Durian
Durian,榴槤。提到這種水果,愛的愛死,恨的恨死。榴槤為何那麼臭?近日,由新加坡、馬來西亞和中國香港的科學家組成的研究小組發現,durian,榴槤的基因中含有一種易揮發的硫化合物,這是導致其氣味重的主要原因。在未來,如果科學家進行基因改造,那麼我們將會吃到沒有臭味的榴槤。不過此研究一出,不少榴槤愛好者急了,如果榴槤聞起來吃起來都沒味道,那還是durian,榴槤嗎?那就像沒有靈魂的人體一樣,只是一具空殼。你看看,這還上升到了哲學和道德層面了。真的不明白,這榴槤到底怎麼好?
部分外媒報導:
One of nature's smelliest secrets may have been revealed, thanks to a dedicated team of durian-loving scientists in Singapore.
新加坡一組喜愛榴槤的科學家潛心研究,揭開了大自然中一種最難聞氣味的奧秘。
Researchers have found an odour gene which gives the thorny fruit its notoriously pungent scent.
研究人員發現,一種氣味基因讓榴槤這種多刺水果散發出大家都知道的那種難聞氣味。
The discovery meant the possibility of creating "odourless or milder-tasting" fruits in future, the scientists said.
科學家們表示,這一發現意味著將來有可能培育出「無氣味或口味較淡」的榴槤。
It has sparked mixed feelings from durian aficionados, who worship its signature rank smell.
榴槤愛好者對此反應不一,榴槤標誌性的難聞氣味正是他們所推崇的。
"A durian without its smell is nothing but an empty shell with no essence," wrote Singaporean Richie Liang on Facebook, who also compared "a durian without its unique smell" to "a human being who has lost his or her soul".
新加坡人裡奇•梁在臉書上寫道:「喪失氣味的榴槤將只是一個沒有精華的空殼。」他還把「失去獨特氣味的榴槤」比作「失去靈魂的人」。
After three years of research, privately funded by a group of anonymous durian lovers, the five-man team of cancer scientists now have a complete genetic map of the fruit, a world first.
該研究項目由一些匿名的榴槤愛好者資助。五名癌症科學家在三年研究後繪製出了完整的榴槤基因圖譜,屬世界首創。
The researchers said the durian's distinctive odour served an important purpose to it in the wild: helping to attract animals to eat it and disperse its seeds.
研究人員稱,榴槤的獨特氣味在野生環境中有著重要用途:吸引動物將它吃掉,然後把它的種子傳播出去。
The fruit is loved and loathed in equal measure. Eating durian is banned in many outdoor spaces throughout Singapore and carrying it is prohibited on public transport because of its smell.
對榴槤,有人喜愛也有人厭煩。新加坡的很多室外場所禁止吃榴槤,由於其難聞的氣味,乘坐公共運輸工具時也禁止攜帶榴槤。
Odours aside, the durian's ancestry was also revealed, believed to be dating back an estimated 65 million years to the cacao plant.
除了氣味,研究人員還揭示了榴槤的祖先,據稱它可追溯到大約6500萬年前的可可植物。
Zachary Tay hilariously summed up this revelation: "So we're basically eating chocolate."
扎卡裡•泰幽默地總結說:「所以我們吃的其實是巧克力。」