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AmeenahGuribFakim_2014G-_小植物有大学问_
You know, it's a big privilege for me to be working in one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world: the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean. 在世界上生物多样性最丰富的地方之一工作 使我的研究有着得天独厚的优势 这个地方位于印度洋中的马斯克林群岛
privilege:n.特权;优待;v.给与…特权;特免; biodiversity:n.生物多样性; hotspots:n.热点(hotspot的复数);麻烦地点,热点地区;
along with the island of Madagascar, they are blessed with unique plants found nowhere else in the world. 以及马达加斯加岛 这些岛屿上生长有着独一无二的植物 仅此一处
blessed:adj.神圣的; v.求上帝降福于; (bless的过去分词和过去式) unique:adj.独特的,稀罕的;[数]唯一的;n.独一无二的人或物; nowhere:v.无处; n.无处; adj.不存在的;
And today I will tell you about five of them and their particular features and why these plants are so unique. 今天我将向你们介绍其中五种 包括它们的特点 以及它们为何如此的独一无二
Take a look at this plant. 首先看这类植物
Take a look at:看一看;检查;
I call it benjoin in the local vernacular , and the botanical name is Terminalia bentzoe, subspecies bentzoe. 当地人称之为 Benjoin 学名叫做 Terminalia Bentzoe (使君子科榄仁树属 Bentzoe 种) 是bentzoe的次级种类
vernacular:adj.本国的;地方的;用本地语写成的;n.本地话,方言;动植物的俗名; botanical:adj.植物学的;n.植物性药材; subspecies:n.[生物]亚种;
This subspecies is endemic to Mauritius, and its particular feature is its heterophylly. 这类植物为毛里求斯所特有的 它的特点就是 异形叶性
endemic:adj.地方性的;风土的;n.地方病;
What do I mean by heterophylly? 异形叶性是什么意思呢
It's that the same plant has got leaves that are different shapes and sizes. 它指的是在同一植物里 叶子具有不同的形状和大小
Now, these plants have evolved very far away from the mainland, and within specific ecosystems . 这类植物经过进化 已经远离了大陆 而且只存活于特定的生态环境中
evolved:v.(使)逐渐形成;进化;进化形成;(evolve的过去分词和过去式) specific:adj.特殊的,特定的;明确的;详细的;[药]具有特效的;n.特性;细节;特效药; ecosystems:n.生态系统(ecosystem的复数);
Often, these particular features have evolved as a response to the threat presented by the local fauna , in this case, grazing tortoises. 这些独特的性质通常 进化为一种应激反应 以此应对来自当地动物的威胁 在这里指的就是食草的乌龟
response:n.响应;反应;回答; fauna:n.动物群;[动]动物区系; grazing:n.牧场;草场;v."graze"的现在分词;
Tortoises are known to have poor eyesight , and as such, they tend to avoid the plants they don't recognize . 乌龟的视力很差 所以它们会尽量避免 那些它们不认识的植物
eyesight:n.视力;目力; recognize:v.认识;认出;辨别出;承认;意识到;
So this evolutionary foil safeguards the plant against these rather cute animals, and protects it and of course ensures its survival . 所以这种进化出的叶子保护了植物 不被这些动物吃掉 也就保证了其存活率
evolutionary:adj.进化的;发展的;渐进的; foil:v.衬托;阻止,挡开;挫败;贴箔于;n.箔,金属薄片;衬托,烘托;叶形片; safeguards:n.保障措施; v.[安全]保护; ensures:v.保证,确定(原形为ensure); survival:n.幸存,残存;幸存者,残存物;
Now the question you're probably asking yourself is, why is she telling us all these stories? 现在你们可能在心里犯嘀咕了 她跟我们说这些干什么呢
The reason for that is that we tend to overlook the diversity and the variety of the natural world. 原因是我们总是不重视 自然世界的多样性
overlook:v.忽略;俯视;视而不见;眺望; variety:n.多样;种类;杂耍;变化,多样化;
These particular habitats are unique and they are host to a whole lot of plants. 这些生存环境是独一无二的 也是无数植物赖以生存的场所
habitats:n.[生态]栖息地;(动植物的)[经]产地(habitat的复数形式);
We don't realize how valuable and how precious these resources are, and yet, through our insouciance , we keep on destroying them. 我们没有意识到 这些资源宝贵的价值 我们仍然毫不在乎地 在继续破坏它们
valuable:adj.有价值的;贵重的;可估价的;n.贵重物品; precious:adj.宝贵的;珍贵的;矫揉造作的; resources:n.[计][环境]资源; v.向…提供资金(resource的第三人称单数); insouciance:n.无忧无虑;漫不经心;满不在乎;
We're all familiar with the macro impact of urbanization , climate change, resource exploitation , but when that one last plant — or animal for that matter — when that very last specimen has disappeared from the face of this Earth, we would have lost an entire subset of the Earth's biology , 我们都熟知 城镇化所带来的宏观影响 比如气候变化,资源掠夺 但是当某类植物 或者动物的最后一个种群 当最后一例个体 从地球上消失以后 我们就会失去 生物体系中的一整套次级体系
familiar:adj.熟悉的;常见的;亲近的;n.常客;密友; macro:adj.巨大的,大量的;n.宏,巨(计算机术语); impact:n.影响;效果;碰撞;冲击力;v.挤入,压紧;撞击;对…产生影响; urbanization:n.都市化;文雅化; exploitation:n.开发,开采;利用;广告推销; specimen:n.标本;样品;样本;(尤指动植物的)单一实例; disappeared:adj.消失的;消失了的;v.消失,失踪;(disappear的过去式和过去分词) subset:n.[数]子集;子设备;小团体; biology:n.(一个地区全部的)生物;生物学;
and with it, important plants with medicinal potential or which could have ingredients that would speak to the cosmetic , nutrition , pharma , and even the ethno-veterinary sectors , be gone forever. 在这套体系中,有些植物有着重要的潜在医用价值 或者有一些植物的成分 本来可以用于化妆品 营养品,制药业 甚至是兽医用的草药研究 都永远地消失了
medicinal:adj.药的;药用的;治疗的(等于medicinable);有益的; potential:n.潜能;可能性;[电]电势;adj.潜在的;可能的;势的; ingredients:n.成分;(尤指烹饪)原料;(成功的)要素;(ingredient的复数) cosmetic:adj.美容的;化妆用的;n.化妆品;装饰品; nutrition:n.营养,营养学;营养品; pharma:n.制药公司; sectors:n.部门; v.把…划成扇形;
And here we have a very prime example of the iconic dodo , which comes from Mauritius, and, of course, we know is now a symbol of extinction . 这儿有个典型的例子 具有标志性的毛里求斯的渡渡鸟 当然,现在它已经是物种灭绝的一个象征了
prime:adj.主要的; v.极好地; n.初期; v.使准备好; iconic:adj.图标的,形象的; dodo:n.渡渡鸟(不能飞行,现已灭绝);笨人;蠢人; symbol:n.象征;符号;标志; extinction:n.绝种;
We know plants have a fundamental role to play. 我们都知道植物扮演着基础而重要的角色
fundamental:n.基础; adj.十分重大的;
Well, first of all , they feed us and they also give us the oxygen we breathe, but plants are also the source of important, biologically active ingredients that we should be studying very carefully, because human societies over the millennia , they have developed important knowledge, cultural traditions, and important plant-based medicinal resources. 首先,它们养活了我们 它们也提供我们呼吸的氧气 植物同时也提供 很多重要的,具有生物活性的成分 因此值得我们仔细研究 因为人类社会经过几千年 已经掌握了许多重要的知识 发展出了不同的文化传统 并获得了重要的药用植物资源
first of all:adv.首先; biologically:adv.生物学上,生物学地; millennia:n.千年期(millennium的复数);一千年;千年庆典;太平盛世; cultural:adj.与文化有关的;文化的;与艺术、文学、音乐等有关的;
Here's a data point: 1.4 percent of the entire land surface is home to 40 percent of the species of higher plants , 35 percent of the species of vertebrates , and this 1.4 percent 数据显示 1.4%的全球地表上 生长着40%的高等植物 35%的脊椎动物 而且这1.4%的土地
higher plants:n.高等动物; vertebrates:n.[脊椎]脊椎动物(vertebrate的复数);
represents the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world, and this 1.4 percent of the entire land surface already provides for 35 percent of the ecosystem services that vulnerable people depend on. 包括了世界上25个生物多样性最丰富的地方 也正是这1.4%的全球陆地上 却提供了35%的 我们脆弱的人类赖以生存的 生态系统服务
represents:v.代表;维护…的利益;相当于;(represent的第三人称单数) vulnerable:adj.易受攻击的,易受…的攻击;易受伤害的;有弱点的;
And as you can see , the island of Mauritius where I work and where I live, belongs to one such biodiversity hotspot, and I study the unique plants on the island for their biomedical applications. 正如你们看到的一样 我所工作和生活的 毛里求斯群岛 正是生物多样性最丰富的地方之一 而我研究的就是岛上那些稀奇的植物 在生物医学方面的应用
as you can see:正如你所看到的;你是知道的; biomedical:adj.生物医学的;
Now, let's go back again to that first plant I showed you, the one, of course, with different-shaped leaves and different sizes, Terminalia bentzoe, subspecies bentzoe, a plant only found in Mauritius. 让我们倒回去看 我给你们看的第一种植物 这个有着不同形状和尺寸的叶子的植物 (使君子科榄仁树属bentzoe种) 属于bentzoe的次级种类 毛里求斯所独有的植物
Now, the local people, they used a decoction of the leaves against infectious diseases . 当地居民 用这种叶子来煎药 来治疗感染
infectious:adj.传染的;传染性的;易传染的; diseases:n.[医]病(disease的复数);[医]疾病;[植保]病害;疾病种类;
Now our work, that is, the scientific validation of this traditional information, has shown that precisely that leaf extract shows activity, potent activity, against a wide range of bacteria that could be pathogenic to humans. 我们的工作就是 通过科学的方法来验证这种传统医疗手段 我们对这些叶子的提取物的研究结果 也的确证明了它强劲的活性 它可以用来对付许多 可能使人类致病的细菌
scientific:adj.科学的,系统的; validation:n.确认;批准;生效; traditional:传统的,惯例的, extract:v.提取;取出;摘录;榨取;n.汁;摘录;榨出物;选粹; bacteria:n.[微]细菌; pathogenic:adj.致病的;病原的;发病的(等于pathogenetic);
Now, could this plant be the answer to antibiotic resistance ? 那这种植物能解决 抗生素耐药性的问题吗
antibiotic:adj.抗生的;抗菌的;n.抗生素,抗菌素; resistance:n.电阻;抵抗;阻力;抗力;
You know, antibiotic resistance is proving to be a big challenge globally. 众所周知,抗生素耐药性 正成为一个全球性的挑战
While we may not be sure, one thing is certain: we will not want this plant to disappear. 虽然我们并不确定这种植物在抗生素耐药性方面的功效 但肯定不能让它先灭绝了
But the harsh reality is that this particular plant is in fact considered to be vulnerable in its natural habitat. 但残酷的现实却是 这种独特的植物 在它的自然生存环境中 实际上是非常脆弱的
harsh:adj.严厉的;严酷的;刺耳的;粗糙的;刺目的;
This brings me to another example. 来看另外一个例子
This bush here is known as baume de l'ile plate in the local vernacular. 这类灌木被当地人称为 小岛香油膏
bush:n.灌木; v.以灌木装饰; adj.如灌木般长得低矮的;
The botanical name is Psiadia arguta. 学名叫做菊科毛国木菊(Psiadia arguta)
It's a plant which is rare, which is endemic to Mauritius. 这种植物非常稀少 也是毛里求斯所特有的植物
It used to grow on the mainland, but through the sheer pressures of urbanization has been pushed out of the mainland, and we've managed to bring it back from the brink of extinction by developing in vitro plants which are now growing in the wild. 它以前生长在大陆上 但是由于城镇化所带来的压力 它在大陆上已经见不到了 我们也是通过人工培育 才好不容易 使它没有灭绝 而重新在野外生长开来
sheer:adj.纯; v.十足地; n.透明薄纱; v.[航海](使)偏航; (使)转向; brink:n.(峭壁的)边缘; vitro:n.在试管内;
Now, one thing I must point out straightaway is that not all plants can be developed in vitro. 但我必须得说清楚一点 那就是并不是所有的植物 都能用人工培育的方式得以保留存活
straightaway:n.直线跑道;adj.通俗易懂的;立刻的;笔直的;
While we humans, we are happy in our comfort zone , these plants also need their ecosystem to be preserved , and they don't react — endemic plants don't react to very harsh changes in their ecosystem, and yet we know what are the challenges that climate change, for example, is posing to these plants. 正如人类在宜居地带会比较安逸 植物也是一样的 它们也需要合适的自然生态环境 而本地植物对生态环境的剧烈变化 反应往往比较迟缓 同时除了气候变化 我们并不知道 植物的生态环境还面临哪些挑战
comfort zone:n.舒适区;最佳状态; preserved:v.保护;维护;保留;保存;保养;(preserve的过去式和过去分词) react:v.起反应;回应;(对食物等)有不良反应,过敏;起化学反应; posing:v.造成;引起;产生;提问;摆好姿势;(pose的现在分词)
Now, the local people again use the leaves in traditional medicine against respiratory problems. 当地居民仍然 按照传统医药的方式 用这些叶子来治疗呼吸道的疾病
respiratory:adj.呼吸的;
Now, our preliminary labwork on the leaf extract has shown that precisely these leaves contain ingredients that are very close, in terms of structures , chemical structures , to those medicines which are sold in the chemist's shop against asthma . 我们对叶子的提取物进行了研究 研究结果初步表明 这些叶子的成分 从化学结构式上来讲 和药店里面所卖的 那些抗哮喘的药 是非常接近的
preliminary:n.准备;预赛;初步措施;adj.初步的;开始的;预备的; structures:n.结构; v.建造(structure的第三人称单数形式); chemical:n.化学制品,化学药品;adj.化学的; asthma:n.[内科][中医]哮喘,气喘;
So who knows what humanity will benefit from should this plant decide to reveal all its secrets. 所以没人知道如果这些植物 能够得到全面的研发 人类还能从中收益多少
humanity:n.人类;人道;仁慈;人文学科; reveal:v.显示;透露;揭露;泄露;n.揭露;暴露;门侧,窗侧;
Now, I come from the developing world where we are forever being challenged with this issue of population explosion . 我来自发展中国家 我们一直面临着 人口爆炸的挑战
issue:n.重要议题;争论的问题;v.宣布;公布;发出;发行; population explosion:n.人口激增;人口爆炸;
Africa is the continent which is getting younger, and whenever one talks about population explosion, one talks about the issue of food security as being the other side of the same coin. 非洲人口正变得越来越多 每当人们提到人口爆炸的时候 总会提到食物短缺的问题 就像是一枚硬币的两面一样
continent:n.大陆,洲,陆地;adj.自制的,克制的;
Now this plant here, the baobab , could be part of the answer. 这个植物名叫猴面包树 也许会是解决方案
baobab:n.猴面包树(非洲产的一种巨树);
It's an underutilized , neglected food plant. 它被忽视了,并没有得到全面的开发利用
underutilized:vt.未充分使用(underutilize过去式); neglected:adj.被忽略的; v.忽略; (neglect的过去分词和过去式)
It defines the landscape of West Africa, where it is known as the tree of life, and later on I will tell you why the Africans consider it to be the tree of life. 它构成了西非的风景线 被认为是生命之树 稍后我会解释 非洲人称之为生命之树的原因
defines:v.阐明;明确;界定;画出…的线条;描出…的外形(define的第三人称单数) landscape:n.景观;乡村风景画;(文件的)横向打印格式;v.对…做景观美化;美化…的环境;
Now interestingly , there are many legends which are associated with this plant. 有很多有趣的 关于这种植物的故事
interestingly:adv.有趣地; legends:n.传说; (legend的复数) associated:adj.有关联的; v.联想; (associate的过去分词和过去式)
Because of its sheer size, it was meant to be lording over lesser plants, so God didn't like this arrogance , uprooted it, and planted it upside down , hence its particular shape. 主要是因为它体型巨大 它对其他比它小的植物颐气指使 这种狂妄惹恼了上帝 所以把它连根拔起,使它倒栽葱地长在土里 就形成了它独特的形状
lording:v.使成贵族;作威作福,称王称霸;(lord的现在分词) lesser:adj.较少的;次要的;更小的;adv.较少地;更小地;不及; arrogance:n.自大;傲慢态度; uprooted:vt.根除,连根拔起;迫使某人离开出生地或定居处;vi.迁离;改变生活方式; upside down:adj.颠倒的;乱七八糟的; hence:adv.因此;今后;
And if you look at this tree again within the African context , in West Africa, it's known as the palaver tree, because it performs great social functions. 我们从非洲部落的角度 来看这种树 在西非,它承担着重要的社交功能 所以也被称为“洽谈树”
context:n.环境;上下文;来龙去脉; palaver:n.谈判,交涉;奉承;vi.唠叨;空谈;奉承,拍马;vt.奉承; performs:v.执行;表演;演出;履行(perform的第三人称单数)
Now if you have a problem in the community , meeting under the palaver tree with the chiefs or the tribesmen would be synonymous to trying to find a solution to that particular problem, and also to reinforce trust and respect among members of the community. 如果部族里面某人有了麻烦 他们就会和族长或者族人 在洽谈树下见面商讨 以期一起努力 来解决问题 这样做也巩固了 族群成员间的相互信任和尊重
community:n.社区;[生态]群落;共同体;团体; tribesmen:n.部落男子;部落成员; synonymous:adj.同义的;同义词的;同义突变的; solution:n.解决方案;溶液;溶解;解答; reinforce:vt.加强,加固; vi.求援; n.加强;
From the scientific point of view , there are eight species of baobab in the world. 从科学的角度来看 世界上有八种不同种类的猴面包树
point of view:观点;见地;立场;
There's one from Africa, one from Australia, and six are endemic to the island of Madagascar. 一种来自于非洲 一种来自澳洲 另外六种则是 马达加斯加岛上的特产了
The one I have showed you is the one from Africa, 这幅图片里的 是来自于非洲的
Adansonia digitata. 叫做非洲猴面包树
Now, the flower, this beautiful white flower, it opens at night, is pollinated by bats, and it gives rise to the fruit which is curiously known as the monkey apple. 这种漂亮的白花 它会在夜晚开放,由蝙蝠来进行授粉 最后结出果实 被称为 猴苹果
pollinated:vt.对...授粉; curiously:adv.好奇地;奇妙地;
The monkeys are not stupid animals. 猴子很聪明
They know what's good for them. 它们知道这种果子好吃
Now, if you open the fruit of the baobab, you'll see a white, floury pulp , which is very rich in nutrients and has got protein , more protein than in human milk. 如果把猴面包树的果实打开 就会看到白色粉状的果肉 这些果肉营养非常丰富 含有大量蛋白质 甚至比人奶所含的蛋白质更为丰富
floury:adj.粉状的;面粉的; pulp:n.纸浆; v.使…化成纸浆; vi.变成纸浆; nutrients:营养盐;[食品]营养素; protein:n.蛋白质;
Yes, you heard right: more protein than in human milk. 是的,你没听错 比人奶所含的蛋白质更为丰富
And this is one of the reasons why the nutrition companies of this world, they are looking for this fruit to provide what we know as reinforced food. 这也是为什么世界上 那些做营养品的公司 他们在竭力寻取这种水果 来生产所谓的增强型食品
reinforced:adj.加固的;加强的;加筋的;v.加强;增援;(reinforce的过去式和过去分词)
The seeds give an oil, a very stable oil which is sought after by the cosmetic industry to give to produce body lotions , for example. 猴面包树的种子还可以产出一种稳定的油 这种油可以用来生产 比如于身体乳之类的护肤品
stable:n.马厩;牛棚;adj.稳定的;牢固的;坚定的;vi.被关在马厩;赶入马房; sought after:adj.受欢迎的,很吃香的; lotions:n.洗液;洗剂(lotion的复数);v.用洗液于;涂洗剂于(lotion的三单形式);
And if you look at the trunk, the trunk, of course, safeguards water, which is often harvested by a thirsty traveler, and the leaves are used in traditional medicine against infectious disease. 再来看树干 这种树干可以保持水分 渴了的旅客经常用来解渴 树叶也通过传统的方式入药 来治疗传染病
Now, you can see now why the Africans consider it to be the tree of life. 现在你们应该明白为什么 非洲人民称之为生命之树了吧
It's a complete plant, and in fact, the sheer size of these trees is hiding a massive potential, not only for the pharma, nutrition, and the cosmetic industry. 它是一座完备的植物工厂 其实光是这些树的体型就暗示着 里面蕴藏着巨大的开发潜力 不仅仅在医药,营养领域,还包括化妆品界
massive:adj.大量的;巨大的,厚重的;魁伟的;
What I have showed you here is only the species from Africa, 我刚刚给你介绍的 还仅仅是非洲的品种
Adansonia digitata. 非洲猴面包树
We have six species yet in Madagascar, and we don't know what is the potential of this plant, but one thing we know is that the flora is considered to be threatened with extinction. 还有在马达加斯加岛上的另外六种猴面包树 我们还并不完全知道这种植物的潜力 但有一点是确定的 那就是这种植物正面临灭绝
flora:n.植物区系;植物群;
Let me take you to Africa again, and introduce you to one of my very favorite, the resurrection plant. 让我们再回到非洲 来看我最喜欢的一种植物 “复活花”
resurrection:n.复活;恢复;复兴;
Now here you'll find that even Jesus has competition . 你们会看到 就连会复活的耶稣也有竞争对手了
Jesus:int.上帝啊:天哪:n.耶稣:耶稣基督: competition:n.竞争;比赛,竞赛;
(Laughter) (笑声)
Now, this plant here has developed remarkable tolerance to drought , which enables it to withstand up to 98 percent dehydration over the period of a year without damage, 这种植物经过进化 对干旱有着非常好的忍耐力 这使得它在一年中 在不受到破坏的情况下 可以承受高达98%的脱水程度
remarkable:adj.卓越的;非凡的;值得注意的; tolerance:n.公差;耐量;宽容;容忍; drought:n.干旱;缺乏; enables:v.使得; (enable的第三人称单数) withstand:vt.抵挡;禁得起;反抗;vi.反抗; dehydration:n.脱水;
and yet it can regenerate itself almost completely overnight , over 24 hours, and flower. 而且它还可以在一夜之间,二十四小时内 几乎完全地恢复原状再开花
regenerate:vt.使再生;革新;vi.再生;革新;adj.再生的;革新的; overnight:adj.夜间的; v.在夜间; n.(美)前一天的晚上;
Now, us human beings, we're always on the lookout for the elixir of youth. 我们人类一直在寻找 可以永葆青春的灵丹妙药
on the lookout for:寻觅;注视着,警惕着; elixir:n.不老长寿药;万能药;炼金药;
We don't want to get old, and rightly so. 的确也是,谁都不想变老
rightly:adv.正确地;恰当地;公正地;合适地;
Why should we, especially if you can afford it? 如果可以永葆青春的话,为什么要变老呢
especially:adv.尤其;特别;格外;十分; afford:v.给予,提供;买得起;
And this gives you an indication of what the plant looks like before. 这个是脱水的时候 这株植物的样子
indication:n.显示;表明;标示;象征;
Now, if you are an inexperienced gardener , the first thing you'll do when you visit the garden is to uproot this plant because it's dead. 如果你是一个新手园丁的话 当走进花园看到这个样子的植物的时候 估计第一反应就是它已经死了,赶紧拔了它
inexperienced:adj.无经验的;不熟练的; gardener:n.园丁;菜农;园艺爱好者;
But if you water it, this is what you get. 但是如果给它浇点水
Absolutely amazing. 你就会看到这样神奇的变化
Absolutely:adv.绝对地;完全地;
Now, if you look at our aging process , the aging process is in fact the loss of water from the upper epider mis < /b>, resulting in wrinkling as we know it, especially women, we are so conscious of this. 我们衰老的过程 其实就是一个上层表皮脱水的过程 最终导致皱纹 我们都知道这个道理,尤其是女性 女性朋友非常在意皱纹
process:v.处理;加工;列队行进;n.过程,进行;方法,adj.经过特殊加工(或处理)的; wrinkling:n.(皮肤)起皱纹;v.起皱纹;皱起;(使)起皱褶;(wrinkle的现在分词) conscious of:意识到;
And this plant, in fact, is giving the cosmetic chemists very important ingredients that are actually finding ways to slow down the aging process and at the same time reinforce the cells against the onslaught of environmental toxins . 这种植物给了研究化妆品的化学家们 非常重要的原料 这样研究人员可以想办法 延缓衰老的过程 并且增强细胞 对外部环境毒素的抵抗力
chemists:n.化学家(chemist的复数);药剂师; at the same time:同时;另一方面;与此同时; onslaught:n.猛攻;突击; toxins:n.[毒物]毒素,毒质;毒素类(toxin的复数);
Now, these four examples 以上我给你们介绍的
I have just given you are just a very tiny reminder as to how our health and our survival are closely linked to the health and the resilience of our ecosystem, and why we should be very careful about preserving biodiversity. 四个例子 还仅仅只是一个小小的警示 它们提醒着 我们的健康和生存 和我们所在的生态系统的健康和适应性 是如何紧密相连的 也提醒我们 保留生物多样性的重要性
resilience:n.恢复力;弹力;顺应力; preserving:n.保留,保存;
Every time a forest is cut down, every time a marsh is filled in, it is a potential lab that goes with it, and which we will never, ever recover. 每当一片树林被伐倒 或是湿地被填满 一个潜在的研究领域也就此消亡 而我们再也无法挽回
marsh:n.沼泽;湿地;adj.沼泽的;生长在沼泽地的;
And I know what I'm talking about, coming from Mauritius and missing the dodo. 就像我所提到的 毛里求斯岛上消失的渡渡鸟一样
Let me finish with just one last example. 在结束之前我再举一个例子
Conservation issues are normally guided towards rare, endemic plants, but what we call exotic plants, that is, the ones which grow in many different habitats across the world, they also need to be considered. 环境保护措施通常都是 针对稀有的,当地特有的物种 但那些外来物种 也就是分布在世界各地的某个物种 它们同样值得保护
Conservation:n.保存,保持;保护; issues:n.重要议题;争论的问题;v.宣布;公布;发出;(issue的第三人称单数和复数) normally:adv.正常地;通常地,一般地; exotic:adj.异国的;外来的;异国情调的;
You know why? Because the environment plays a very important role in modifying the composition of that plant. 为什么呢？因为环境 在改变该种植物成分的过程中 起着非常重要的作用
modifying:修饰; composition:n.成分;作文;构成;创作;
So let's take a look at this plant here, 比如这种植物
Centella asiatica. It's a weed . 积雪草
weed:v.除草;铲除;n.杂草,野草;菸草;
We call it a weed. 普通人称之为杂草
Now, Centella asiatica grows across the world in many different habitats — in Africa, in Asia — and this plant has been instrumental in providing a solution to that dreadful disease called leprosy in Madagascar in the 1940s. 积雪草就分布在世界各地 比如非洲,亚洲 这种植物就为上个世纪40年代 解决马达加斯加岛上的麻风病 提供了一种解决方案
instrumental:n.工具格;器乐曲;工具词;adj.起重要作用;用乐器演奏的;为乐器谱写的; dreadful:adj.可怕的;糟透的,令人不快的; leprosy:n.麻疯病;腐败;
Now, while Centella grows across the world — in Africa, in Asia — the best quality Centella comes from Madagascar, because that Centella contains the three vital ingredients which are sought after by the pharma and the cosmetic companies. 尽管积雪草分布在世界各地 质量最好的品种 还是来自于马达加斯加 因为那儿的积雪草含有三种关键成分 各大医药和化妆品公司 都在竭力获取它们
vital:adj.至关重要的;生死攸关的;有活力的;
And the cosmetic companies are already using it to make regenerating cream. 一些化妆品公司已经在用积雪草 来生产焕肤霜
regenerating:v.再生(regenerate的ing形式);改革;使恢复原状;
Now, there is an ancient saying that for every disease known to mankind , there is a plant to cure it. 古语有云 世间人百病 俱有草药解
mankind:n.人类;男性;
Now, you may not believe in ancient sayings. 也许你们并不相信这些古话
You may think they're obsolete now that our science and technology are so powerful. 可能觉得它们已经过时了 而且我们当今科技已经这么的发达
obsolete:adj.废弃的;老式的;n.废词;陈腐的人;vt.淘汰;废弃; technology:n.技术;工艺;术语;
So you may look on Centella as being an insignificant , humble weed, which, if destroyed, won't be missed. 所以你们仅仅把积雪草当成是 无关紧要,低贱的杂草 即使灭绝了也无所谓
insignificant:adj.无关紧要的; humble:adj.谦逊的; vt.使谦恭;
But you know, there is no such thing as a weed. 但是你们要知道,世上其实没有“杂草”这么一说
It's a plant. 它不仅是一株植物
It's a living biological lab that may well have answers to the question that we may have, but we have to ensure that it has the right to live. 它还是一个活体生物研究实验室 在这个实验室里,我们可能会找到 解决我们各种问题的答案 但首先,我们必须得保证 它们有生存的权利
Thank you. 谢谢
(Applause) (掌声)