Scientists have discovered new secrets from a tiny snow flea that can survive in freezing conditions. The fleas contain a protein that could be very useful for transplant surgery and farming. Researchers from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada have published a study about the flea and its antifreeze properties. The researchers said the antifreeze could help protect plants or animals from frost. It could also allow transplant organs to be stored and transported at lower temperatures. The microscopic, six-legged snow fleas survive by lowering the freezing point of their bodies by 11 degrees.
科學家取得新發(fā)現(xiàn),跳蟲可在極寒條件下存活。其所含蛋白質可作用于移植手術和務農(nóng)。關于蚊蟲及防凍屬性,安大略省女王大學研究學家發(fā)布報告。稱其防凍性可使動植物躲避霜凍。器官保存及運輸也可在冷藏中實現(xiàn)。為了在嚴寒中存活,微型六腿跳蟲可將凝固點降低11度。
Scientists are talking about many possible uses for the new protein. One is to store transplant organs at cooler temperatures to keep them for longer. Lead researcher Dr. Laurie Graham said filling an organ with the antifreeze might prevent it from freezing. She said: “You would have longer to do tissue matching to get the organ to the patient and just increase the life of organs.” Another possibility could be to allow crops to survive a cold snap. Dr. Graham said scientists could genetically modify any crop that didn’t like frost to make it stronger in freezing temperatures.
對于新型蛋白質,科學家對其可能性用途展開了討論。其中就有低溫冷藏器官,延長存活時間。研究主任勞里·格拉哈姆表示稱,為器官填充防凍劑可防止凍結。她認為:“為增加器官存活率,醫(yī)生要在組織配對上花費不少精力。”還有一種是保證農(nóng)作物扛過寒流。為使農(nóng)作物抵抗嚴寒,科學家可將任意非耐寒農(nóng)作物進行轉基因處理。