness were also identified.

而且也确认了那些和固有品性相关的区域，像是放牧，勾缝以及大胆尝试。

Y: What can they do with this information?

他们会拿这些信息做什么？

D: The study could have far-reaching benefits for dogs and their owners.

这项研究对于狗和他们的主人都是有深远影响的。

With further research, dog owners and vets¹¹ could use this information to customize the care, diet and medicines to the particular needs of their breed, and to identify and perhaps prevent breed-specific diseases.

进一步研究会得出，狗主人和兽医可以凭此信息对有特定需求的狗定制保健，饮食和药物，并识别同时也可能会防治特种狗的疾病。

1 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

2 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

3 evolutionary   

adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的

参考例句：

• Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
• These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。

4 diversification   

n.变化，多样化；多种经营

参考例句：

• The seminar was to discuss diversification of agriculture. 该研讨会讨论的是农业多种经营。 来自辞典例句
• Firm diversification is increasingly achieved by the means of takeover and merger. 通过接管和兼并，厂商经营范围日益多样化。 来自辞典例句

5 herding   

中畜群

参考例句：

• The little boy is herding the cattle. 这个小男孩在放牛。
• They have been herding cattle on the tableland for generations. 他们世世代代在这高原上放牧。

6 domesticated   

adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He is thoroughly domesticated and cooks a delicious chicken casserole. 他精于家务，烹制的砂锅炖小鸡非常可口。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The donkey is a domesticated form of the African wild ass. 驴是非洲野驴的一种已驯化的品种。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 variance   

n.矛盾，不同

参考例句：

• The question of woman suffrage sets them at variance. 妇女参政的问题使他们发生争执。
• It is unnatural for brothers to be at variance. 兄弟之间不睦是不近人情的。

8 collaborated   

合作( collaborate的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾结叛国

参考例句：

• We have collaborated on many projects over the years. 这些年来我们合作搞了许多项目。
• We have collaborated closely with the university on this project. 我们与大学在这个专案上紧密合作。

9 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。

10 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 vets   

abbr.veterans （复数）老手，退伍军人；veterinaries （复数）兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 )；老兵；退伍军人；兽医诊所v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的第三人称单数 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• I helped train many young vets and veterinary nurses too. 我还帮助培训了许多年青的兽医和护士。 来自互联网
• In fact, we've expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. 实际上，我们已经扩大了退伍军人的心理健康咨询和服务。 来自互联网