Good Genes Mean Long Life
Scientists have discovered that living to the age of 100 may have nothing to do with the lifestyle you lead and everything to do with the type of genes you have.
For the lucky carriers of “Methuselah” genes, worries over smoking, eating unhealthily and not getting enough exercise may not be as necessary as to those of us without the special gene pattern (组合).
The “Methuselah” genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age such as cancer and heart disease. They could also protect people against the effects of the unhealthy lifestyles that we believe will lead us to an early death, scientists say. However, the genes are very rare.
The genes include ADIPOQ, which is found in about 10 percent of young people but in nearly 30 percent of people living past 100. They also include the CETP and the ApoC3 genes, which are found in 10 percent of young people, but in about 20 percent of people over 100 years old.
Some of those genes were discovered by a research group at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, led by Professor Nir Barzilai. The team studied the genes of over 500 people over 100 years old, and their children.
The studies show that tiny mutations (变异) in the make-up of some genes can greatly increase a person’s lifespan (寿命). Barzilai told a Royal Society conference that the discovery of such genes gave scientists clear targets for developing drugs that could prevent age-related diseases, allow people to live longer and stay healthy.
David Gems, a researcher at University College London, believes that drugs to slow ageing will become widespread.
“If we know which genes control longevity (长寿) then we can … target them with drugs. That makes it possible to slow down ageing,” he told The Times.
“Much of the pain and suffering in the world are caused by ageing. If we can find a way to reduce that, then we are obliged (义不容辞的) to take it.”
小题1:According to the article, which of the following is the most important if a person is to live to the age of 100?
A．Eating healthy food every day.
B．Having the right types of genes.
C．Having a healthy lifestyle.
D．Taking drugs that prevent ageing.小题2:According to the article, the ApoC3 gene is found in ________ of people over 100 years old.
A．10%
B．20%
C．30%
D．50%小题3:Which of the following statements is TRUE of the research led by Professor Nir Barzilai?
A．The team studied the genes of over 100 people over 100 years of age.
B．The researchers found that mutations in certain genes lead to longer life.
C．The researchers found ways to develop drugs that could cure age-related diseases.
D．The study suggested that most people have genes that could lengthen their lives.小题4: According to David Gems, ________.
A．drugs to slow ageing will be very expensive
B．modern science will be able to find more longevity genes
C．it is the duty of medical scientists to fight the problems of ageing
D．scientists can make new genes that will allow longer life
