新奇事件簿 端粒決定壽命長短

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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？許多人認為這個話題毛骨悚然，但只要通過全新血液檢測，這個問題迎刃而解。該檢測由西班牙科學家發(fā)明，它能夠預知壽命。該檢測費用為700美金，通過檢測DNA中端粒長度預知壽命。端粒控制細胞再生周期，它也會讓人類變老。端粒掌控生命長短。負責此項研究的“生命長度”公司表示，這類血液檢測能讓人們掌握自己的變老速度，并預知死期。這類檢測隨即遭到了評論家的詬病。他們認為該檢測缺乏職業(yè)道德，不可信，保險公司也很有可能在出臺政策之前要求客戶進行檢測。

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，這類檢測或將治愈如老年癡呆，心臟病等老年性病。“生命長度”顧問杰里·謝伊承認到，大眾對此類檢測持謹慎態(tài)度是正確之舉。他認為：“人們或許會說，如果我的生命只有10年，那么我現在就要盡力揮霍，還會說如果我會活40年，那我就要節(jié)制一點。”他還補充道：“如果這樣的檢測信息可信，保險公司就會要求客戶進行檢測，這是讓我們最為擔心的。”測試發(fā)明人瑪麗亞·布拉斯科認為此項檢測非常重要，她認為：“人們應該知曉自己的壽命。如果你發(fā)現自己的端粒很短，或許你會因此而改變生活方式。”