科学家发现基因与人类语言能力有关
📖 逐句对照翻译
A new study suggests the beginnings of human speech are linked to genetics.
一项新研究表明，人类言语的起源与遗传有关。
The research identifies a protein – found only in people – that may have helped early humans develop spoken communication.
这项研究确定了一种仅存在于人类身上的蛋白质，它可能有助于早期人类发展口语交流。
Scientists involved in the study say this new speaking ability became important for humans’ survival.
参与这项研究的科学家表示，这种新的说话能力对人类的生存变得至关重要。
For example, speech permitted individuals to share information, organize activities and pass down knowledge.
例如，言语使个人能够分享信息、组织活动和传承知识。
These abilities are now seen as an advantage humans had over their relatives, such as the Neanderthals and Denisovans.
这些能力现在被视为人类相较于其亲属（如尼安德特人和丹尼索瓦人）所拥有的优势。
The researchers recently published their findings in a study in the journal Nature Communications.
研究人员最近在《自然通讯》杂志上发表了一项研究，公布了他们的发现。
Liza Finestack teaches about speech and hearing at the University of Minnesota.
莉莎·菲内斯塔克在明尼苏达大学教授言语与听觉课程。
She told The Associated Press (AP) the new study is "a good first step to start looking at the specific genes" that may affect speech and language development.
她告诉美联社，这项新研究是“开始寻找可能影响语言和语言发展的特定基因的良好第一步”。
Finestack was not involved in the study.
Finestack没有参与这项研究。
Dr. Robert Darnell has long been studying the protein – called NOVA1 – at his laboratory at New York’s Rockefeller University.
罗伯特·达内尔博士一直在纽约洛克菲勒大学的实验室里研究这种名为NOVA1的蛋白质。
He helped lead the new research and was a writer of the study.
他协助领导了这项新研究，并且是该研究的撰写者之一。
Darnell told the AP the genetic version, or variant, included the protein that helped humans develop into the “dominant species” that remains today.
达内尔告诉美联社，这种基因版本或变体包含了帮助人类发展成为当今“优势物种”的蛋白质。
The latest research involved scientists using CRISPR gene editing methods to replace the NOVA1 protein found in mice with the one found in humans.
最新研究中，科学家利用CRISPR基因编辑技术，将小鼠体内的NOVA1蛋白替换为人类体内的NOVA1蛋白。
The aim was to test the real-life effects of the genetic variant.
目的是测试这种基因变异在现实生活中的影响。
The researchers were surprised to learn that the variant changed the way the animals called out to each other.
研究人员惊讶地发现，这种变异改变了动物彼此呼叫的方式。
Baby mice with the human variant made a different sound than normal mice do when their mother came around.
携带人类基因变体的小鼠在母亲靠近时发出的声音与正常小鼠不同。
Adult male mice with the variant also made different sounds when they were near a female they wanted to mate with.
携带该变体的成年雄性小鼠在接近想要交配的雌性时，也会发出不同的声音。
Darnell said both of these situations gave the mice a reason to speak.
达内尔表示，这两种情况都给了老鼠说话的理由。
Those with the human variant "spoke differently," demonstrating the gene’s influence in speech, he added.
他补充道，携带人类基因变体的人“说话方式不同”，这证明了该基因对语言的影响。
This is not the first time a gene has been linked to speech.
这并不是第一次将基因与语言联系起来。
In 2001, British scientists said they had discovered the first gene tied to a language and speech disorder.
2001年，英国科学家表示，他们发现了首个与语言和言语障碍相关的基因。
Researchers called this human language gene FOXP2.
研究人员将这种人类语言基因称为FOXP2。
But even though FOXP2 was found to be linked to human language, the variant in modern humans was not found in our species alone.
但尽管FOXP2被发现与人类语言有关，现代人类中的这种变异并非我们物种所独有。
Later research found it was shared with Neanderthals.
后来的研究发现，它与尼安德特人共享。
The NOVA1 variant in modern humans, on the other hand, is found only in our species, Darnell said.
另一方面，达内尔指出，现代人类中的NOVA1变体仅在我们这个物种中发现。
The presence of a gene variant is not the only thing that permits people to speak.
基因变异的存在并不是人们能够说话的唯一起决定因素。
The ability also depends on physical elements in the human throat and areas of the brain that work together to help people produce speech and understand language.
这种能力还取决于人类喉部的生理结构以及大脑中协同工作以帮助人们产生言语和理解语言的区域。
Darnell said he hopes the recent work can lead to new ways to treat speech-related problems.
达内尔表示，他希望最近的这项工作能带来治疗言语相关问题的新方法。
The University of Minnesota's Finestack noted the genetic findings could also one day permit scientists to identify people who might need help developing speech and language early in life.
明尼苏达大学的菲尼斯塔克指出，这些基因发现未来或许还能让科学家识别出那些可能在语言和言语发展早期需要帮助的人。
"That's certainly a possibility," she said.
“那当然是一种可能。”她说。
I’m Jill Robbins.
我是吉尔·罗宾斯。
Laura Ungar reported this story for the Associated Press.
劳拉·昂格尔为美联社报道了这一故事。
Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English.
吉尔·罗宾斯为《学习英语》改编了它。
