新奇事件簿 科学家发现消除不愉快记忆的基因

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the gene¹ that could help people forget traumatic experiences. They say the research could benefit people with painful memories. Soldiers, crime victims and people who survived natural disasters are some of the people this research could help. Many of these people suffer from very bad stress because of their memories. It is an illness called post-traumatic stress disorder² (PTSD). The scientists found the memory gene in mice. They hope that one day they can erase³ painful memories in humans. They think they can replace upsetting memories with more positive thoughts and feelings. This would help millions of people who suffer from PTSD.

来自麻省理工学院的研究人员发现了帮助人们忘记创伤性经历的基因。他们表示，研究将帮助那些有痛苦记忆的人们。士兵，犯罪受害人和经历过自然灾害的人都会从中受益。这些人都由于糟糕的记忆遭受着非常大的压力。这种疾病叫做创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)。科学家在老鼠体内发现了这种记忆基因。他们希望有一天可以消除人类的痛苦记忆。他们认为可以用一些积极的想法和感受代替悲伤的记忆。这样可以帮助数百万患有PTSD的人。

The head researcher, Li-Huei Tsai, did many tests to make mice forget their fear. Scientists put the mice into a cage and gave them a small electric shock. After many shocks, the mice became afraid of the cage. They were stressed when they saw it. Once the mice had "cage shock," the scientists put the mice in the cage again but didn't give them an electric shock. After a period of time, the mice no longer feared the cage. Positive feelings replaced their stress and fear. The scientists looked at the brain activity when the mice were afraid and when they were not afraid. They were surprised to find the gene that replaced old memories with new ones. They will now try to find this gene in humans.

首席研究人员Li-Huei Tsai进行了许多测试来让老鼠忘记它们的恐惧。科学家将老鼠放进一个笼子里，对他们进行电击。多次电击后，老鼠变得害怕笼子。它们看到笼子就会紧张。一旦老鼠对笼子电击产生害怕情绪之后，研究人员又把老鼠关进笼子里，但是不进行电击。经过一段时间，老鼠就不再害怕笼子。积极的感受代替了压力和恐惧。科学家观察了老鼠害怕时和不害怕时的大脑活动。他们很惊讶地发现了能够用新记忆取代旧记忆的基因。他们现在正努力在人体内寻找类似的基因。

1 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

2 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

3 erase   

v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹

参考例句：

• He tried to erase the idea from his mind.他试图从头脑中抹掉这个想法。
• Please erase my name from the list.请把我的名字从名单上擦去。