離開
進入《中英對照讀新聞》Weather ’shapes human body clock’ 天氣形塑人類的生理時鐘
◎鄭寺音
Our internal body clocks are shaped by the weather as well as by the seasons, scientists have discovered. Researchers used computers to model the workings of internal biological clocks. They found the mechanism had to be so complicated because it was able to deal with varying amounts of light from hour to hour, as well as changing seasons.
科學家發現，我們的生理時鐘是受到天氣還有季節影響，研究人員使用電腦，製作生理時鐘運作的模型。他們發現，這種機制之所以必須這麼複雜，是因為它可以處理每個小時以及季節變換時不同的光線量。
It is hoped the research, led by a team from Edinburgh University, could help tackle sleep problems caused by jet lag and shift working. The researchers said the findings gave them a greater understanding of what drives the internal rhythms of people, animals and plants.
這份由愛丁堡大學團隊領導的研究，期望能有助處理時差與輪班工作造成的睡眠問題。研究人員說，這項發現讓他們更了解驅動人類、動物與植物內部節奏的原因。
Environmental signals, such as hours of daylight, affect the daily rhythms which many plants use to control flowering and ripening. The findings may also help scientists develop crops that can cope with climate change.
環境訊號，例如日照時間，影響許多植物用以控制開花與成熟的日常節奏。這項發現或許也有助科學家研發可因應氣候變遷的作物。
Dr Carl Troein, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences, said： "By better understanding why biological clocks are so complex, we stand a better chance of controlling them."
愛丁堡大學生物學院特羅茵博士說：「藉著更加了解生理時鐘為什麼這麼複雜，我們能有更好的機會控制生理時鐘。」
"Our study goes some way to explaining how and why these in-built rhythms have developed. We hope it will be useful in informing treatments for sleep disorders as well as helping scientists develop crops that can survive in the long term."
「我們的研究或多或少解釋這些內建的節奏，如何、為何發展，希望有助提供睡眠失調療法的資訊，並可協助科學家研發可長期生存的作物。」
新聞辭典
jet lag：名詞，時差。
shift：名詞，輪班。如night shift（夜班）。例句：People who work on the night shift are paid more.（上夜班的人薪水較高。）
ripen：動詞，成熟。例句：My plans are ripening-now all I need is official approval.（我的計畫漸漸成熟，現在我只需要官方認可。）
