【在生活中學習語言】《中英對照讀新聞》Scientists uncover new gene link to male pattern baldness科學家找到與雄性禿有關的新基因
◎ 管淑平

Scientists have discovered a genetic link to baldness that helps explain why some men may inherit their shiny pates from their fathers.

科學家已經發現禿頭的基因關係，這有助於解釋為何有些男人會從父輩遺傳頂上無毛。

Tests on more than 1,000 bald men revealed two genes that, active together, make a man seven times more likely to lose his hair. Around 14% of men are thought to carry both gene variants.

對1000多名禿頭男進行的檢測發現，兩種基因一起作用的話，會讓禿頭的機率增加6倍。據信有大約14%的男性都帶有這兩種基因突變。

One of the genes identified by the scientists was already known. It sits on the female X chromosome. The second gene region the study identified is new and gives researchers their first clue to how baldness may be passed from father to son. The tests showed certain gene variations in a chunk of DNA located on chromosome 20 contribute substantially to male pattern baldness, although it is not clear what the genes do.

科學家找到的其中一個基因已知與禿頭有關，是位於女性X染色體上。第二個基因是新發現的，讓研究人員首次有線索能了解禿頭何以可能由父親遺傳給兒子。檢測顯示，第20號染色體上一段DNA的特定基因變異明顯會造成禿頭，但是並不清楚箇中原因。

The findings give scientists a much clearer picture of the genetic causes of male pattern baldness. "The one in seven men who carry both these risk factors are almost certain to go bald before the age of 50," said The report published in the Nature Genetics journal.

這項發現讓科學家更清楚了解雄性禿的基因成因。這份在「自然基因」期刊發表的報告說：「同時帶有這兩種基因的男性，每7人就有1人幾乎可以肯定50歲前會禿頭。」

新聞辭典

male pattern baldness：名詞，雄性禿。

pate：名詞，頭、頭頂。例句：Male pattern baldness is like a nightmare for men, but men with a bald pate are always reluctant to seek medical help. （雄性禿對男人來說有如惡夢，但是頂上無毛的男人往往對尋求醫療協助猶豫不決。）

pass from A to B：動詞片語，傳承、遺傳。例句：Some disease can be pass from parents to their children. （有的疾病會從父母遺傳給小孩。）

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