原文视听

So where does this incredible relationship come from?
那么 这种神奇的关系到底从何而来
When did it start and how?
何时开始 又是如何开始的?
It's a question that has puzzled scientists ever since Darwin.
这个问题从达尔文时代就困扰着科学家
He recognised the special relationship we have with dogs
达尔文发现了我们与狗之间存在着特殊关系
but was at a loss to explain it.
但他却无法科学地解释它
Darwin couldn't even say for sure
达尔文甚至不能确定
which animal was the true ancestor of the dog.
什么动物才是狗的真正的祖先
It's a complex puzzle that both archaeologists
这是个难解的谜团
And molecular geneticists have been working to solve.
要考古学家与分子遗传学家来共同解决
There's a huge amount of variation in present-day dogs.
现代的狗类有着数量众多的变种
Consider the difference between a pekinese and a great dane.
考虑到大巴狗与丹麦大狗的巨大区别
Could they really all be descended from one wild ancestor?
他们是否真的拥有共同的野生祖先呢
It could have been a coyote that
可能曾经有一头非洲豺(体型较小)
might have intergressed with a wolf and then that may
与其他狼共同繁衍 然后
have been slightly selected upon to create
就此轻微地影响了物种的进化
one particular breed of dog, or jackals or african wild dogs.
就出现了一种犬或豺之类的野生动物
Any number of these other dog-like species that are out there
而还有许多其他的犬科动物
must have come together and
聚集在一起(交配繁殖)
that's where that variation must have come.
这也是为什么会出现这么多的变种

重点解释

There's a huge amount of variation in present-day dogs.现代的狗类有着数量众多的变种

huge amount of:大量的

They spent a huge amount of money on that villa.

他们花巨款买下了那幢别墅。

The Sun produce huge amount of energy.

产生如此巨大能量的原因。

then that may have been slightly selected upon to create与其他狼共同繁衍,然后就此轻微地影响了物种的进化

upon:紧接着；逼近

Upon his release, Davis went immediately to his mother.

戴维斯一被释放就立即回到了母亲身边。

Christmas is almost upon us again.

圣诞节又快到了。

词汇搭配:

act upon按照

upon condition that如果

agree upon就 ... 达成一致...

once upon a time从前

upon that于是