VOA科学技术2023 研究：蜥蜴在城市中生存的基因变化（在线收听）

Study: Lizard Changed Genetically to Survive in the City

研究：蜥蜴在城市中生存的基因变化

A new study has found that a lizard that once lived in forests has gone through genetic changes to survive in city environments.

一项新的研究发现，一种曾经生活在森林中的蜥蜴已经经历了基因变化，在城市环境中生存。

Researchers studied a lizard called the crested anole. The lizard's official name is Anolis cristatellus. It is commonly found in the American territory of Puerto Rico.

研究人员研究了一种叫冠吻蜥蜴的蜥蜴。这只蜥蜴的官方名称是Anolis cristallus。它通常在波多黎各的美国领土上发现。

The team said it discovered the lizard had grown special scales that helped it climb more easily on smooth surfaces like walls and windows. It also grew longer legs in order to run faster across open areas.

该团队表示，他们发现蜥蜴长出了特殊的鳞片，有助于它更容易在光滑的表面如墙壁和窗户上攀爬。它还长出了更长的腿，以便在开阔地区跑得更快。

Kristin Winchell is a biology professor at New York University and the main writer of the study. She told The Associated Press, "We are watching evolution as it's unfolding."

Kristin Winchell是纽约大学的生物学教授，也是这项研究的主要作者。她告诉美联社，“我们正在观察进化的过程。”

Research results were recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

研究结果最近发表在《美国国家科学院院刊》上。

Winchell said as city development spreads out around the world, it is important to understand how organisms adapt to new environments. That way, she added, humans can design cities in ways that can support all kinds of animals.

温彻尔说，随着城市发展在世界各地展开，了解生物如何适应新环境很重要。她补充道，通过这种方式，人类可以以支持各种动物的方式设计城市。

The study examined 96 Anolis cristatellus lizards. Researchers compared the genetic makeup of lizards in forests to those living in Puerto Rico's capital, San Juan, as well as two other cities. Scientists found that 33 genes were repeatedly linked to city spread.

这项研究调查了96只方吻蜥。研究人员将森林中蜥蜴的基因组成与生活在波多黎各首都圣胡安以及其他两个城市的蜥蜴进行了比较。科学家发现，33个基因与城市传播反复相关。

Wouter Halfwerk is an evolutionary ecologist and professor at Vrije University Amsterdam. He was not involved in the study. He told the AP, "You can hardly get closer to a smoking gun," meaning evidence or proof of something.

Wouter Halfwerk是一位进化生态学家，阿姆斯特丹弗里杰大学教授。他没有参与这项研究。他告诉美联社，“你很难接近一支冒烟的枪”，意思是证据或证据。

Halfwerk said he was excited that the researchers were able to identify such rich evidence that the lizards had changed genetically to adapt to a different environment.

Halfwerk表示，研究人员能够找到如此丰富的证据，证明蜥蜴的基因发生了变化，以适应不同的环境，他对此感到兴奋。

Winchell said the research demonstrated that scientists might be able to predict how populations will react to city environments just by looking at genetic signs.

温彻尔说，这项研究表明，科学家们可能仅通过观察遗传信号就能预测人口对城市环境的反应。

The study found that larger legs permitted the lizards to run more quickly across open city areas. And the special scales they developed permit them to hold onto surfaces that are much smoother than trees.

研究发现，更大的腿可以让蜥蜴在开阔的城市地区更快地奔跑。他们开发出的特殊鳞片使他们能够抓住比树木光滑得多的表面。

The scientists followed many lizards for the study, using their hands or fishing poles to catch them. "It takes some practice," Winchell said.

科学家们在研究中跟踪了许多蜥蜴，用它们的手或鱼竿捕捉它们。温彻尔说：“这需要一些练习。”。

Among Winchell's favorite findings was a rare albino lizard. She also found a nearly 20-centimeter-long one, a rather large individual for that species of lizard. She decided to call that one "Godzilla."

温彻尔最喜欢的发现之一是一种罕见的白化蜥蜴。她还发现了一只近20厘米长的蜥蜴，这是一种相当大的蜥蜴。她决定把那一个叫做“哥斯拉”

The study centered on adult male lizards, so it is unclear if females are changing in the same way or at the same rate as males. The researchers said it is also not clear at which point in a lizard's life the changes happen.

这项研究以成年雄性蜥蜴为中心，因此尚不清楚雌性蜥蜴是否以与雄性蜥蜴相同的方式或速度变化。研究人员表示，目前还不清楚蜥蜴生命中的哪一点发生了变化。

Halfwerk's own research showed how one frog species changed its reproducing call in city areas. He said scientists should look next for possible limitations on evolutionary changes and how genetic adaptations relate to reproductive behavior.

Halfwerk自己的研究表明，一种青蛙如何在城市地区改变其繁殖叫声。他说，科学家接下来应该寻找进化变化的可能限制，以及遗传适应与生殖行为的关系。

Halfwerk added that for the adaptive changes to be lasting, "they need to lead to higher reproduction."

Halfwerk补充道，为了使适应性变化持久，“它们需要导致更高的繁殖率。”

Words in This Story

scale - n. a flat piece of hard material that covers the skin of some animals

鳞片--覆盖在某些动物皮肤上的扁平硬材料

evolution – n. the way in which living things change and develop over millions of years

进化--数百万年来生物变化和发展的方式

adapt – v. to change something so that it is suitable for a different use or situation

适应–v.改变某物，使其适合不同的用途或情况

smoking gun – n. information that proves something is true

确凿的证据--information that proves something is true

证明某件事属实的信息

practice – n. the act of doing something regularly in order to improve one's skills

练习--为了提高自己的技能而经常做某事的行为

species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

物种，种类--一组相似的动物或植物，可以产生幼兽或植物