双语:昆虫可以自我修复“骨骼”
当一个人的腿断了,那么他或许会做一个支架,通过支架来帮助骨骼痊愈。但是当蝗虫的肢体断掉的时候,会怎样呢?...
Whena person breaks a leg, they might get a splint, cast or boot to cradle the boneas it heals. But what happens when a locust breaks a limb?Instead of a cast on the outside, the insect will patch itself upfrom the inside. These patches can restoreup to 66 percent of a leg’s former strength, a new study finds.
当一个人的腿断了,那么他或许会做一个支架,通过支架来帮助骨骼痊愈。但是当蝗虫的肢体断掉的时候,会怎样呢?蝗虫并不需要在外部做一个支架,它可以在身体内部自我修复。一项新的研究表明,这些补丁可以使腿部力量恢复到之前的66%。
Thedata also suggest new ideas for mending various types of pipes — from those inour homes to the living “pipes” inside our bodies.
数据还对修复不同种类的管道——从家里的管道到人类身体内部的“活管道”——贡献了新的设想。
Locusts andother insects rely on an exoskeleton — external support — made of cuticle(KEW-ti-kul). This material is made from a material called chitin (KY-tin). Thecuticle has two layers. The outer one — or exocuticle (EX-oh-KEW-ti-kul)— is tough and can be very thick. It forms a protective armor. The inner layer— or endocuticle — flexes much more.
蝗虫和其他昆虫依靠外骨骼(外部支撑),由角质层构成(KEW-ti-kul)。这一材料是由角素(KY-tin)物质形成的。角质层有两层。外部的一层,叫做外角质层(EX-oh-KEW-ti-kul),又硬又厚。这就构成了保护外壳。里面的一层,叫做内角质层,能灵活屈伸。
Whencut, the cuticle forms a clot toseal off the wound. Then cells on either side of the cut secrete newendocuticle. The secretion spreads across and under the cut. Eventually itturns hard. This creates a thick patch on the inside.
当被切伤之后,角质层会形成凝块来封住伤口。然后伤口某一侧的细胞就会分泌新的内表皮。这一分泌在伤口之下,并贯穿整个伤口。最后分泌物会凝固变硬。这样就在内部形成了很厚的补丁。
Whilescientists understood that insects patched themselves this way, Eoin Parlerealized that no one knew just how strong the repaired sites were. He decidedto find out. Parle is a bioengineer — a scientist who uses engineering to studyliving things. He began this research while working at Trinity College DublininIreland(he now works at University Collegein Dublin).
尽管科学教知道这些昆虫是这样给自己打补丁的,约恩·帕尔意识到任何人都不曾了解修复的位置到底有多结实。他决定一探究竟。帕尔是一位生物工程师——用工程学研究活生物的科学家。他在爱尔兰的都柏林圣三一学院工作的时候,就开始进行这项研究(他现在在都柏林大学学院工作)。
“There’sa lot to learn from the natural world,” Parle says. An insect’s cuticle, forinstance, is very light andhard-wearing,he explains. Strong and stiff, it tends to be very tough, he adds.
帕尔说“还有很多东西可以从大自然中学习”。他解释道:例如,昆虫的角质层,非常轻薄而且耐磨。他还说,结实而坚硬,这样就会坚韧无比。
1.Insteadof 代替;而不是…
Shefrittered away her time in going to the cinema instead of studying.
她不把时间花在学习上,而是浪费在看电影上了。
2.upto 一直到;相当于;忙于…,在做…;由…决定的
Thedrunkard rolled up to me.
那个醉汉蹒跚地向我走来。
3.bemade from 由…制成
Maintenanceof the pump can be made from inside the vehicle (thru two doors that access theengine room).
水泵的维护可以在车内进行(穿过两道门进入机舱)。
4.sealoff 封闭;把…封锁起来
MicroRNAscould be used to seal off human cells from disease-causing viruses, or todisable viruses that gain entry.
小分子核糖核酸可以用来封闭人体细胞,使之免受致病病毒的侵扰,或者使病毒丧失侵入细胞的能力。
5.hard-wearing耐磨的
TheB300 has a hard-wearing magnesium alloy case resilient to small drops and hardknocks and features a shock-mounted hard disk drive.
B300采用了耐用的镁合金机箱,能承受较小的跌落和硬敲打,并装有防震的硬盘驱动器。
关注 大耳朵网
微信扫一扫关注公众号