VOA标准英语2012--Scientists Identify Deafness Gene in Mice

Scientists Identify Deafness Gene¹ in Mice

 

Scientists have identified a gene that causes deafness in mice, and they say it could lead to a better understanding of hereditary² deafness in humans and maybe new treatments in the future.

Scientists had previously³ focused on a group of genes⁴ that were associated with inherited deafness, but now researchers at Washington University in Saint Louis have implicated⁵ a specific gene.

"So, when we inactivated⁶ the FGF20 gene in mice, we find that the resulting mice had no ability to hear, although they were otherwise very healthy, they were fertile, and they lived a normal lifespan," says senior researcher David Ornitz, adding work by other scientists pointed⁷ them to that particular gene.

When examined, the mice had visible changes in their inner ear. Outer hair cells - critical to hearing - normally run in a densely⁸ packed row, but in these mice the hair cells were patchy, and there were fewer of them.

"So we found there is patchy formation of sensory⁹ cells," says post-doctoral fellow Sung-Ho Huh. "And we also found, within the sensory cells, we found the number of specific outer hair cells had decreased, but the inner hair cells are intact."

Researchers at Washington University in Saint Louis have identified a specific gene that causes deafness in mice.

Hereditary deafness is relatively¹⁰ rare. Much more common is hearing loss that comes with age or exposure to noise. Right now, about the only treatment is hearing aids. But Ornitz says a better understanding of how the FGF20 gene is linked to the body's system for capturing sound could lead to new therapies.

"Eventually, it might be possible to use a gene therapy approach or some other drug-type approach, in which you could actually correct a deficit¹¹ due to loss or inactivation¹² of FGF20. But that will require quite a bit more research."

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 hereditary   

adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的

参考例句：

• The Queen of England is a hereditary ruler.英国女王是世袭的统治者。
• In men,hair loss is hereditary.男性脱发属于遗传。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 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

5 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 inactivated   

v.使不活泼，阻止活动( inactivate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Molluscicides are quickly inactivated by sunlight and adsorption to mud organic matter. 灭螺剂因阳光作用、泥土及有机物质的吸收会很快失效。 来自辞典例句
• Viruses were inactivated by BPL and the toxicity measured again. BPL对病毒进行灭活，测定残存毒力。 来自互联网

7 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

8 densely   

ad.密集地；浓厚地

参考例句：

• A grove of trees shadowed the house densely. 树丛把这幢房子遮蔽得很密实。
• We passed through miles of densely wooded country. 我们穿过好几英里茂密的林地。

9 sensory   

adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的

参考例句：

• Human powers of sensory discrimination are limited.人类感官分辨能力有限。
• The sensory system may undergo long-term adaptation in alien environments.感觉系统对陌生的环境可能经过长时期才能适应。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

11 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

12 inactivation   

n.灭活，失活，钝化（作用）；减化

参考例句：

• This inactivation may be accomplished in a variety of ways. 这种失去活性作用能以多种方式来实现。 来自辞典例句
• Long sonication periods can lead to some inactivation. 长时间的声波作用可导致某种程度的失活。 来自辞典例句