【新闻精讲】

Neandertals Live On in Our Genomes
Fifty thousand years ago, Homo sapiens weren't the only game in town. We were just one of several species of hominids roaming the Earth, like the Neandertals in Eurasia. And when our sapiens ancestors came in contact with them, they sometimes hooked up. Which means many people today of Eurasian descent still carry copies of Neandertal genes. But what do those genes do?
Researchers tried to answer that question by examining the modern human genome. And they found that, on average, Neandertal versions of genes are not active as much as their modern human counterparts in the brain—and the testicles. Meaning Neandertal variants have less influence there. Possibly, researchers say, because those tissues underwent significant changes since what became modern humans and Neandertals diverged 700,000 years ago.
"Really, our results show that Neandertal sequences that are present in modern humans aren't just silent remnants of hybridization that occurred 50,000 years ago, but they really have widespread measurable impacts on gene expression to this day." Rajiv McCoy, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Washington. In other words, genes we got from Neandertals play roles in the activation of various other of our genes, leading to the production of different kinds of proteins.
The study is in the journal Cell. [Rajiv C. McCoy et al., Impacts of Neanderthal-Introgressed Sequences on the Landscape of Human Gene Expression]
It also turns out that, for one gene in particular, if you carry the Neandertal mutation, "you have slightly lower risk of schizophrenia. And you also have slightly increased height on average."
The Neandertals left their mark on lots of modern human traits, in addition to schizophrenia and height. But McCoy says, keep in mind: "These are complex traits. And they're controlled by thousands of different genes, and we're measuring statistically significant effects." Neandertals are long gone—but some of their genes live on.

【视频讲解】
Fifty thousand years ago, Homo sapiens weren't the only game in town. We were just one of several species of hominids roaming the Earth, like the Neandertals in Eurasia.
5万年前，智人还不是最重要的群体。我们只是像欧亚大陆上山顶洞人一样，在这个星球闲逛的人科中的一员
the only game in town 值得关心
The Central Banks of the world are the only game in town, it seems.
Hominid人科的; 和人科有关的; 属于人科的
Roam 闲逛; 漫游
例：Barefoot children roamed the streets.
光着脚的孩子们在街上闲逛。
Neandertal 穴居人的

And when our sapiens ancestors came in contact with them, they sometimes hooked up.
当我们的现代人类祖先和山顶洞人求偶的时候，他们也有时候会相恋交配。
sapiens
现代人的
Homo sapiens are one of the most notable exceptions, leading some scientists to think fatherhood is an important part of what makes us human.
现代人是最值得注意的一个例外，致使一些科学家认为父道在培养孩子富有人情味方面起着重要作用。
Hook up
1. 结交
例：He hooked up with fellow cycling enthusiasts and joined several clubs.
他结交了其他自行车爱好者们，还参加了几个俱乐部。
2. 相恋
We haven't exactly hooked up yet.
我们还没有真正相恋。

Which means many people today of Eurasian descent still carry copies of Neandertal genes. But what do those genes do?
这就意味着，今天欧亚血统的后裔依然携带部分山顶洞人的基因。但是这些基因都是有啥作用呢？
Descent
1. 下降
例：Sixteen of the youngsters set off for help, but during the descent three collapsed in the cold and rain.
那些年轻人中有16人出发寻求帮助，但在下山过程中有3人在寒冷和阴雨中倒下了。
2. 出身，血统
例：All the contributors were of African descent.
所有捐助者都是非洲血统。

Researchers tried to answer that question by examining the modern human genome. And they found that, on average, Neandertal versions of genes are not active as much as their modern human counterparts in the brain—and the testicles.
研究人员通过研究人类基因组来回答这个问题！他们发现，平均来说，山顶洞人的基因不如现代人类在大脑和生殖器官那么活跃
Genome
基因组
例：...the mapping of the human genome.
...人类基因图谱。

Meaning Neandertal variants have less influence there. Possibly, researchers say, because those tissues underwent significant changes since what became modern humans and Neandertals diverged 700,000 years ago.
也意味着山顶洞人变体影响力不足。研究人员认为的可能的原因自从70万年前，组织间的差异就特别大。
Undergo
经历; 经受
例：New recruits have been undergoing training in recent weeks.
新兵们最近几周一直在接受训练。
Diverge
相异
例：His interests increasingly diverged from those of his colleagues.
他和同事们的兴趣越来越不同。

"Really, our results show that Neandertal sequences that are present in modern humans aren't just silent remnants of hybridization that occurred 50,000 years ago, but they really have widespread measurable impacts on gene expression to this day." Rajiv McCoy, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Washington.
华盛顿大学的进化遗传生物学家McCoy说，“确实如此，我们的结果表明，山顶洞人的基因并非仅仅是5万年前杂交后的沉默残余，而不是今天他们真的发挥广泛而且有巨大的影响力”
Hybridization 配种，杂交
Measurable 显著的
例：Both leaders seemed to expect measurable progress.
两位领导人好像都期待着显著的进展。
widespread measurable impacts =》修饰规则是widespread impact and measurable impact

In other words, genes we got from Neandertals play roles in the activation of various other of our genes, leading to the production of different kinds of proteins.
The study is in the journal Cell.
换而言之，我们身体内山顶洞人的基因对于其他基因有很重要的作用，可以导致蛋白质的产生。这项研究发表在《Cell》上
In other words
换句话说：同样的意思，用另一种方式来表达
In other words, what have I been afraid of all this time?
换句话说，我这一直以来害怕的到底是什么呀？
play role
发挥作用
Media can play role ensuring good governance and accountability.
媒体可发挥制衡作用，确保良政治理和问责性。

It also turns out that, for one gene in particular, if you carry the Neandertal mutation, "you have slightly lower risk of schizophrenia. And you also have slightly increased height on average."
结果是，假如你携带了山顶人基因的变种，可以轻微降低精神分裂症的风险，当然也会平均上增加身高
Mutation 变异
The more people who have the virus, the more virus particles there are for that one, fatal mutation to appear in.
因为如果有越多人感染到病毒，就有越多病毒颗粒可以酝酿出一种致命的突变病毒品种。
Schizophrenia
精神分裂症

The Neandertals left their mark on lots of modern human traits, in addition to schizophrenia and height.
除了精神分裂症和身高之外，山顶洞人的基因还有很多现代人类性状
Leave 剩下的
例：Is there any gin left?
还有杜松子酒吗？
Trait
特征
例：The study found that some alcoholics had clear personality traits showing up early in childhood.
这项研究发现一些酗酒者早在孩童时就表现出明显的个性特征。

But McCoy says, keep in mind: "These are complex traits. And they're controlled by thousands of different genes, and we're measuring statistically significant effects." Neandertals are long gone—but some of their genes live on.
但是他又说道，请记住，有很多复杂的性状，他们都是收到很多不同基因的影响，我们正在从统计上测量显著的影响。山顶洞人已经消失，但是他们的基因依然还在。
keep in mind 记住
Keep in mind that we are using the default package and folders in our example for illustration purposes.
请记住出于演示的目的，在我们的示例中，我们使用的是缺省包和文件夹。
Gone 离开的; 不在的
例：He knows how hard it was for her while he was gone.
他知道他不在的时候她有多难。