新奇事件簿 端粒決定壽命長(zhǎng)短

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Would you like to know when you'll die? It's a scary question for many, but one which could be answered using a new blood test. Spanish scientists have invented such a test that they say will estimate how much longer you will live. The $700 test measures the length of telomeres in our DNA. Telomeres control how often our cells divide to make new ones and are thus responsible for aging. They limit the length of our lifespan. The company behind the project, Life Length, says the test will give people an idea of the speed at which they are ageing and a prediction of when the end might come. Critics have been quick to attack the test. They say it is unethical, unreliable, and could lead to insurance firms demanding people take the test before issuing policies.

想知道自己的死期嗎？許多人認(rèn)為這個(gè)話題毛骨悚然，但只要通過全新血液檢測(cè)，這個(gè)問題迎刃而解。該檢測(cè)由西班牙科學(xué)家發(fā)明，它能夠預(yù)知壽命。該檢測(cè)費(fèi)用為700美金，通過檢測(cè)DNA中端粒長(zhǎng)度預(yù)知壽命。端?？刂萍?xì)胞再生周期，它也會(huì)讓人類變老。端粒掌控生命長(zhǎng)短。負(fù)責(zé)此項(xiàng)研究的“生命長(zhǎng)度”公司表示，這類血液檢測(cè)能讓人們掌握自己的變老速度，并預(yù)知死期。這類檢測(cè)隨即遭到了評(píng)論家的詬病。他們認(rèn)為該檢測(cè)缺乏職業(yè)道德，不可信，保險(xiǎn)公司也很有可能在出臺(tái)政策之前要求客戶進(jìn)行檢測(cè)。

Researchers say the test could lead to breakthroughs in age-related illnesses such as Alzheimer's and heart disease. Professor Jerry Shay, a consultant for Life Length, admitted people are right to be wary of the new test. He said: "People might say, 'If I know I'm going to die in 10 years, I'll spend all my money now', or 'If I'm going to live for 40 years, I'll be more conservative in my lifestyle'. He added: "The worrying thing is that if this information ever got to a point where it is believable, insurance companies would start requiring it in terms of insuring people.” Maria Blasco, inventor of the test, believes it is important, saying: "It will be useful for you to know your biological age. Maybe you would change your lifestyle habits if you find you have short telomeres."

研究人員表示，這類檢測(cè)或?qū)⒅斡缋夏臧V呆，心臟病等老年性病。“生命長(zhǎng)度”顧問杰里·謝伊承認(rèn)到，大眾對(duì)此類檢測(cè)持謹(jǐn)慎態(tài)度是正確之舉。他認(rèn)為：“人們或許會(huì)說，如果我的生命只有10年，那么我現(xiàn)在就要盡力揮霍，還會(huì)說如果我會(huì)活40年，那我就要節(jié)制一點(diǎn)。”他還補(bǔ)充道：“如果這樣的檢測(cè)信息可信，保險(xiǎn)公司就會(huì)要求客戶進(jìn)行檢測(cè)，這是讓我們最為擔(dān)心的。”測(cè)試發(fā)明人瑪麗亞·布拉斯科認(rèn)為此項(xiàng)檢測(cè)非常重要，她認(rèn)為：“人們應(yīng)該知曉自己的壽命。如果你發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的端粒很短，或許你會(huì)因此而改變生活方式。”