原文视听

The family at the time consisted of 30 members
那时这个家庭有三十名成员
and 15 of the members had inherited
其中十五人由祖母
a speech and language disorder from the grandmother.
遗传了说话与语言障碍
The first genetic study
第一次遗传分析
was able to locate the general area of the abnormality.
确定了这一异常的大概区域
It was on Chromosome 7
在七号染色体上
and all the affected family members had it.
所有受影响的家族成员都有这个异常
Reflecting its obvious importance in their ability to talk,
显然它对于人类语言能力很重要
the research team called it Speech 1.
研究小组称其为"说话一号"
Speech 1 was located on chromosome number 7
"说话一号"位于七号染色体
but where exactly on chromosome number 7
但具体在七号染色体的哪个部位呢
and which particular gene was it,
到底是哪个基因呢
was something that would have required several more years
这就需要更多年的调查研究
of investigations until the actual gene was detected.
才能找出真正的基因所在
Then, out of the blue, a totally unconnected child
让人惊讶的是 一个拥有同样语言缺陷
with the same type of speech defect was brought in to see them.
却完全无关的孩子来到了他们面前
And when you think that in this big wide world,
当你想到 在这个大千世界
the same kind of problem presents itself in the same country
同样的问题出现在了同一个国家
in the same location but to the same person!
同一个地区的不同人身上

重点解释

The family at the time consisted of 30 members那时这个家庭有三十名成员

consist of由 ... 组成

The downstairs consisted of three large rooms.

楼下有三个大房间。

The apartment consisted of two rooms and a kitchen.

那套房间包括两间住房和一间厨房。

The first genetic study was able to locate the general area of the abnormality.第一次遗传分析确定了这一异常的大概区域

able to能做 ...

You are better able to do it than I (am).

你比我更有能力做这件事。

I am able to pick you up on the short wave radio.

我能用短波收音机收听到你的信号。