新奇事件簿 跳虫可躲避严寒侵扰（在线收听）

Scientists have discovered new secrets from a tiny snow flea that can survive in freezing conditions. The fleas 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 microscopic, 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 genetically 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。