原文视听

This isn't a fox - it's a dragon.
这可不是狐狸 这是条恶龙
It's allowed researchers to make unique comparisons
研究者对温顺与侵略的狐狸
between tame and aggressive foxes.
进行了对比和参照
Translation: we did an experiment with cross-fostering
我们做了一个交换养育的实验
where we gave tame cubs to aggressive mothers.
把温顺的狐狸交由好斗的狐狸母亲抚养
And vice versa. We found out that the
反之亦然 我们发现母亲的行为
mother's behaviour does not influence that of the cub.
并不会对幼崽的行为有任何影响
This cub was brought up by a tame mother.
这只幼崽由一头温顺的狐狸母亲带大
It showed something remarkable, that the difference
很明显 这说明
between tame and aggressive foxes is largely in their genes.
温顺和好斗狐狸的主要区别在他们的基因上
We even took the experiment one stage
我们甚至做了进一步的试验
further and transplanted embryos
我们对其进行了胚胎转移的实验
from aggressive mothers into tame mothers,
把好斗母亲的胚胎值入到那些温顺的母亲里
But the results were the same.
但是结果是同样的
It proved that you can't change the gene of aggressiveness
这证明了你无法改变好斗的基因
and it will be kept and preserved for the next generation.
他会被保存和遗传到下一代
Geneticists have already located
遗传学家已经锁定了
several genetic regions responsible for tameness.
几个可能导致温顺的基因区域
They're now taking blood samples from tame and aggressive foxes
他们现在正在采集温顺和好斗狐狸的血样
In an attempt to pinpoint the specific genes.
试图精确其基因细节

重点解释

This cub was brought up by a tame mother.这只幼崽由一头温顺的狐狸母亲带大

bring up:教育；养育

The couple contrived to bring up their children on a small income.

这对夫妻设法以菲薄的收入把孩子扶养成人。

The outcast boy was brought up by the government.

这个被遗弃的孩子是由政府抚养大的。

in an attempt to pinpoint the specific genes.试图精确其基因细节

attempt to:企图, 努力

I made no attempt to make friends with her.

我没有打算要和她做朋友。

Don't attempt to do so much in such a short time.

时间这么短，别想干这么多的事。

attempt的用法:

1.attempt后可加不定式，如attempt to do，也可加介词和动名词勾结，如attempt at doing，不过习惯上，不定式的用法更为普遍；

2.作为名词时，attempt是指可数的尝试，要注意不能随便省略掉冠词an，如make an attempt。也可以说an attempt to do it和an attempt at doing it，或者是不用冠词，如make little attempt，without attempt；

3.使用attempt时，要注意双重否定的错误。

The work was attempted to be done quickly.

第一句的说法是错误的，第二句才是正确的，指“尝试将工作做得更快”。