VOA标准英语2009年-Stem Cell Research Could Cure Diabetes

President Obama has lifted restrictions¹ on the use of federal money for research using embryonic³ stem cells. Some researchers are already making progress using stem cells from umbilical cord blood, which entails⁴ no controversy⁵ since there is no destruction of an embryo² involved in the process. One research team is closing in on a treatment for people suffering from Type I diabetes⁶.
　
President Barack Obama signs an Executive Order on stem cells and a Presidential Memorandum⁷ on scientific integrity, 09 Mar⁸ 2009

At the University of Texas Medical Branch, known as UTMB, in Galveston, researcher Larry Denner is working with stem cells that can be coaxed⁹ into becoming insulin-producing cells.

Peering into his microscope, Denner speaks enthusiastically about the progress they have made in growing stem cells in the laboratory.
　
Larry Denner

"So we look at the cells here and we can tell just by looking at them under a regular microscope how they are growing," said Larry Denner.

Such research is viewed with great anticipation¹⁰ by Type-One diabetes patients like Pamela Phelps.

"I have been praying since I was 15 [years-old] that they would find a cure or at least better ways to understand it and be able to deal with it on a daily basis."

Even though research proceeds slowly, she says the scientists doing it are giving her a vision of a better future.

"I feel hopeful, extremely hopeful, because without them where would we stand, we would have to give up, but I do not feel like giving up," she said.

Diabetics like Phelps stay alive by getting regular injections of insulin to compensate¹¹ for the inability of their own pancreases to produce the hormone¹² that regulates glucose¹³ in the blood.

That is where Larry Denner and the UTMB research comes in.

"We can look and see, for example, if the cells that we have engineered now can make insulin," he said. "We have very specific ways to look, using microscopy and antibodies that can specifically detect whether these cells make insulin."

Under controlled laboratory situations, Denner and his team have been able to engineer insulin-producing cells from stem cells.

"The protocol¹⁴ we followed was actually derived¹⁵ from what happens in the normal embryological development of the pancreas," said Denner.

Denner says the lifting of the ban on embryonic stem cell research will benefit his effort by providing more information on how stem cells develop into organ cells. But he says this research will continue to use cells from fresh umbilical cords provided by the UTMB hospital.

"The cells we work with are derived from the umbilical cord that is a part of every birth of every baby on the earth everyday and, typically, that material is discarded as medical waste," he said.

He says stem cells from umbilical cords can be differentiated¹⁶ into a wide variety of different cell types, but these cells do not have full immune-system functions that can cause tissue rejection¹⁷.

There is the possibility in the future that such cells could create a complete pancreas for transplanting into a patient with diabetes. But Denner says he is focused on the next few years, working to develop human trials to see if insulin-producing cells created in the laboratory will help people suffering from diabetes.

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。

3 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。

4 entails   

使…成为必要( entail的第三人称单数 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The job entails a lot of hard work. 这工作需要十分艰苦的努力。
• This job entails a lot of hard work. 这项工作需要十分努力。

5 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

6 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

7 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

8 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

9 coaxed   

v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱

参考例句：

• She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。
• I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

11 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

12 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

13 glucose   

n.葡萄糖

参考例句：

• I gave him an extra dose of glucose to pep him up.我给他多注射了一剂葡萄糖以增强他的活力。
• The doctor injected glucose into his patient's veins.医生将葡萄糖注入病人的静脉。

14 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

15 derived   

vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• Many English words are derived from Latin and Greek. 英语很多词源出于拉丁文和希腊文。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He derived his enthusiasm for literature from his father. 他对文学的爱好是受他父亲的影响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 differentiated   

区分，区别，辨别( differentiate的过去式和过去分词 )； 区别对待； 表明…间的差别，构成…间差别的特征

参考例句：

• The development of mouse kidney tubules requires two kinds of differentiated cells. 小鼠肾小管的发育需要有两种分化的细胞。
• In this enlargement, barley, alfalfa, and sugar beets can be differentiated. 在这张放大的照片上，大麦，苜蓿和甜菜都能被区分开。

17 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。