王朵
犯罪者很難确定?有了全新的毛发检测科技,就能知道真相!
难词探意
1. protein / pr ti n/ n. 蛋白质
2. follicle / f l k l/ n. (皮肤上的)毛囊
3. detergent /d t d nt/ n. 清洁剂
4. expertise / eksp ti z/ n. 专业技能;专业知识
5. forensic /f renz k/ adj. 法庭科学取证的
6. discrimination /d skr m ne n/ n. 辨别力
A new technique could have criminals tearing their hair out: Researchers have developed a method from as little as 1 centimeter of hair—and that is eight times more sensitive than similar protein analysis techniques. If the new method ever makes it into the courtroom, it could greatly expand the ability to recognize the people at the scene of a crime.
To get reliable data from hair, scientists previously needed DNA from skin still attached to hair follicles. But recent technologies have instead analyzed proteins in the hair itself, which can be used to recognize people with a high degree of accuracy without DNA.
To get more proteins for analysis, scientists developed a method with only one step: heating the hair in detergent solution. They also identified a dozen new protein building blocks called genetically variant peptides (GVPs) that differ among individuals. “The more GVPs you have, the more people you can distinguish from each other,” says NIST health specialist and study author Zheng Zhang. GPVs arent yet used to recognize people in criminal cases—but could be in the future, Zhang says. Protein sequences are highly individual, but theres still a chance—one in 1 million or even one in 10 million—that two people share the same one.
Admittedly,the new method has its drawbacks, says Glendon Parker, a biochemist at the University of California. Chief among them is the amount of time and expertise is needed. To get enough material to build a profile, scientists need 1 day or more, Parker says. The time-consuming new technique might be the best choice for discovering new GVPs, he says, but other techniques with lower skills may be better for use.
In addition, no identification method based on GVPs has been used in court. There are still a lot of questions to be answered before thats a reality, says Monte Miller, a forensic expert who has testified in many cases involving DNA evidence.
These answers are likely “a long way off, but the research is interesting and its useful,” Miller says. “Anything that gives us more discrimination and more information is always good.” Until then, well be splitting hairs.
Reading check
1.Whats the breakthrough of the new technique in the text
A.It collects reliable data from skin.
B.It makes progress in recognizing criminals.
C.It protects the remaining protein of the hair.
D.Its more accurate in finding evidence through DNA.
2. What are the disadvantages of the new method
A.It can only be used in youth.
B.It requires time and expert skills.
C.It will cause a lot of debates unsolved.
D.Its techniques are lower than other methods.
3. Where is this text most likely from
A. A diary. B. A guidebook. C. A novel. D. A magazine.
Language study
Sentence for writing
The more GVPs you have, the more people you can distinguish from each other.
【信息提取】本句中,the more..., the more...為比较状语句型,“越……,越……”前后的两个“more”不是一成不变的,都可以在具体的句子中换成相应的形容词比较级形式,主句是后面的“the more...”。注意,两个 “the more”后面加的是正常语序的句子。
【句式仿写】天越冷,你在街上看到的人越少。
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