VOA标准英语10月-Japanese, American Scientists Win Nobel Chemistry

A Japanese and a pair of American scientists captured this year's Nobel chemistry prize for discovering a glowing green protein in jellyfish that can be used to spot the beginning of diseases like cancer. Lisa Bryant has more on the prestigious¹ award from Paris.

Gunnar Oquist, permanent secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science, announced the winners of this year's sought-after Nobel chemistry award early Wednesday.
　

Japan's Osamu Shimomura, one of three recipients2 of Nobel Chemistry prize, 08 Oct 2008

"The Royal Swedish Academy of Science has decided³ to award the Nobel prize in Chemistry for the year 2008 jointly⁴ to Professor Martin Chalfie, Colombia University in New York, Professor Osamu Shimomura, Woods Hold Institute of Oceanography, Woods Hole, and Professor Roger Tsien, University of California, San Diego," he said. "And the Academy citation⁵ runs: 'For the discovery and development of the green florescent protein, GFP.'"

The scientists all work for American institutions, but Shimomura is Japanese. He was also the first scientist to observed the luminous⁶ species of jellyfish off the North American coast in 1962, whose protein has become critical for tracking certain illnesses. The two others have followed up on his initial research.

Scientists use the jellyfish's glowing green protein as a sort of genetic⁷ marker, allowing them to observe how organs function and diseases grow. They can use it to track growing cancer tumors, for example, or the development of Alzheimer's disease.

On Tuesday, two Japanese and a Japanese American won the Nobel prize for physics. Pending⁸ Nobel announcements include literature, peace and economics.

1 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

2 recipients   

adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器

参考例句：

• The recipients of the prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者的姓名登在报上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The recipients of prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者名单登在报上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

5 citation   

n.引用，引证，引用文；传票

参考例句：

• He had to sign the proposition for the citation.他只好在受奖申请书上签了字。
• The court could issue a citation and fine Ms. Robbins.法庭可能会发传票，对罗宾斯女士处以罚款。

6 luminous   

adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的

参考例句：

• There are luminous knobs on all the doors in my house.我家所有门上都安有夜光把手。
• Most clocks and watches in this shop are in luminous paint.这家商店出售的大多数钟表都涂了发光漆。

7 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

8 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。