英國科學(xué)家宣稱破解千古之謎：先有雞后有蛋
編輯點(diǎn)評：先有雞還是先有蛋？這是一個(gè)經(jīng)典且常被提起的問題，也是持續(xù)數(shù)百年的終極哲學(xué)與科學(xué)之謎。現(xiàn)在，借助先進(jìn)的運(yùn)算技術(shù)，英國科學(xué)家終于揭開這個(gè)謎團(tuán)——答案是先有雞后有蛋。
It's an age-old puzzle that's stumped generations of scientists.
這是一個(gè)困擾了世代科學(xué)家的千古謎題。
But now they believe they have cracked the conundrum of what came first: the chicken or the egg.
而如今他們相信自己已經(jīng)成功破解——究竟是先有雞還是先有蛋。
British researchers say the chicken must have come first as the formation of eggs is only possible thanks to a protein found in the chicken's ovaries.
英國研究人員表示，一定是先有雞，因?yàn)殡u蛋的構(gòu)造取決于在母雞卵巢中發(fā)現(xiàn)的一種蛋白。
'It had long been suspected that the egg came first but now we have the scientific proof that shows that in fact the chicken came first,' said Dr Colin Freeman, from Sheffield University, who worked with counterparts at Warwick University.
謝菲爾德大學(xué)的柯林·弗里曼博士說：“人們長期以來懷疑先有蛋，但我們現(xiàn)在掌握的科學(xué)證據(jù)表明，其實(shí)是先有雞。”他是與華威大學(xué)的同仁一起做這項(xiàng)研究。
'The protein had been identified before and it was linked to egg formation but by examining it closely we have been able to see how it controls the process,' he added.
他補(bǔ)充道：“科學(xué)家以前就發(fā)現(xiàn)了這種蛋白，它與雞蛋的形成有關(guān)，但在仔細(xì)研究后，我們終于了解到它是如何控制雞蛋形成的。”
The protein – called ovocledidin-17 (OC-17) – acts as a catalyst to speed up the development of the shell.
這種蛋白被稱為ovocledidin-17(簡稱OC-17)，是加速蛋殼發(fā)育的催化劑。
Scientists used a super computer called HECToR, based in Edinburgh, to 'zoom in' on the formation of an egg.
科學(xué)家們利用一臺超級電腦“放大”雞蛋形成的過程。這臺超級電腦名為“HECToR”，放在愛丁堡。
It showed OC-17 was crucial in kick-starting crystallisation – the early stages of forming a shell.
結(jié)果表明，沒有OC-17蛋白，雞蛋的外表部分就無法結(jié)晶，形成蛋殼。
The protein converts calcium carbonate into calcite crystals which makes up the egg shell, creating six grammes of shell every 24 hours.
這種蛋白將碳酸鈣轉(zhuǎn)換為構(gòu)成蛋殼的方解石晶體，每24小時(shí)生成6克蛋殼。
Prof John Harding, also of Sheffield University, said the discovery could have other uses.
同為謝菲爾德大學(xué)的教授約翰·哈丁說，這項(xiàng)發(fā)現(xiàn)還有別的用途。
'Understanding how chickens make shells is fascinating in itself but can also give clues towards designing new materials,' he said.
他說：“揭開母雞形成雞蛋之謎本身就很有趣，同時(shí)還提供了設(shè)計(jì)新材料和新技術(shù)的線索。”
Next challenge: Why did the chicken cross the road?
下一個(gè)將挑戰(zhàn)的謎題：為什么雞要過馬路？
