密碼破譯者

山西 呂麗華

憑借在開發基因組編輯方法方面做出的貢獻，詹妮弗·杜德納和埃馬紐埃爾·卡彭蒂耶成為2020 年諾貝爾化學獎獲得者。 而詹妮弗·杜德納對基因科學的癡迷最早始于其在六年級時讀到的一本書——《雙螺旋》。

When Jennifer Doudna was in sixth grade, she came home one day to find that her dad had left a book titled The Double Helix on her bed. She put it aside, thinking it was one of those detective tales she loved.

On a rainy Saturday, she picked up the book. As she sped through the pages, she became fascinated by the drama, which encouraged her to explore nature's wonders. Even though her high school teacher told her that girls didn't become scientists, she decided she would.

She worked with a biologist, Charpentier, to turn a curiosity about nature into an invention—an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA. Known as CRISPR, the tool will transform the human race. James Watson, the author of The Double Helix, later told her it was the most important biological advance since he and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA.

For this achievement, Doudna and Charpentier were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020. So far, only 7 women, beginning with Marie Curie in 1911, have won or shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry out of 185 award winners. When the year's prize was announced,Dr. Charpentier said it would provide a message specifically for young girls who would like to follow the path of science and to show them that women can also be awarded prizes.

A few decades from now, if it becomes possible to edit DNA, should we allow parents to improve the IQ and physical strength of their kids? Should we let them decide eye color? Skin color? Height? After helping to discover CRISPR, Dr. Doudna has become a leader in considering these moral issues. That's the main message we should take from this Nobel: New technologies can be a huge benefit to the human race, but in order to make sure they are used wisely, it's important for people to understand them.

1. Jennifer Doudna decided to become a scientist because__________ .

A. her father pushed her B. a book inspired her

C. her teacher encouraged her D. James Watson motivated her

2. Dr. Doudna was awarded the Nobel Prize because__________ .

A. she wrote the book The Double Helix

B. she discovered the structure of DNA

C. she is a hardworking woman scientist

D. she helped invent a tool for editing DNA

3. What can be inferred from paragraph 4?

A. The two women's success will inspire more girls to be devoted to art.

B. Since 1911, there have been 185 people who won the Nobel Prize.

C. If girls follow the path of science, they will surely achieve their goals.

D. CRISPR will make a big difference to the human race.

4. Which words can best describe Jennifer Doudna?

A. Determined and responsible.

B. Ambitious and humorous.

C. Cruel and indifferent.

D. Fearless and stubborn.

Difficult sentence

When Jennifer Doudna was in sixth grade, she came home one day to find that her dad had left a book titled The Double Helix on her bed. 詹妮弗·杜德納六年級的時候，有一天她回家發現她父親在她的床上留下了一本名為《雙螺旋》的書。

【點石成金】句中when引導的是一個時間狀語從句，that引導的從句作動詞find的賓語。