总被蚊子叮？这得怪父母

If you frequently find yourself covered in mosquito bites, while others escape without so much as an itch, you can blame your genes.

如果你发现蚊子特别喜欢叮你，而其他人都安然无恙，这其实与你的基因有关。

For British scientists have discovered evidence that some people are simply born to attract mosquitoes.

英国科学家们已经找到了证据，证明一些人生来就容易招蚊子。

In experiments they found that people’s body smell attracted the insects in different ways - and this was strongly influences by genetics.

在实验中他们发现，人体散发的味道会在不同程度上吸引昆虫，而这种味道与基因有很大的关系。

The team, led by scientists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, found that pairs of identical twins - who share 100 per cent of their genes - are equally attractive to mosquitoes.

研究团队由伦敦卫生和热带医学院(London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)的科学家们领衔。他们发现，基因完全一样的同卵双胞胎，对蚊子的吸引力也一样。

Non-identical twins, who only share about 50 per cent of their genes, differ in the degree to which they attract the bugs, the scientists found.

科学家们还发现，对于异卵双胞胎而言，他们的基因只有一半相同，因此对蚊子的吸引力也不一样。

The research, published in the journal PLOS One, provides strong evidence that your chance of being bitten is genetically-driven.

这项研究发表在期刊《公共科学图书馆·综合》(PLOS One)上，为基因决定蚊子叮咬几率提供了强有力的证据。

The results show that the trait has a similar link to genes as height and IQ.

研究结果显示，这一特征与基因的关联，就好比身高、智商与基因的关系一般。

The findings build on previous work linking body odour to the chances of being attacked by mosquitoes.

此前，曾有科学家将体味与蚊子叮咬几率相关联，为这项研究建立了基础。

The team - which also included scientists from Nottingham University, Rothamsted Research in Hertforshire, and the University of Florida - think that some individuals produce a natural insect repellent that keeps them safe.

研究团队还包括来自诺丁汉大学(Nottingham University)、哈福德郡洛桑研究所(Rothamsted Research)和佛罗里达大学(University of Florida)的科学家们。他们认为，一些人体内能产生一种天然的驱虫剂，来让自己免受蚊虫叮咬。

They believe that, with further research, it may be possible to take a pill that encourages the production of this repellent odour.

他们相信，通过进一步研究，或许可以发明一种服用后能产生驱虫体味的药丸。

Lead scientist Dr James Logan, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: ‘By investigating the genetic mechanism behind attractiveness to biting insects such as mosquitoes we can move closer to using this knowledge for better ways of keeping us safe from bites and the diseases insects can spread through bites.

领队科学家、来自伦敦卫生与热带医学院的詹姆斯·洛根博士(James Logan)说：“通过研究蚊虫吸引力背后的遗传机制，我们就能进一步研究如何免受蚊虫叮咬和疾病传播的威胁。

‘If we understand the genetic basis for variation between individuals it could be possible to develop bespoke ways to control mosquitoes better, and develop new ways to repel them.

“如果我们能够理解个体之间基因的差异，就能发明一种更好的控制和驱赶蚊子的方法。

‘In the future we may even be able to take a pill which will enhance the production of natural repellents by the body and ultimately replace skin lotions.’

“未来，我们甚至能发明一种药丸，促进人体产生天然驱虫素，最终用以代替驱虫液。

The study involved 18 identical and 19 non-identical twin pairs.

这项研究的研究对象包括18对同卵双胞胎和19对异卵双胞胎。

In the experiment, Aedies aegypti mosquitoes - which transmit dengue fever - were released into a Y-shaped tube which divides into two sections.

实验中，传播登革热的埃及伊蚊(Aedies aegypti)被释放到分叉的Y型试管里。

They were allowed to fly down either side towards the odour from the study participants’ hands to see which twin they were most attracted to.

它们可以朝分别散发着参与者手的气味的两个方向飞行，以便看出双胞胎中的哪一位更能吸引蚊子。

Vocabulary

bespoke: 定制的