新奇事件簿 科学家发现水稻防水基因

Scientists have found a gene¹ that will allow rice to survive longer in rice paddies that are under water. Plants under water for longer than a week receive so little oxygen they die. The scientists hope their discovery will mean the crops will last longer in regions that are regularly flooded. Rice growers in parts of Asia lose an estimated $US one billion annually² to floods. They hope a new, stronger type of rice will reduce the financial damage that occurs in typhoon and monsoon³ seasons. They also hope they will get bumper⁴ harvests. This is good news for the millions of people who suffer from food shortages because of heavy rains. Rice production must increase by 30 per cent over the next 20 years for a billion people to receive their staple⁵ diet.

科学家发现了一种基因，可以让稻米在水田存活更长时间。在水下生活一周以上的植物接收不到足够的氧气就会死亡。科学家希望他们的发现意味着作物在经常发洪水的地方能够存活更长时间。亚洲部分地区稻米种植者每年因洪水造成的损失平均为10亿美元。他们希望一种新型的，更强壮的稻米可以减少台风和雨季的财产损失。他们还希望农民能够获得大丰收。这对于由于暴雨导致粮食短缺的数百万人来说是好消息。未来20年，稻米产量要增加30%，才能供10亿人获得足够的口粮。

The research is from teams from the University of California and the International Rice Research Institute. Their findings have been published in the science journal Nature. Dr David Mackill, one of the researchers, said scientists had been trying for 50 years to develop a breed of rice that can live under water. He explained that: “Attempts to breed underwater tolerance⁶ into commercially profitable rice failed to generate successful varieties." Another team member, Dr Pamela Ronald, said she hoped that the research would lead to new rice varieties that would mean a better food supply for poor farmers and their families. The discovery is sure to add to the debate on the need for genetically⁷ modified rice.

该研究来自加州大学和国际稻米研究所组成的团队。他们的研究结果发表在《自然》期刊上。其中一位研究人员David Mackill表示，50年来，科学家一直希望研制出一种能够在水下存活的稻米。他解释道：“过去，科学家们一直希望培育出水下耐力比较强，能产生经济效益的稻米，但是未能成功研制出这种品种。”另外一名团队成员Pamela Ronald表示，她希望这项研究能够促进稻米新品种的诞生，这意味着贫困的农民和他们的家人能够有更多食物。该发现肯定会导致转基因大米的争论更加激烈。

1 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。

2 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

3 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。

4 bumper   

n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的

参考例句：

• The painting represents the scene of a bumper harvest.这幅画描绘了丰收的景象。
• This year we have a bumper harvest in grain.今年我们谷物丰收。

5 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。

6 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

7 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