科學家說：這些基因變異真的能給你超能力

文◎LYDIA RAMSEY|

你的遺傳信息有99%以上都與世界上的其他所有人一模一樣。但是正因為那不足1%的不同使一切變得有趣。特定的遺傳性變異使我們中的一些人獲得了某些“超”能力。

hDEC2，變身超級短眠者

一些人天生就可以每晚只睡4個小時依然覺得精力充沛。這些人被稱為“短眠者”。研究人員相信，這種能力基本上是與特定的基因突變有關，并且研究人員也已公開說明其中一種就是hDEC2基因。

More than 99 percent of your genetic information is exactly the same as every other person on the planet. But it's in that less than 1 percent that things get interesting. Specific genetic variations①variation 英 [ve?r?'e??(?)n] 美 [,v?r?'e??n] n. 變化；變異allow some of us to acquire certain "super"qualities.

掃我，朗讀給你聽

▲HDEC2 and the super-sleeper mutation Some people naturally feel totally energised②energise 英 ['en?d?a?z] 美 vt. 供給……能量；使精力充沛on just 4 hours of sleep each night. These people are called "shortsleepers". For the most part, researchers believe that the capabilities are connected to specific genetic mutations, and have publicly identified one on the hDEC2 gene.

▲TAS2R38 and the supertaster variant About a quarter of the population tastes food way more intensely than the rest of us. These "super tasters" are more likely to put milk and sugar in bitter coffee, or avoid fatty③fatty英 ['f?t?] 美 ['f?ti] adj. 脂肪的；肥胖的；多脂肪的；脂肪過多的foods. The reason for their reaction, scientists think, is programmed into their genes, specifically one called TAS2R38,the bitter-taste receptor gene.

▲LRP5 and the unbreakable④unbreakable 英 [?n'bre?k?b(?)l] 美 [?n'brek?bl]adj. 牢不可破的；不易破損的mutation Researchers have identified a genetic mutation on the LRP5 gene that regulates bone-mineral density⑤density 英 ['dens?t?] 美 ['d?ns?ti] n. 密度, which can cause brittle bones. But a different type of mutation on the same gene could also have the opposite effect, giving some people extremely⑥extremely 英 [?k'stri?ml?; ek-] 美 [?k'strimli]adv. 非常，極其；極端地dense bones that are practically unbreakable.

▲BDNF and SLC6A4 and the super coffee-drinker variants

There are at least six genes associated with how your body processes caffeine. Some variants, near the genes BDNF and SLC6A4, infl uence the rewarding effects of caffeine that make you want to drink more.

TAS2R38，變身超級品味家

約四分之一的人在品嘗食物的時候，會比我們其他人覺得食物的味道更濃烈。這些“超級品味家”更可能會在苦咖啡中加牛奶和糖，或避免油膩性的食品。科學家認為，他們這種反應的原因是這種特性被編入基因中，特別是一種被稱為TAS2R38的苦味感受基因。

LRP5，變得堅不可摧

研究人員已確定LRP5基因的遺傳突變會調整骨密度，而這會使骨骼易碎。但相同基因不同的遺傳突變也會有相反的效果，使一些人的骨密度大大增加，并使其骨骼變得堅不可摧。

BDNF和SLC6A4，變身咖啡狂熱者

至少有六種基因會參與處理你身體里的咖啡因。BDNF和SLC6A4基因的一些變異會影響咖啡因的有益功效，使你想喝更多咖啡。