Unlocking ancient genetics reshapes views on multiple sclerosis and European traits

admin 2024年4月24日

Beginner

science & technology, science & technology - beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Have any areas of scientific research or breakthroughs captured your interest lately?
Have you read any studies related to DNA?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

disease /dih-ZEEZ/

[noun] – (an) illness of people, animals, plants, etc., caused by infection or a failure of health rather than by an accident
The outbreak of a contagious disease led to widespread concern among the population.

defend /dih-FEND/

[verb] – to protect someone or something against infections or harmful effects
The vaccines helped to defend the population against the spread of influenza.

increase /in-KREES/

[verb] – to (make something) become larger in amount or size
Regular exercise increases cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength.

common /KOM-uhn/

[adjective] – found frequently in many places or among many people
In urban areas, traffic congestion is common, especially during rush hours.

importance /im-PAWR-tns/

[noun] – the quality of being important
The importance of education is evident in its impact on personal and societal development.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

Ancient DNA from people in Europe 34,000 years ago is helping scientists understand early multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological disease affecting the brain and spinal cord. Certain genetic traits, now linked to a higher risk of MS, initially protected against diseases from animals. Scientists studied the DNA of 1,664 ancient individuals in Western Europe and Asia, comparing it to the DNA of over 410,000 modern individuals. Around 5,000 years ago, during the Bronze Age, nomadic herders called the Yamnaya people in Ukraine and southern Russia had genes that defended against infections from their livestock. However, as hygiene improved, these genes increased the risk of MS, especially in Northern Europeans, where MS is more common. This study shows that genetic traits, once helpful, can become harmful over time, suggesting MS might come from the immune system adjusting to historical challenges. The research challenges common ideas about MS and offers insights into European traits. It emphasizes the importance of adjusting, not suppressing, the immune system in treatment, with broader implications for understanding and addressing MS by considering how the environment affects genetic traits.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

MS is a cardiovascular disease that affects the heart and blood vessels.
Certain genetic traits linked to a higher risk of MS were initially protective against diseases from animals.
Scientists studied the DNA of 10,000 ancient individuals in Western Europe and Africa.
The research challenges common ideas about MS and offers insights into European traits.
Around 5,000 years ago, during the Iron Age, settled farmers called the Yamnaya people in Central Asia had genes that defended against infections from their crops.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

disease

defend

increase

common

importance

Vaccines are developed to __________ the immune system against various diseases.
The veterinarian diagnosed the dog’s persistent cough as a respiratory __________.
Allergies are __________ among children, with various environmental factors contributing to their prevalence.
Teamwork emphasizes the collective __________ of collaboration for achieving common goals.
Adequate sunlight exposure __________ the body’s production of vitamin D.