2017考研趣味閱讀：科學家發現智慧基因開關

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For the first time, scientists have identified two clusters of genes directly linked to human intelligence.

科學家們首次發現，大腦中存在兩個與人類智力直接相關的基因集群。

Called M1 and M3, these so-called 'gene networks' appear to determine how smart a person is by controlling their memory, attention, processing speed and reasoning.

這兩個“基因網絡”分別為M1和M3。它們通過控制人的記憶力、注意力、反應速度和推理能力，來決定一個人到底有多聰明。

Crucially, the scientists have also discovered that these two networks - which each contain hundreds of genes - are likely to be under the control of master regulator switches.

關鍵是，科學家們還發現，有主控“開關”專門負責控制這兩個基因群(每個基因群包含成百上千種基因)。

The researchers from Imperial College London are now keen to identify these switches and explore whether it might be feasible to manipulate them.

這些來自倫敦帝國學院的研究人員渴望找到以上的“開關”，然后看看能不能對它們加以掌控。

The research is at a very early stage, but the scientists would ultimately like to investigate whether it is possible to use this knowledge of gene networks to boost cognitive function.

該研究尚在起步階段，不過科學家們一定會深入研究下去，并通過對這些基因群的掌控，幫助提高人類的認知功能。

Dr Michael Johnson, lead author of the study from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College London, said: 'We know that genetics plays a major role in intelligence but until now haven't known which genes are relevant.

論文第一作者、來自倫敦帝國學院醫學系的邁克爾·約翰遜博士說：“我們都知道遺傳基因對智力影響很大，但至今都不知道到底與哪些基因有關。”

'This research highlights some of genes involved in human intelligence, and how they interact with each other.

研究還發現了幾個跟人類智力有關的基因，以及它們之間的相互作用關系。

'What's exciting about this is that the genes we have found are likely to share a common regulation, which means that potentially we can manipulate a whole set of genes whose activity is linked to human intelligence.

“令人興奮的是，我們發現的這些基因很可能有一個共同的控制機制，這意味著我們可以操縱一整套與人類智力有關的基因的活動。”

'Our research suggests that it might be possible to work with these genes to modify intelligence, but that is only a theoretical possibility at the moment - we have just taken a first step along that road.'

“研究表明，或許可以通過協調這些基因來提升智力。但目前這只是一種理論上的可能——這是我們在這條研究之路上邁出的第一步。”

In the study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the international team of researchers looked at samples of human brain from patients who had undergone neurosurgery for epilepsy.

相關研究成果已經在《自然神經科學》雜志上發表。在這個研究中，國際研究團隊使用的人腦樣本來自一些癲癇病患者，他們正在接受神經外科手術。

The investigators analysed thousands of genes expressed in the human brain, and then combined these results with genetic information from healthy people who had undergone IQ tests.

研究人員對這些患者腦部的數千個基因進行了仔細分析，然后將結果與做過智力測試的正常人的基因信息進行比對。

They also studied the genetic information from people with neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability.

他們還研究了患有神經障礙的人的基因信息，比如自閉癥類的神經障礙，以及智力障礙。

Using computer models, they were able to identify the gene networks responsible for healthy human cognitive abilities.

通過計算機模型，他們能夠找到那些與人類認知有關的基因群。

Remarkably, they found that some of the same genes that influence human intelligence in healthy people were also the same genes that cause impaired cognitive ability and epilepsy when mutated.

值得注意的是，他們發現，正常人大腦中一些與智力相關的基因如果發生突變，同樣也可導致認知能力受損，或引發癲癇。

Dr Johnson added: 'Traits such intelligence are governed by large groups of genes working together - like a football team made up of players in different positions.

約翰遜博士補充道：“智力是由一大群基因共同控制的，就像足球隊也是由不同位置的球員組成的。”

'We used computer analysis to identify the genes in the human brain that work together to influence our cognitive ability to make new memories or sensible decisions when faced with lots of complex information.

“通過計算機分析，我們發現，當面對一堆復雜信息，需要記憶一些新東西，或作出理性決斷時，大腦中的基因就會協同工作，幫助我們進行認知。”

This research could help provide insights into better treatments for neurodevelopmental diseases such as epilepsy, and ameliorate or treat the cognitive impairments associated with these devastating diseases.

該研究能為更好地治療癲癇等神經疾病提供新見解，并最終改善或徹底治療與這些疾病相關的認知障礙。

Vocabulary

epilepsy：癲癇

ameliorate：改善;減輕