新奇事件簿 增加作物产量植物也要防晒

Plant biologists have thought of a clever new way to increase the size of crops by as much as 20 per cent. They have genetically¹ modified part of the mechanism² in plants that is responsible for photosynthesis³. Of course, photosynthesis is the most important chemical reaction in the world. It is the process where plants use sunlight to change carbon dioxide into oxygen. This means we can all breathe. The scientists have found a way for plants to use the energy they get from sunlight better, so they grow bigger and produce more food. Lead researcher Professor Stephen Long said his team is genetically modifying staple⁴ crops such as rice, wheat, maize⁵ and soybean – the world's biggest crops.

植物生物学家想到了一个聪明的新方法，可以让作物的尺寸增加20%。他们对植物中负责光合作用的部分机制进行了基因改造。当然，光合作用是世界上最重要的化学反应。在这个过程中，植物利用阳光将二氧化碳转化为氧气。这样我们才能呼吸。科学家发现了更好地利用从阳光中获得的能量的方法，所以植物可以长得更大，可以生产更多食物。首席研究员Stephen Long教授表示，他的研究团队正在对主要作物进行基因改造，比如稻米，小麦，玉米和大豆，这是世界上最主要的作物。

The scientists targeted the mechanism that plants use to protect themselves from damage when the Sun's rays are too strong. To prevent damage, plants turn their energy into heat, which disappears into the air. However, this heat-loss process continues even when clouds block the Sun. The scientists put extra copies of the heat-loss genes⁶ into modified plants. These additional copies speed up the heat-loss process so the plants can more quickly return to using energy to grow. Professor Long believes this could help the world's food needs. He said if he could get 20 per cent more food from crops, "that would greatly [reduce] what we see as the future pressure on food supply".

科学家改造的是当阳光太强烈的时候植物用来保护自己免受伤害的机制。为了防止伤害，植物将能量转化为热量，在空气中消失。然而，当云层遮挡了太阳时，这种热消失过程仍在继续。科学家向转基因的植物中加入了额外的热消失基因片段。增加的基因片段加速了热消失的过程，这样植物就能更快地回到利用能量来生长的过程。Long教授相信这样有助于满足全世界的粮食需求。他表示，如果作物产量能够增加20%，这将极大地缓解未来食物供应方面的压力。

1 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

2 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

3 photosynthesis   

n.光合作用

参考例句：

• In apple trees photosynthesis occurs almost exclusively in the leaves.苹果树的光合作用几乎只发生在叶内。
• Chloroplasts are the structures in which photosynthesis happens.叶绿体就是光合作用发生的地方。

4 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

5 maize   

n.玉米

参考例句：

• There's a field planted with maize behind the house.房子后面有一块玉米地。
• We can grow sorghum or maize on this plot.这块地可以种高粱或玉米。

6 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