Changing Gene in Plant Could Yield More Crops

Plants have a “biological clock” that tells them when to produce leaves, seeds and other growth. A new study says understanding that clock may help scientists develop crops that can feed a growing population.

植物也有“生物钟”，告诉它们何时发芽、结籽、生长。一项新的研究表明，了解该生物钟有助于科学家培育作物，以满足快速增长的人口的需求。

Rob McClung is a scientist at Dartmouth College. He says scientists need to create ways to feed the nearly 10 billion people who will be living on Earth by the middle of the century.

达特茅斯学院科学家罗伯·麦克朗表示，到本世纪中叶，地球人口将达到近100亿，科学家需要想出新方法，养活这些人。

He says estimates show that there will need to be an increase in the world food supply of about 50 to 60 percent in the next thirty-five years.“And we’re worried that the things that we’ve done to increase agricultural productivity may be becoming exhausted.”

他说，估计显示在接下来的35年，对食物供给的需求量将会增加50%到60%。“我们担心，我们增加农业生产力的方法已经日渐枯竭。”

To find new ways to increase productivity, Mr. McClung examined the biological clocks of plants. He learned that different genes in plants affect the plant’s clock.

为了寻找增加生产力的新方式，麦克朗先生对植物的生物钟进行了检测。他发现植物中不同的基因将会影响植物的生物钟。

He published his findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He says he identified a gene called GIGANTEA in a common species of the plant called field mustard.

他将发现发表在《美国科学院学报》上。他表示他已经在一种称作荠菜的普通物种里发现了基因GIGANTEA。

He discovered that the speed of the gene can affect when the plant produces. Mr. McClung says the gene also affects how the plant deals with extreme cold and high levels of salt.

麦克朗表示，基因对植物何时生长会产生影响。麦克朗先生说基因还会影响植物的抗寒性、抗旱性以及抗盐碱性。

He says he hopes his research will give plant developers a molecular tool they can use to create a plant that can accept a higher level of salt or grow in a colder environment than usual.

麦克朗希望自己的研究能够为植物种植者提供一项分子工具，利用该分子工具使得植物能够在盐碱地以及寒冷环境下生存。

“…we think that by manipulating the plant clock, we will be able to make plants that are better in tune with their environment and able to perform more effectively.”

“通过支配植物的生物钟，我们能够让植物更好的适应环境，并能更加高产。”

Experts say the current growth in the production of the world’s major food crops -- corn, rice, wheat and soybeans -- will not be enough to feed the 9.5 billion people who will be living on Earth in 2050.

专家表示，到2050年，地球居民将会达到95亿，以目前世界主要的粮食作物——玉米、大米、小麦及大豆——的生产速度，是不足以养活这些人口的。

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来源:华尔街日报英文网爱语吧作者:Monica