Entomology
Buzzing without being buzzed
Lead-in
你知道吗?在动物世界里,有一种神奇的生物——东方大黄蜂,它打破了我们对动物与酒精关系的常规认知。当其他动物对酒精避之不及,它却能在酒的世界里“肆意遨游”,不仅爱喝,还喝不醉!
1.你知道哪些动物喜欢喝酒吗?
2.你知道东方大黄蜂为什么对酒精有特殊的反应吗?
3.研究人员又如何测试动物的酒精耐受程度?
4.东方大黄蜂的特殊酒精耐受能力的关键原因是什么?
想知道这背后的奥秘吗?接下来让我们一起探索东方大黄蜂的独特本领吧!
Title Analysis
“Buzzing without being buzzed”:嗡嗡作响却不被酒精影响而变得迷醉。
该标题富有深意,巧妙地应用了双关的手法,生动形象地概括了东方大黄蜂独特的生理特性及其与酒精的关系,同时也吸引读者去深入探究这一奇特现象。
字面含义:“buzz”一词有嗡嗡叫之意,描述了大黄蜂飞行时发出的声音,所以“Buzzing without being buzzed”字面意思是大黄蜂在飞行(嗡嗡叫)却不被其他因素干扰而嗡嗡叫,给读者一种大黄蜂在正常活动状态下不受外界影响的初步印象。
隐喻含义:“buzzed”在俚语中有“喝醉”的意思,结合文章主题,这里隐喻东方大黄蜂在摄取酒精后不会像其他动物一样呈现出醉酒(buzzed)的状态,即便接触酒精也能保持正常行为,突出了东方大黄蜂对酒精的非凡耐受性。
Preview
Mind Map
Text Analysis
PART ONE——Para 1
大意:这一部分主要讲述了动物与酒精的一般情况,许多动物都有饮酒行为,并且过量的酒精也会对动物造成危害。这一部分主要起到了一个引入的作用。
1.Like people,many animals enjoy having a drink every now and again.
像人一样,许多动物也喜欢时不时地喝上一杯。
have a drink:喝一杯(酒,饮料等),在这里指酒
every now and again:时不时地
该句运用了类比的修辞手法,将动物和人进行类比,突出二者在喜欢时不时喝上一杯这一行为上的相似性,增强了句子的形象性和生动性,让表达更具说服力和感染力。
2. Rather than sip brandy or Chablis, though, they feed on fermented fruit, but the effects are the same.
它们不是啜饮白兰地或夏布利酒,而是以发酵的水果为食,但效果是一样的。
sip[vt.]:to drink sth, taking a very small amount each time小口喝,抿,这里“sip”的应用,十分绝妙,赋予了动物人格化,生动地描绘出人类饮酒时优雅、细致的动作,使读者能够在脑海中浮现出人们轻抿美酒画面,更加具有画面感
brandy[n.]:a strong alcoholic drink made from wine白兰地酒
Chablis[n.]:a type of dry white French wine沙布利干白葡萄酒
fermented[adj.]:If a food, drink, or other natural substance ferments, or if it is fermented, a chemical change takes place in it so that alcohol is produced.已发酵的
Expansion:
白兰地是一种著名的烈性蒸馏酒,常被视为高雅、奢华饮品的代表;夏布利酒是法国知名的优质白葡萄酒,具有独特的风味和较高的品质。二者均在酒类文化中占据重要地位,在这里以二者为例子,它们更能体现出饮酒行为的精致与讲究,增强句子的文化氛围和高雅格调。
3. Though alcohol is rich in calories, it muddles minds and shortens lifespans.
虽然酒精含有丰富的卡路里,但它会使人糊涂缩短寿命。
be rich in:含有丰富的......
calory[n.]:卡路里,热量单位
muddle[vt.]:to confuse sb.使困惑,使糊涂;和“minds”搭配,非常形象地描绘出酒精对人的大脑产生的消极影响。相较于常见的“confuse”之类的词,“muddle”更有一种把头脑搅成一团乱麻的感觉,生动地体现出酒精让人思维混乱、神志不清的状态。
lifespan[n.]:the length of time that sth is likely to live, continue or function寿命,可持续年限,有效期
4. It presents a serious risk to animals and most avoid drinking to excess.
它对动物有严重的危险,大多数人都避免过量饮酒。
present a risk to:存在风险
to excess:过分地,过度地
PART TWO——Para 2
大意:这一部分引出了东方大黄蜂,并指出东方大黄蜂的独特之处:他们喜欢发酵水果及酒精饮料,并且不会受到危害。
1.Then there is the Oriental hornet, a bug native to northern Africa and south-western Asia, which loves fermented fruits and is so attracted to human-made alcoholic beverages that it will aggressively fight for them with a sting that is akin to being jabbed with a searing hot tack.
这段话的中文意思是:还有东方大黄蜂,一种原产于北非和亚洲西南部的昆虫。它喜欢发酵的水果,并且对人造酒精饮料非常着迷,以至于会激烈地为它们而战,它的螫刺就像被灼热的图钉扎了一下。
这个句子中,“a bug native to northern Africa and south-western Asia”是“the Oriental hornet”的同位语,对其进行进一步的说明,指出其原产地。“which........tack”是一个非限定性定语从句,修饰“the Oriental hornet”。这个定语从句中又包含两个并列的谓语部分,“loves fermented fruits”和“is so attracted ...... tack”,在第二个谓语部分中,“so...that...”引导结果状语从句,表示“如此……以至于……”;“with a sting that is akin to being jabbed with a searing hot tack”是方式状语,其中“that is akin to being jabbed with a searing hot tack”是定语从句,修饰“sting”。
Oriental hornet:东方大黄蜂
bug[n.]:any small insect小昆虫,虫子
native to:原生于,原产于,土生土长的
be attracted to:被吸引
human-made alcoholic beverages:人造酒精饮料
beverage[n.]:any type of drink except water(除水以外的)饮料
aggressively[adv.]:An aggressive person or animal has a quality of anger and determination that makes them ready to attack other people侵略地,攻击地,有闯劲地
sting[n.]:the sharp pointed part of an insect or creature that can go into the skin leaving a small, painful and sometimes poisonous wound(昆虫的)螫针,刺;(植物的)刺,刺毛
akin to:类似于
jab[vt.]:to push a pointed object into sb/sth戳;刺;捅;猛
a searing hot tack:灼热的图钉
searing[adj.]:so strong that it seems to burn you灼人的,火辣辣的
tack[n.]:a small nail with a sharp point and a flat head平头针,大头针
Expansion:
The expression of Oriental hornet(东方大黄蜂):
“Oriental”通常指东方的、东方国家的,带有一定的文化和地域指向性,强调其来自东方的特定背景,与亚洲等东方文化区域相联系,赋予了东方大黄蜂更具地域文化特色的标识。
作为一种被广泛接受的英文名称,“Oriental hornet”在国际上的昆虫学研究、科普文献以及相关的学术著作中通用性较高,不同国家和地区的学者、研究人员及爱好者都能理解和使用这一名称来特指东方大黄蜂。
2. Everyone has assumed that the rules for the hornet were the same as those for other species that the alcohol poses them problems.
每个人都认为黄蜂和其他物种的规律是一样的,酒精给它们带来了问题。
assume[vt.]:to think or accept that sth is true but without having proof of it假定,假设,认为
pose sb. problems:给某人带来问题
3. But new research reveals that the rules do not apply. The bugs are immune to becoming drunk and do not have their lives shortened by booze, either.
但新的研究表明,这些规则并不适用。这些虫子不会喝醉也不会因为喝酒而缩短寿命。
reveal[vt.]:to make sth known to sb揭示,显示,透露
be immune to:对......免疫
have lives shortened:寿命缩短了,have sth. done:使.....做某事
booze[n.]:alcoholic drink酒精饮料
PART THREE——Para 3-4
大意:这一部分主要讲述了探究东方大黄蜂酒精耐受性的实验。
这一个自然段主要聚焦于实验背景,树鼩和果蝇是已知较能耐受酒精的动物,人类对东方大黄蜂饮酒偏好研究较少。
1.The problems from alcohol come from the yeast that makes it. The fungus guards the fruits, vegetables and grains that it grows on by producing a toxin, ethanol, to ward off competitors.
酒精的问题来自于制造它的酵母。这种真菌通过产生一种毒素乙醇来保护其赖以生长的水果、蔬菜和谷物,以抵御竞争对手。
yeast[n.]:a fungus used in making beer and wine, or to make bread rise酵母菌
fungus[n.]:a fungus used in making beer and wine, or to make bread rise真菌
guard[vt.]:to protect sth. from attack or danger保卫
grain[n.]:the small hard seeds of food plants such as wheat , rice, etc谷物,谷粒
toxin[n.]:a poisonous substance, especially one that is produced by bacteria in plants and animals毒素(尤指生物体自然产生的毒物)
ethanol[n.]:the type of alcohol in alcoholic drinks, also used as a fuel or solvent乙醇、
ward off:避开,躲开,防止(危险、疾病等)
ward[vi.]:to protect or defend yourself against danger, illness, attack, etc防止,避免
2. Very few animals can endure consumption of food rich in ethanol.
很少有动物能忍受食用富含乙醇的食物。
endure[vt.]:to experience and deal with sth that is painful or unpleasant, especially without complaining忍耐,忍受
consumption of food rich in ethanol:食用富含乙醇的食物
consumption[n.]:the act of using energy, food or materials(能量或食物的消耗)
rich in:富含
3.To date, the champions of this particular contest have been tree shrews and fruit flies, which can periodically ingest concentrations of up to 3.8% and 4% ethanol respectively without suffering ill effects(humans can tolerate far more: wine is typically 10% alcohol and spirits are around 40%).
迄今为止,这场特殊竞赛的冠军是树鼩和果蝇,它们可以周期性地分别摄入浓度高达3.8%和4%的乙醇而不会产生不良影响(人类可以承受的浓度要高得多:葡萄酒的酒精含量通常为10%,烈酒的酒精含量约为40%)。
to data:迄今,到目前为止
tree shrew:树鼩
fruit flies:果蝇
periodically[adv.]:sth. happen occasionally, at fairly regular intervals周期性地,定期地
ingest[vt.]:to take sth. into the body摄入
concentration[n.]:the amount of a substance in a liquid or in another substance浓度
respectively[adv.]:it means in the same order as the items that you have just mentioned分别地,各自地
spirits[n.]:it refers to alcoholic beverages that have a relatively high alcohol content烈酒
Expansion:
tree shrew(树鼩):
野生树鼩会经常摄入乙醇,在西马来西亚的雨林中,树鼩会食用马来凸果榈花蕾中的花蜜,其酒精含量最高可达3.8%,相当于人类每天喝9杯葡萄酒的酒精摄入量,但树鼩却不会醉酒。
树鼩能迅速将摄入的大部分乙醇新陈代谢为乙基葡萄糖醛酸苷,其毛发中该物质的含量约为人类的30倍,这表明树鼩的解酒能力比人类更强。
fruit flies(果蝇):
果蝇常出现在含乙醇的自然环境中,如腐烂水果等发酵环境,其食物中的乙醇含量可高达6%,而在葡萄酒渗漏处,乙醇含量甚至可达11%。
乙醇会影响果蝇的行为,当雄性果蝇处于含乙醇的食物环境中时,会变得更具攻击性,因为乙醇的气味可增强其感觉神经元对促进攻击行为的信息素的反应。
果蝇对乙醇有偏好性, 当果蝇在产卵前与寄生蜂共处时,会将卵产在富含乙醇的食物上,且这种偏好性可遗传数代,这是由于寄生蜂害怕乙醇,果蝇以此来保护后代不受寄生蜂侵害。
4.With this in mind, Sofa Bouchebti at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Eran Levin at Tel Aviv University found themselves perplexed by Oriental hornet oenophilia.
考虑到这一点,内盖夫本-古里安大学的索法·布歇布蒂和特拉维夫大学的埃兰·莱文对东方大黄蜂的嗜酒性感到困惑。
perplexed[adj.]:confused and anxious because you are unable to understand sth;在这里,它生动地体现出两位研究人员面对东方大黄蜂嗜酒这一现象时那种不知所措、充满疑问的心理状态。“perplex”相较于“puzzle”或“confuse”,更强调一种复杂的、难以理解的困惑情绪。它表明这种大黄蜂的嗜酒行为对于研究者来说是很意外、很不符合常规认知的,使他们陷入一种深度的、有些茫然的思考困境。
oenophilia[n.]:a strong interest and passion for wine in aspects such as tasting,appreciating,and collecting嗜酒癖,爱酒癖
Expansion:
Sofa Bouchebti(索法·布歇布蒂):
Sofa Bouchebti来自内盖夫本-古里安大学,其研究涉及到对东方大黄蜂嗜酒性等相关领域的探索。从这一研究来看,他对昆虫与特定物质的偏好及相关行为等方面有着深入观察和研究,推测其在昆虫学、动物行为学等学科领域有一定的专业造诣,致力于探索昆虫与环境物质之间的关系等科学问题。
Eran Levin(埃兰·莱文):
Eran Levin就职于特拉维夫大学,同样关注东方大黄蜂的嗜酒性。由此可以判断他在生物学相关领域有深入研究,特别是在昆虫的生理特性及特殊行为方面,可能擅长运用多种研究方法和技术手段,从不同角度剖析昆虫行为背后的生理机制和生态意义,为理解昆虫与生态环境的相互作用等提供理论依据和科学解释。
这一个自然段主要讲述了实验过程。
1.Since the existing literature on the pre-dilection of Oriental hornets for strong human drinks was sparse, Dr Bouchebti and Dr Levin decided to explore how much ethanol the bugs could cope with.
由于关于东方大黄蜂对人类烈性饮料的偏好的现有文献很少,索法·布歇布蒂博士和埃兰·莱文博士决定探索一下这些昆虫能适应多少乙醇。
这个句子中,since表示“因为”,引导原因状语从句,“the existing literature”是主语,“on the pre-dilection of Oriental hornets for strong human drinks”是介词短语修饰“literature”。“Dr Bouchebti ...... cope with”是主句,“how much ethanol the bugs could cope with”是动词“explore”的宾语,是一个宾语从句,其中“how much ethanol”是宾语从句中的宾语,“the bugs”是宾语从句中的主语,“could cope with”是宾语从句中的谓语动词短语。
这里用到了“could”而不用“can”,作用是让语气较为委婉和不确定,表示对东方大黄蜂能够承受的乙醇量并不是完全确定的一种推测。研究人员在进行探索之前,并不能确切地知道这些虫子到底能承受多少乙醇,用“could”体现出一种谨慎和试探性的态度,避免过于绝对的表述。
literature on:关于......的文献
predilection[n.]:if you have a predilection for sth, you like it very much喜爱,偏爱,钟爱
sparse[adj.]:Something that is sparse is small in number or amount and spread out over an area稀少的,稀疏的
cope with:对付
Expansion:
关于“名词+介词”结构
literature on:关于......的文献
writings on:关于......的著作
works on:关于......的作品
publications on:关于......出版物
studies on:关于......的研究
murder on:对......的谋杀
这种“名词+介词”的表达,其中介词短语作后置定语,用于修饰前面的名词,明确其具体所涉及的范围,使表达更加准确
2. They put small groups of the insects into testing boxes where they were fed sugar water for seven days that was laced with 0%,1%,10%20%, 60% or 80% ethanol.
他们将一小群昆虫放入测试箱中,喂食糖水7天,糖水中分别含有0%、1%、10%、20%、60%或80%的乙醇。
be laced with:掺入,含有
lace[vt.]:to add a small amount of alcohol, a drug, poison, etc. to a drink给(饮料等)掺(少量的酒、药、毒药等)
Expansion:
本实验运用到的实验方法叫:对照实验
它是指在进行科学实验时,将研究对象分为实验组和对照组,除了对实验组施加需要研究的因素或处理外,其他条件保持一致,通过对比两组的结果来确定该因素或处理的影响。 实验中包括:
•空白对照:对照组不施加任何处理因素,常用于研究某种物质或因素对实验对象的影响。上述实验中,含0%乙醇为空白对照组。
• 阳性对照:对照组施加已知有效的处理因素,目的是为实验提供阳性参照,验证实验方法的有效性等。上述实验中,1%、10%、20%、60%乙醇为阳性对照组。
• 阴性对照:对照组使用无作用或无效的处理因素,用于排除非研究因素的干扰。上述实验中,80%乙醇为阴性对照组。
3.The hornets fed the 80% solution were, in effect, a negative control and were not supposed to survive. All the same, they did.
实际上,喂食80%溶液的大黄蜂是一个阴性对照,不应该存活。尽管如此,他们还是这么做了。
solution[n.]:a liquid in which sth is dissolved溶液
in effect:实际上,事实上
negative control:阴性对照
be supposed to:应该,被期望
all the same:仍然,照样,尽管如此
PART FOUR——Para 5-6
大意:上一部分讲述了关于东方大黄蜂酒精耐受性的实验,这一部分则揭露了实验的结果,并且解释了东方大黄蜂耐受酒精的原因。
这一个自然段揭示了上文提到的实验的结果,并且解释了东方大黄蜂耐受酒精的一大原因是:酒精脱氢酶基因。
1.Stunned, the researchers ran experiments to monitor longevity and nest-building behaviour.
震惊之余,研究人员进行了实验,以监测它们的寿命和筑巢行为。
“stunned”在这句话中是形容词,意思是“震惊的;惊呆的”。它在句中作伴随状语,说明研究人员在进行实验时的状态是震惊的。
stunned[adj.]:filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock震惊的,惊讶的
longevity[n.]:long life长寿,寿命
nest-building behaviour:筑巢行为
nest-building[adj.]:复合形容词,由“nest”(鸟巢)和“building”(建造)组成,意思是“筑巢的”。
2.They report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week that even as the hornets gorged on the 80% ethanol solution they maintained normal lifespans, built ordinary nests and behaved as they usually did.
他们在本周的《美国国家科学院院刊》上报告说,即使大黄蜂大量摄入了80%的乙醇溶液,它们也保持了正常的寿命,建造了普通的巢穴,并表现得像往常一样。
gorge on:贪婪地吃,狼吞虎咽,在原文指大黄蜂大量摄入。
gorge[vi]:to eat a lot of sth, until you are too full to eat any more贪婪地吃,狼吞虎咽
maintain[vt.]:to make sth continue at the same level保持,维持
Expansion:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(美国国家科学院院刊):
《美国科学院院报》(PNAS)是与Nature、Science齐名,被引用次数最多的综合学科文献之一,周刊。自1914年创刊,PNAS提供具有高水平的前沿研究报告、学术评论、学科回顾及前瞻、学术论文以及美国国家科学学会学术动态的报道和出版。PNAS收录的文献涵盖生物、物理和社会科学,2008年的影响因子为9.38,2009年影响因子为9.432。在SCI综合科学类期刊中排名第三位,因而已成为全球科研人员不可缺少的科研资料。
3.Unlike all other known animals, they were unfazed by chronic consumption of exceedingly high levels of ethanol.
与所有其他已知的动物不同,它们不会因为长期摄入极高水平的乙醇而受到影响。
unfazed[adj.]:not worried or surprised by sth unexpected that happens未受干扰,不觉担忧
chronic consumption of sth:长期摄入......
chronic[adj.]:lasting for a long time长期的
exceedingly[adv.]:extremely or very much极其,非常
4.Follow-up work with chemically labelled ethanol that was fed to the insects revealed that the key to their extraordinary abilities is the presence of multiple copies of the gene for alcohol dehydrogenase,which supports the production of enzymes that break ethanol down into components that can be metabolised.
用化学标记的乙醇喂养昆虫的后续工作揭示了它们非凡能力的关键是酒精脱氢酶基因的多个拷贝,该基因支持将乙醇分解成可代谢成分的酶的产生。
这句话是一个主从复合句,主句为“Follow-up work...revealed that...”,后面的“that the key...is the presence...”是宾语从句,解释“revealed”的内容。在宾语从句中又包含一个定语从句“which supports...enzymes...”,修饰“the gene for alcohol dehydrogenase”。
follow-up[adj.]:an action or a thing that continues接着的,继续的
chemically labelled ethanol :化学标记的乙醇
labelled[adj.]:bearing or marked with a label or tag加有标记的
the presence of:......的存在
multiple copies of the gene for alcohol dehydrogenase:酒精脱氢酶基因的多个拷贝
copy[n.]:a thing that is made to be the same as sth else复制品,在原句中“copy”用于对基因的描述,意思是:拷贝
dehydrogenase[n.]:脱氢酶
enzymes[n.]:an enzyme is a chemical substance that is found in living creatures which produces changes in other substances without being changed itself.酶
break sth. down:分解某物
metabolise[vt.]:it means the process by which substances in the body are changed into other substances
Expansion:
dehydrogenase(脱氢酶):
脱氢酶是一类催化物质氧化还原反应的酶,在生物体内起着重要作用。
脱氢酶能够催化底物分子脱去氢原子,并将脱下的氢传递给特定的受体,从而实现物质的氧化还原转化。其氧化过程常与细胞呼吸、能量代谢等重要生理过程紧密相连,为生物体提供能量。
脱氢酶具有特定的活性中心,底物与活性中心结合后,在酶的催化下发生脱氢反应。如乙醇脱氢酶可使乙醇脱去两个氢原子变成乙醛,而脱下的氢则被辅酶接受。
在新陈代谢方面,脱氢酶参与众多代谢途径,如糖酵解、三羧酸循环等,确保物质代谢的顺利进行和能量的稳定供应。
这个自然段主要讲述了东方大黄蜂耐受酒精的第二个原因:东方大黄蜂与啤酒酵母的密切关系。
1.As to why Oriental hornets have multiple copies of this pivotal gene, Dr Bouchebti speculates that it has to do with a close relationship that the hornet has with the fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as brewer's yeast.
至于为什么东方大黄蜂有这种关键基因的多个副本,布歇布蒂博士推测,这与大黄蜂与酿酒酵母(也被称为啤酒酵母)的密切关系有关。
pivotal[adj.]:of great importance because other things depend on it关键性的,核心的
speculate[vi.]:to form an opinion about sth without knowing all the details or facts推测,猜测,推断;这个词体现了一种基于现有知识和观察,但还没有确凿证据的推断过程。在这个语境中,表明布歇布蒂博士对于大黄蜂拥有多个关键基因副本的原因没有十足的把握,只是根据大黄蜂和酿酒酵母的密切关系做出的一种合理猜测。相比于“guess”,“speculate”更具科学性和逻辑性,它暗示了是在研究和思考的基础上提出的一种设想,让读者能清楚地知道这是一个有待进一步验证的观点。
have to do with:与......有关
Saccharomyces cerevisiae:酿酒酵母,拉丁语,在生物学中常被用于物种的学名。
brewer's yeast:啤酒酵母
2.During the winter, the queens of many social wasps, like the Oriental hornet, are known to harbour the yeast on their bodies along with other microbes.
在冬季,许多群居黄蜂的蜂王,如东方大黄蜂,被认为在他们的身体上藏有酵母和其他微生物。
queen[n.]:female ruler女统治者,女王。当这个词用于描述蜜蜂时,指蜂王。
social wasp:群居黄蜂
wasp[n.]:a black and yellow flying insect that can sting黄蜂,胡蜂
harbour[vt.]:to contain sth and allow it to develop包含,藏有
microbe[n.]:an extremely small living thing that you can only see under a microscope and that may cause disease微生物
3.Then, when spring arrives, they transfer it to their newly hatched workers who then spread it to the fruits they come into contact with.
然后,当春天到来时,它们把病毒传给新孵化的工蜂,工蜂再把病毒传播给它们接触到的果实。
transfer sth to:转移某物
newly hatched:新孵化的
hatch[vt./vi]:to break open so that a young bird, fish, insect, etc. can come out孵化,孵出
come into contact with:与......接触
Expansion:
Classification of bee populations(蜜蜂种群分类):
蜜蜂群中主要有以下几种不同蜂种:
蜂王
• 蜂王是蜂群中唯一发育完全的雌性蜂,体型较大,通常比工蜂长三分之一左右。其主要职责是产卵,繁殖后代,一天可产卵数千枚,以维持蜂群的数量。蜂王还会通过分泌信息素,来控制蜂群的秩序和行为。
工蜂
• 工蜂是蜂群中数量最多的蜂种,也是发育不完全的雌性蜂。它们承担着蜂群中的各种工作,如采集花蜜、花粉、水和蜂胶等,酿造蜂蜜,喂养幼虫和蜂王,清理蜂巢,调节巢内温度和湿度,以及守卫蜂巢等。
雄蜂
• 雄蜂体型比工蜂稍大,其主要任务是与蜂王交配,以繁殖后代。它们在蜂群中的数量相对较少,通常在繁殖季节出现,不参与蜂群的其他工作,且食量较大。
4. It would seem that evolution has driven hornets carrying extra copies of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene to be selected for over time, so they can continue to make use of these food sources even after they are rendered utterly inedible to other species by the ethanol released by the yeast.
这似乎是进化驱使黄蜂携带额外的酒精脱氢酶基因副本,随着时间的推移,它们被选中,所以它们可以继续利用这些食物来源,即使它们被酵母释放的乙醇变得完全不能被其他物种食用。
这句话的结构分析如下:
“It would seem that...”中,“it”为形式主语,真正的主语是that引导的从句。
“evolution ......for over time”是句子的主要部分,其中“evolution”是主语;“has driven”是谓语动词;“hornets ......gene”是宾语,其中“carrying ...... gene”是现在分词短语作后置定语修饰“hornets”;“to be selected for over time”是宾语补足语。
“so they can ......by the yeast”是结果状语从句,其中“they”指代前面的“hornets”;“can continue ...... sources”是谓语部分;“even after ...... released by the yeast”是时间状语从句,其中“they”同样指代“hornets”,其中“released by the yeast”是过去分词短语作后置定语修饰“ethanol”。
drive sb. doing sth.:驱使某人做某事
be selected for: 被选择用于......
be rendered utterly inedible to sth:变得完全不能够被食用
render[vt.]:cause sb/sth to be sth使成为,使变得
utterly[adv.]:completely完全地,彻底地
inedible[adj.]:If you say that something is inedible, you mean you cannot eat it不能吃的,不宜食用的
PART FIVE——Para 7
大意:这一部分点明东方大黄蜂和酵母之间的关系的本质,并点明了对于研究的展望:其他种类的群居黄蜂可能也有类似酒精耐受性。
1.In essence, the relationship between the yeast and the hornets seems to be symbiotic;the hornets carry the yeast to things it can feed on and the yeast then preserves these food sources for these hornets, and only them, to feast upon.
从本质上讲,酵母和大黄蜂之间的关系似平是共生的;黄蜂把酵母带到它可以吃的地方上,然后酵母把这些食物来源保存下来,只供黄蜂享用。
in essence:本质上
symbiotic[adj.]:A symbiotic relationship is one in which organisms, people, or things exist together in a way that benefits them all.共生的,互惠互利的
feed on:以......为食
feast upon:享用
feast[vi.]:to eat a large amount of food, with great enjoyment尽情享用
开头给出的问题,经过全文的分析,答案如下:
许多动物喜欢喝酒,文中提到除了人类,有些动物会以发酵水果为食,比如树鼩、果蝇 和东方大黄蜂就喜欢发酵水果和人类酿造的酒精饮料。
东方大黄蜂对酒精有特殊反应可能与其和酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)的密切关系有关,文中推测:进化使携带额外酒精脱氢酶基因副本的大黄蜂被选择,以便它们能利用被酵母释放的乙醇变得对其他物种不可食用的食物来源。
研究人员通过对照试验,将小群东方大黄蜂放入测试箱,连续七天喂食含不同浓度乙醇(0%、1%、10%、20%、60%或80%)的糖水,通过观察它们的存活情况、寿命和筑巢行为等来探究其对酒精的耐受程度。
东方大黄蜂的特殊究竟耐受能力的关键原因是东方大黄蜂体内存在酒精脱氢酶基因的多个副本,该基因有助于产生将乙醇分解为可代谢成分的酶,从而使其具有非凡的酒精耐受能力。
Summary and Reflection
This article mainly refers to the Oriental hornets, native to certain regions, love fermented fruits and alcohol. New research shows they're immune to drunkenness and lifespan shortening due to unique genes and a symbiotic relationship with yeast.
This article is of great significance to biological research and the public. First, it is an expansion of biological cognition. Discovering the unique response of the Oriental hornets to alcohol deepens our understanding of insect adaptation mechanisms and provides new directions for the study of the relationship between animals and alcohol. Revealing its symbiotic relationship with yeast provides a paradigm for the study of coevolution in ecosystems and helps to understand the mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance.
As for research promotion and public influence, it can not only stimulate in-depth research on social insects such as wasps and promote the development of entomology, but also raise public awareness of natural phenomena and enhance public recognition and support for scientific research.
References
[1]图片来自于baidu.com
[2]单词释义来自《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
[3]拓展资料来自:
https://www.baidu.com/
https://doubao.com
https://baike.baidu.com/
[4]本文章选自The Economist 2024年10月26日期刊
注:本篇外刊仅用来学习使用,无任何商业用途!
文案&排版|2023级3班成悦宏
指导教师|黄慧