原文视听

For scientists like David,
对像大卫这样的科学家
yeast is the perfect research specimen.
以酵母为研究对象再适合不过了
It's a simple organism with only
它是只有6000个基因的简单组织
6,000 genes, a tenth the amount we have,
是我们拥有的十分之一
so it makes much easier to hunt for particular genes.
所以找特殊基因会更简单
And surprisingly almost all the genes in yeast exist in humans.
惊讶的是人体内几乎有酵母所有的基因
After seven years, he was able to identify a gene for longevity.
7年后 他找到了长寿基因
The yeast cells are microscopic
酵母细胞极小
so we look at them under the microscope
所以我们要在显微镜下看
count how many times they divide,
数数它们分裂几次
and what we're looking for were genes that if you delete them,
我们要确定去掉其中的哪个
or you add an extra copy of them, that they live longer,
或加入哪个复制体 它们会活得更久
and we found a set of genes that do that.
我们找到了这样的一组基因
They're called the sirtuin genes and really what was
它们叫做沉默调节蛋白基因
very exciting was that just adding one extra copy of a gene
让人激动的是仅需加入一个该复制体
called sirtuin could greatly
就能大大延寿
extend the lifespan of those yeast, about 30%.
延长大约30%的寿命
David had a hunch that this longevity
大卫预感这个长寿基因
gene was key to how calorie restriction worked.
是控制卡路里摄入的关键
What he needed to do was to prove the link.
他需要做的是证明这其中的联系

重点解释

so it makes much easier to hunt for particular genes.所以找特殊基因会更简单

hunt for:搜寻；寻找

The police are on the hunt for further clues.

警方正进一步寻找线索。

After seven years, he was able to identify a gene for longevity.7年后，他找到了长寿基因

be able to:会； 能

I may be able to help you in some way.

我也许可以从某个方面去帮助你。

They appear to be able to handle the problem.

他们似乎可以处理这个问题。

近义词:

be capable of会

be in a position to能够

we found a set of genes that do that.我们找到了这样的一组基因

a set of:一套

She bought a set of furniture on easy terms.

她以分期付款的方式买了一套家具。