新奇事件簿 跳虫可躲避严寒侵扰

Scientists have discovered new secrets from a tiny snow flea¹ that can survive in freezing conditions. The fleas² contain a protein that could be very useful for transplant surgery and farming. Researchers from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada have published a study about the flea and its antifreeze properties. The researchers said the antifreeze could help protect plants or animals from frost. It could also allow transplant organs to be stored and transported at lower temperatures. The microscopic³, six-legged snow fleas survive by lowering the freezing point of their bodies by 11 degrees.

科学家取得新发现，跳虫可在极寒条件下存活。其所含蛋白质可作用于移植手术和务农。关于蚊虫及防冻属性，安大略省女王大学研究学家发布报告。称其防冻性可使动植物躲避霜冻。器官保存及运输也可在冷藏中实现。为了在严寒中存活，微型六腿跳虫可将凝固点降低11度。

Scientists are talking about many possible uses for the new protein. One is to store transplant organs at cooler temperatures to keep them for longer. Lead researcher Dr. Laurie Graham said filling an organ with the antifreeze might prevent it from freezing. She said: “You would have longer to do tissue matching to get the organ to the patient and just increase the life of organs.” Another possibility could be to allow crops to survive a cold snap. Dr. Graham said scientists could genetically⁴ modify any crop that didn’t like frost to make it stronger in freezing temperatures.

对于新型蛋白质，科学家对其可能性用途展开了讨论。其中就有低温冷藏器官，延长存活时间。研究主任劳里·格拉哈姆表示称，为器官填充防冻剂可防止冻结。她认为：“为增加器官存活率，医生要在组织配对上花费不少精力。”还有一种是保证农作物扛过寒流。为使农作物抵抗严寒，科学家可将任意非耐寒农作物进行转基因处理。

1 flea   

n.跳蚤

参考例句：

• I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话，我就要对他不客气了。
• Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。

2 fleas   

n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求）

参考例句：

• The dog has fleas. 这条狗有跳蚤。
• Nothing must be done hastily but killing of fleas. 除非要捉跳蚤，做事不可匆忙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 microscopic   

adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的

参考例句：

• It's impossible to read his microscopic handwriting.不可能看清他那极小的书写字迹。
• A plant's lungs are the microscopic pores in its leaves.植物的肺就是其叶片上微细的气孔。

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