Chemists have sped up evolution, harnessing a process that can take millions of years in the natural world and using it—in months or weeks—to make unusual molecules that today are used for everything from “green” biofuels(生物燃料) to cancer drugs. Today that speed and efficiency was rewarded with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Frances H. Arnold won half of the 2018 prize for directing evolution in a test tube, speeding up the natural selection of the most productive enzymes(酶) to drive chemical reactions. The other half of the prize went to George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter.
All three scientists took Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection, in which molecules(分子) or organisms accumulate mutations(突变) in a slow, random process, and figured out ways to identify and select specific mutations that improve the ability of molecules such as proteins and enzymes. By picking and choosing enzymes with improved abilities and repeatedly refining them, Arnold ended up with one that performed 256 times better than the original.
“This was a revolution based on evolution,” says Claes Gustafsson, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry. “Now you can use these enzymes to speed up reaction and to replace poisonous chemicals.”
Arnold began her line of research in the early 1990s. In a speech several years ago she said the notion of improving on the natural course of evolution was an idea that needed to come from an outsider. “Twentyfive years ago it was considered the lunatic fringe(狂热者,极端分子),” Arnold said in 2014. “Scientists didn't do that. Gentlemen didn't do that. But since I’m an engineer and_not_a_gentleman._I_had_no_problem_with_that.”
Smith's research, begun in the 1980s,used a bacteriophage(噬菌体). Genes code for proteins, and Smith got his phages to display those proteins on their outer coats. He then used antibodies to fish out the proteins he was interested in. This process is called phage display. The ability to select specific proteins, cycle their genes back through the phage, and again fish out the best ones sped up natural selection.
Winter put the genes for antibodies inside phages,got the phages to produce antibodies on their coats, and used a small molecule to fish out only antibodies that had a particular kind of binding site(结合部位), so Winter had developed a way of producing highly efficient antibodies in a short period of time. Because of this, Claes says, “Now we can use antibody drugs with greater efficiency and fewer side effects.” Of the 15 mostsold drugs on the planet, she says, 11 are now made by processes based on this method.
1.Why does the Nobel Prize in Chemistry go to Frances H. Arnold?
A. She followed Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection.
B. She found ways to use viruses to produce powerful proteins.
C. She developed a way of producing highly efficient antibodies.
D. She directed evolution and accelerated the natural selection of enzymes.
2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 imply?
A. She was regarded as a lunatic fringe.
B. She dared to break through conventional idea.
C. She took advantage of her gender(性别).
D. She was supported by other scientists.
3.What attitude does Claes Gustafsson hold towards the use of antibody drugs?
A. Critical. B. Ambiguous. C. Casual. D. Favorable.
4.What's the best title for the passage?
A. Revolution in Evolution Wins 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
B. Three Scientists Speeding up the Natural Selection of the World
C. Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection becoming outdated
D. Scientists Finding a New Method for Wresting with Cancer
高三英语阅读理解困难题
Chemists have sped up evolution, harnessing a process that can take millions of years in the natural world and using it—in months or weeks—to make unusual molecules that today are used for everything from “green” biofuels(生物燃料) to cancer drugs. Today that speed and efficiency was rewarded with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Frances H. Arnold won half of the 2018 prize for directing evolution in a test tube, speeding up the natural selection of the most productive enzymes(酶) to drive chemical reactions. The other half of the prize went to George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter.
All three scientists took Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection, in which molecules(分子) or organisms accumulate mutations(突变) in a slow, random process, and figured out ways to identify and select specific mutations that improve the ability of molecules such as proteins and enzymes. By picking and choosing enzymes with improved abilities and repeatedly refining them, Arnold ended up with one that performed 256 times better than the original.
“This was a revolution based on evolution,” says Claes Gustafsson, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry. “Now you can use these enzymes to speed up reaction and to replace poisonous chemicals.”
Arnold began her line of research in the early 1990s. In a speech several years ago she said the notion of improving on the natural course of evolution was an idea that needed to come from an outsider. “Twentyfive years ago it was considered the lunatic fringe(狂热者,极端分子),” Arnold said in 2014. “Scientists didn't do that. Gentlemen didn't do that. But since I’m an engineer and_not_a_gentleman._I_had_no_problem_with_that.”
Smith's research, begun in the 1980s,used a bacteriophage(噬菌体). Genes code for proteins, and Smith got his phages to display those proteins on their outer coats. He then used antibodies to fish out the proteins he was interested in. This process is called phage display. The ability to select specific proteins, cycle their genes back through the phage, and again fish out the best ones sped up natural selection.
Winter put the genes for antibodies inside phages,got the phages to produce antibodies on their coats, and used a small molecule to fish out only antibodies that had a particular kind of binding site(结合部位), so Winter had developed a way of producing highly efficient antibodies in a short period of time. Because of this, Claes says, “Now we can use antibody drugs with greater efficiency and fewer side effects.” Of the 15 mostsold drugs on the planet, she says, 11 are now made by processes based on this method.
1.Why does the Nobel Prize in Chemistry go to Frances H. Arnold?
A. She followed Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection.
B. She found ways to use viruses to produce powerful proteins.
C. She developed a way of producing highly efficient antibodies.
D. She directed evolution and accelerated the natural selection of enzymes.
2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 imply?
A. She was regarded as a lunatic fringe.
B. She dared to break through conventional idea.
C. She took advantage of her gender(性别).
D. She was supported by other scientists.
3.What attitude does Claes Gustafsson hold towards the use of antibody drugs?
A. Critical. B. Ambiguous. C. Casual. D. Favorable.
4.What's the best title for the passage?
A. Revolution in Evolution Wins 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
B. Three Scientists Speeding up the Natural Selection of the World
C. Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection becoming outdated
D. Scientists Finding a New Method for Wresting with Cancer
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Charles Darwin considered ______ to be the process by which evolution took place.
A.adjust | B.accompany | C.abandon | D. adaptation |
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Everyone may have a complex and different process of growing up. There are many influential factors in a person’s growth and 1. (发展) of his personality.
As for me, 2. has affected me most in my growth and personality is my family and friends, the two 3. (同等地) important factors. After I was b 4. , my family is the first surroundings. It plays a significant r5. in shaping my character because it’s the most direct source of knowledge and experience for me. As we know, those who are brought 6. in good families tend to have a good character and vice versa. Fortunately, I belong to the 7. (前者). Besides, friends in some ways influence me a lot. Although, we may have many different opinions and personalities, I have really learned something 8. (有益的) from them.
Frankly s 9. , I get lots of valuable things from my family and friends. My family offers me warmth and cares, while my friends give me strength and courage. Therefore, 10. of them have influenced me most in my growth.
高三英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析
Everyone may have a complex and different process of growing up.There are many influential factors in a person’s growth and 1. (发展) of his personality.
As for me, 2. has affected me most in my growth and personality is my family and friends, the two 3.(同等地) important factors.After I was b 4. , my family is the first surroundings. It plays a significant r 5. in shaping my character because it’s the most direct source of knowledge and experience for me.As we know, those who are brought 6. in good families tend to have a good character and vice versa.Fortunately, I belong to the 7. (前者).Besides, friends in some ways influence me a lot.Although, we may have many different opinions and personalities, I have really l 8. something beneficial from them.
Frankly s 9. , I get lots of valuable things from my family and friends.My family offers me warmth and cares, while my friends give me strength and courage.Therefore, 10. of them have influenced me most in my growth.
高三英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析
We are growing up and facing our futures. Everyone may have a complex and different process of growing up. There are many influential factors in a person’s growth and 1. (发展) of his personality.
As for me, 2. has affected me most in my growth and personality is my family and friends, the two 3. (同等地) important factors. After I was b 4. , my family is the first surroundings. It plays a significant r 5. in shaping my character because it’s the most direct source of knowledge and experience for me. As we know, those who are brought 6. in good families tend to have a good character and vice versa. Fortunately, I belong to the 7. (前者). Besides, friends in some ways influence me a lot. Although, we may have many different opinions and personalities, I have really learned something 8. (有益的) from them.
Frankly s 9. , I get lots of valuable things from my family and friends. My family offers me warmth and cares, while my friends give me strength and courage. Therefore, 10. of them have influenced me most in my growth.
高三英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析
The study suggests that the cultures we grow up _______influence the basic processes by which we see world around us.
A. on B. in C. at D. about
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The study suggests that the cultures we grow up _______influence the basic processes by which we see world around us.
A. on B. in
C. at D. about
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The study suggests that the cultures we grow up _________influence the basic processes by which we see world around us.
A. on B. in
C. at D. about
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Studies have shown that the right and left ear sound differently.
A. produce B. pronounce
C. process D. download
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Studies have shown that the right and left ear sound differently.
A. produce B. pronounce
C. process D. download
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析