ancient virus雅思閱讀真題機經

Ancient viruses恐龍時期的病毒

一項研究結果顯示，遠在恐龍時代出現(xiàn)的一些病毒仍然在活躍于當代人類的遺傳基因里。

至今為止，科學界對基因組的了解仍然處于初級狀態(tài)，科學家們希望這項研究能夠提供有關人類基因淵源的線索。

With only a small part of our genetic material fully understood,scientists have been trying to unravel where most of our DNA came from and what it does.Now researchers from Oxford,New York and Belgium have investigated the genes of 38 mammals–including humans,mice,elephants and dolphins,and they've found that most of them share traces of the same ancient viruses.The work has established that at least one virus infected our common ancestors as long as one hundred million years ago.

The scientists found that these micro-organisms have adapted to stay within their host cell where they have thrived.So within the double helix of our DNA lies not only a legacy of past infections but also a miniature eco-system in which the viruses live on and evolve.

The researchers hope that further work will identify what role these genetic parasites might play.There's no evidence that they cause harm,indeed one ancient virus is known to help in the growth of the placenta.According to the senior author of the study,Dr Robert Belshaw of Oxford University,understanding these survivors from the distant past may provide clues to the early detection of cancers or infections.

Quiz聽力測試

How many mammals did the researchers study in their investigation?

38 species,including humans,mice,elephants and dolphins.

How long ago do the scientists think at least one of the viruses infected our ancestors?

100 million years ago.

Which two words are used in the report to mean a virus?

A parasite and a micro-organism.

Are these ancient viruses harmful to people today?

No.There's no evidence of them being harmful to people.

Glossary詞匯表

to unravel解開

genes基因

traces微量的

to establish確認

micro-organism微生物

to thrive繁榮興旺

legacy遺留下來的資產

parasites寄生蟲

placenta胎盤

to provide clues提供線索

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