慢速英语 | 蝙蝠是否掌握长寿的秘诀？
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Bats are the only mammals that can fly a great distance, but they have another ability. Many bats live a very long time for an animal their size.
European researchers are studying bats to understand why they live so long. They hope to make discoveries aimed at fighting the aging process in human beings.
Last week, the group of scientists said they had identified important biological qualities in some bat species.
The group studied bat chromosomes, a line of genes found in the nucleus of cells. The scientists were most interested in structures connected to the ends of the chromosomes. They are called telomeres.
Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes, which shorten each time a cell divides. Scientists believe this shortening process causes cells to break down. They say this is what causes aging.
A report on bats was published this month in the journal Science Advances.
Among the leaders of the study was Emma Teeling, a biologist with University College Dublin in Ireland.
Teeling said studying long-living mammals that have developed ways to fight aging "is an alternative way to identify the molecular basis of extended ‘health spans.’"
She added that studying bats enables scientists to learn more about the processes "that drive healthy aging."
The European researchers studied 493 bats from four bat species. The group used information that had been gathered over more than 60 years.
Of these animals, the greater mouse-eared bat generally lived the longest, an average of 37 years.
The scientists said this and a related species, which are grouped together under the name Myotis, had telomeres that did not shorten with age.
Another Myotis bat holds the record for oldest age, reaching 41 years.
Bats are the only mammals that can fly a great distance, but they have another ability. Many bats live a very long time for an animal their size.
蝙蝠是唯一一种可以长距离飞行的哺乳动物，但它们还有其他的能力。对于它们这种大小的动物来说，很多蝙蝠都可以活很长时间。
European researchers are studying bats to understand why they live so long. They hope to make discoveries aimed at fighting the aging process in human beings.
欧洲的学者研究蝙蝠以了解它们为何长寿。他们希望可以有所发现以抵御人类的衰老过程。
Last week, the group of scientists said they had identified important biological qualities in some bat species.
上周，一组科学家们表示他们在一些蝙蝠身上发现了重要的生物特质。
The group studied bat chromosomes, a line of genes found in the nucleus of cells. The scientists were most interested in structures connected to the ends of the chromosomes. They are called telomeres.
该组科学家们研究了蝙蝠的染色体，即细胞核中一组基因。科学家们对其染色体末端连接的结构最感兴趣。他们称之为端粒。
Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes, which shorten each time a cell divides. Scientists believe this shortening process causes cells to break down. They say this is what causes aging.
端粒保护染色体的末端，每次一个细胞分裂时端粒会缩短。科学家们认为这一缩短的过程造成细胞的分裂。他们表示这是造成衰老的原因。
A report on bats was published this month in the journal Science Advances.
本月关于蝙蝠的一篇报告发表在杂志《科学进展》上。
Among the leaders of the study was Emma Teeling, a biologist with University College Dublin in Ireland.
这项研究的领导者之一是艾玛·蒂林，爱尔兰都柏林大学的一名生物学家。
Teeling said studying long-living mammals that have developed ways to fight aging "is an alternative way to identify the molecular basis of extended ‘health spans.’"
蒂林表示研究长寿的哺乳动物已经开发出很多抵御衰老的方法，“这是一种发现延长‘寿命’的分子基础的方法。”
She added that studying bats enables scientists to learn more about the processes "that drive healthy aging."
她补充道，研究蝙蝠让科学家们更多地了解到“推动健康老化”的过程。
The European researchers studied 493 bats from four bat species. The group used information that had been gathered over more than 60 years.
欧洲的研究人员研究了4个种类共493只蝙蝠。该组研究人员用到了60多年来搜集的信息。
Of these animals, the greater mouse-eared bat generally lived the longest, an average of 37 years.
在这些蝙蝠中，鼠耳蝠属通常最长寿，平均寿命为37年。
The scientists said this and a related species, which are grouped together under the name Myotis, had telomeres that did not shorten with age.
科学家们表示这种以及相关种类的蝙蝠，它们都属于鼠耳蝠属，它们的端粒不会随着年龄增长而缩短。
Another Myotis bat holds the record for oldest age, reaching 41 years.
另一种鼠耳蝠属蝙蝠保持了41年的最长寿命记录。
The scientists’ findings suggest that these bats’ cells have the ability to maintain and repair their telomeres. This, they said, helps guard against the aging process.
这些科学家的发现暗示，这些蝙蝠的细胞有能力维持和修复它们的端粒。他们说，这会帮助抵御衰老的过程。
Based on its body size, a bat like the greater mouse-eared bat would be expected to live four years. But, these mammals have been found to live nearly 10 times longer than that.
基于蝙蝠的身体大小，鼠耳蝠属本应只能活4年。但这些哺乳动物的寿命却是这一数字的十多倍。
The scientists found that only 19 species of mammals live longer than humans when their body size is considered. Eighteen of these are bats. The only exception is an unusual African rodent, the naked mole rat.
科学家们发现，考虑到一些动物的大小，只有19种哺乳动物的寿命比人类长。其中18种都是蝙蝠。另一个例外是一种非洲啮齿动物，裸鼢鼠。
I’m Mario Ritter.
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