復(fù)旦大學(xué)的一項研究表明:乙醇脫氫酶-1B(ADH1B)的第7型變種存在于約70%的漢族人體內(nèi),這種酶能夠分解與乙醇結(jié)構(gòu)類似的存在于酒精中的毒素。這意味著,相比于歐美人群,漢族人群具有更多化解酒精毒素的能力。因為這種基因的形成年代與“杜康釀酒”這一故事發(fā)生的時間相吻合,因此被專家稱為“杜康基因”。
Du Kang gene is a type of alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme that?can dissolve certain toxic substances in alcohol or decaying food. Du Kang is a semi-legendary inventor of liquor.
“杜康基因”是乙醇脫氫酶的一種,它可以分解酒或腐爛的食物中的有毒物質(zhì)。傳說中杜康是發(fā)明酒的人。
In the early stage of winemaking, the process was not refined and was bound to produce many toxins. Moreover, people lacked understanding about not eating food that had been stored too long. Some died of poisoning as a result, leaving those whose bodies were better able to break down toxins to survive and pass on their genes.
早期,人類釀酒的工藝不夠完善,釀造過程中會產(chǎn)生很多毒素。另外,糧食儲存不當(dāng)發(fā)酵后,會產(chǎn)生毒素,而當(dāng)時的人們因為不知情,還在不斷食用。于是,很多人都因為食物中毒死了,但是體內(nèi)含有這種基因的人就能夠降解這一毒素存活下來。長此以往,這一基因在體內(nèi)得以強化并遺傳給了后代。
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(中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 崔旭燕)