#和你讀:《基因》"The Gene: An Intimate History"
全城關注政府所謂免費武肺測試和傳聞的『健康碼』是否用作收集市民DNA,什麼是DNA?什麼是基因?發現基因背後的故事是什麼?
上星期五從書架取下這本《基因》"The Gene: An Intimate History...
#和你讀:《基因》"The Gene: An Intimate History"
全城關注政府所謂免費武肺測試和傳聞的『健康碼』是否用作收集市民DNA,什麼是DNA?什麼是基因?發現基因背後的故事是什麼?
上星期五從書架取下這本《基因》"The Gene: An Intimate History",已經很久沒有三天一口氣讀完一本500頁的英文書,但這本"The Gene"真的值得推薦,作者文筆簡潔流暢,成功融合了科學和歷史,講故佬般把一個個的故事生動地舖排在讀者面前。(感謝城大 Justin Robertson 教授送書!)
本書作者Siddhartha Mukherjee是紐約哥倫比亞大學醫學教授,本身印度裔的他,以他早年在印度家人的故事,特別是他的幾位叔伯們患上精神分裂病的經驗,在全書穿插成為引子,成為本書一個特色,更添加不少趣味。
提起基因,不少人會想到達爾文的進化論和他提出的「適者生存」,不過,與他同期已經實證研究遺傳概念的,卻原來是在今天捷克一位不見經傳的務農小僧Gregor Mandel。這個科學探索和發現的故事,也正式從他1865發表、早於達爾文數年但「無人睇」的論文開始。有人寂寂無名地研究和貢獻,有人像達爾文成為一代宗師。一代一代的科學家,一面與時間競賽,另一方面也與同僚競爭,有人得諾貝爾獎,更多人只差一點點。
遺傳理論初面世,人類還未知道基因在那裡,直到在生物細胞核(nucleus)發現DNA(脱氧核糖核酸),排在一對對、長長的染色體(chromosome)入面,所有的基因奧秘都在這些蛋白質裡面。地球生物無論是動物、植物甚至小至細菌、病毒或單細胞生物,在這個生物最基本的層面上,竟然可說是一樣。人的細胞核有23對染色體,不算最少也不算最多,但絕大多數的DNA竟然與其他生物一樣,生命奇妙奧秘,令人驚嘆。
藏在每個細胞核內一條條DNA內的大量化學訊息,控制生物的所有每個方面的特性,我想真的像個大型的電腦儲存體,內存的數據就猶如DNA的指示。人類現在希望達成的,就是要解讀這巨大而神秘的儲存體的內容,分析什麼資料用來做什麼、控制什麼,從而控制或治療一些由基因突變出現的疾病,例如癌症。
不過,人類往往有個醜陋天性,就是對新事物未了解前,會基於自己的私心或利益,甚至政治需要,妄用科學之名,製造出災難後果。在人類根本未了解基因學前,二戰德國納粹黨已經利用來建立優生學的『科學理論』,屠殺猶太人、吉卜賽人以至他們政權看不順眼的任何人。除此之外,書中談論的基因引發偽科學爭議,由種族歧視至同性戀先天/後天等等,令人心寒。
作者寫了一句:"Junk science props up totalitarian regimes. And totalitarian regimes produce junk life.")武漢肺炎肆虐全球大半年,我不是說這病毒是人類製造,但相信任何人今天看到以上的話,另有一番體會。
本書沒有直接討論近期香港我們最關心的DNA監控問題,不過,在提到近年中國在基因改造實驗的「進取」態度,作者特別提到「中國手法」是「先做,後想。」("Do first, think
監控英文surveillance 在 Eric's English Lounge Facebook 的最佳解答
[時事英文] 被監控英文怎麼講?
I am being monitored by my mother.
我現在被我母親監控。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
1. under surveillance 被監視中
They were under constant close surveillance day and night. 他們日夜不斷受到密切監視。
The suspects were kept under surveillance.
嫌疑人受到監視。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
2. be monitored by… 被…監控
The CIA were monitoring ( = secretly listening to) his phone calls. 中央情報局正在對他的電話進行監聽。
I'm being monitored by the government.
我現在被政府監控。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
3. tap 在(電話或電報線)上裝竊聽器;竊聽
He suspected that his phone had been tapped.
他懷疑自己的電話被人竊聽了。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
4. track 跟蹤,追蹤
It's difficult to track an animal over stony ground.
很難在多石的地面上追蹤動物。
The military use radar satellites to track targets through clouds and at night. 軍隊用雷達衛星透過雲霧和夜幕追蹤目標。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
5. a tracking device 追蹤器
How do I put a tracking device on my husband's car? 如何在我丈夫的車上放置追蹤器?
★★★★★★★★★★★★
6. follow 跟隨;跟著
He had the feeling he was being followed ( = someone was going after him to catch him or see where he was going).
他覺得自己被跟蹤了。
I could feel them following me with their eyes ( = watching my movements closely).
我能感覺到他們密切注視著我的一舉一動。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
7. stalk
a. 跟蹤,悄悄地靠近(獵物或人)
The police had been stalking the woman for a week before they arrested her. 警方逮捕那個女人之前已經跟蹤了她一個星期。
b.(在一段時期內)非法跟蹤騷擾
He had stalked her for several months before he was arrested. 在被捕之前,他已經跟蹤騷擾了她好幾個月了。
He was arrested for stalking.
他因跟蹤騷擾他人而被捕。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
8. eavesdrop 偷聽
He was eavesdropping on our conversation.
他在偷聽我們談話。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
9. snoop 窺探,打探
People were sent out to snoop on rival businesses.
偵探人員被派出打聽競爭對手的情況。
She's the sort of person you can imagine snooping about your room when you're not there. 她是那種會趁你不在而偷進你房間的人。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
Sources:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/
Image source:
pub.cnbc.com
監控英文surveillance 在 Eric's English Lounge Facebook 的最佳貼文
[時事英文] 被監控英文怎麼講?
I am being monitored by my mother.
我現在被我母親監控。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
1. under surveillance 被監視中
They were under constant close surveillance day and night. 他們日夜不斷受到密切監視。
The suspects were kept under surveillance.
嫌疑人受到監視。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
2. be monitored by… 被…監控
The CIA were monitoring ( = secretly listening to) his phone calls. 中央情報局正在對他的電話進行監聽。
I'm being monitored by the government.
我現在被政府監控。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
3. tap 在(電話或電報線)上裝竊聽器;竊聽
He suspected that his phone had been tapped.
他懷疑自己的電話被人竊聽了。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
4. track 跟蹤,追蹤
It's difficult to track an animal over stony ground.
很難在多石的地面上追蹤動物。
The military use radar satellites to track targets through clouds and at night. 軍隊用雷達衛星透過雲霧和夜幕追蹤目標。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
5. a tracking device 追蹤器
How do I put a tracking device on my husband's car? 如何在我丈夫的車上放置追蹤器?
★★★★★★★★★★★★
6. follow 跟隨;跟著
He had the feeling he was being followed ( = someone was going after him to catch him or see where he was going).
他覺得自己被跟蹤了。
I could feel them following me with their eyes ( = watching my movements closely).
我能感覺到他們密切注視著我的一舉一動。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
7. stalk
a. 跟蹤,悄悄地靠近(獵物或人)
The police had been stalking the woman for a week before they arrested her. 警方逮捕那個女人之前已經跟蹤了她一個星期。
b.(在一段時期內)非法跟蹤騷擾
He had stalked her for several months before he was arrested. 在被捕之前,他已經跟蹤騷擾了她好幾個月了。
He was arrested for stalking.
他因跟蹤騷擾他人而被捕。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
8. eavesdrop 偷聽
He was eavesdropping on our conversation.
他在偷聽我們談話。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
9. snoop 窺探,打探
People were sent out to snoop on rival businesses.
偵探人員被派出打聽競爭對手的情況。
She's the sort of person you can imagine snooping about your room when you're not there. 她是那種會趁你不在而偷進你房間的人。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
Sources:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/
Image source:
pub.cnbc.com