揭示睾丸的进化：新型的DNA分析显示一些哺乳动物如何将睾丸进化成体内器官 [英国媒体]

-------------译者：willdemon-审核者：龙腾翻译总管------------

The strange evolution of descending testicles has been explored using a new type of DNA analysis. 

通过一种新的DNA分析方法，睾丸下移的奇特进化特征正在被发现。

A study shows a group of modern African mammals that keep the organs inside of their bodies including manatees elephants and several species of insect-eating rodent evolved the trait relatively recently.

通过研究一系列生殖器长在体内的现代非洲哺乳动物，包括海牛、大象及其他一些以昆虫为食的啮齿类动物，此项进化特征最近才被发现。

The study solves a long-standing debate on whether ascended or descended testicles came first in mammals. 

此项研究终结了一项存在已久的争论，此争论在于探讨哺乳动物的睾丸是先上行还是先下移的。



Most modern mammals including humans keep their testicles in a scrotum to stop them overheating inside the body which would kill sperm.

大多数的现代哺乳动物，包括人类，均是将睾丸存放在阴囊内部以躲避身体内部的高热量，防止热量杀死精子。

But a group of modern mammals in Africa known as the Afrotherians keep their testicles deep inside their bodies - an oddity that has long confounded scientists.

但是一系列被称作非洲兽总目的现代哺乳动物，却将其睾丸存放在体内——此项古怪特征长期困惑着科学家。
[译注：非洲兽总目（Afrotheria）是哺乳动物下的一个分支，包含了金毛鼹科、象鼩科、马岛猬科、土豚、蹄兔目、象及海牛。]

Experts were unsure whether an ancient mammal ancestor passed ascended testicles to the Afrotherians around 100 million years ago or if the group developed the abnormal biology later on.

专家们不确定是否是哺乳类动物祖先在一亿年前将此种睾丸上行的特征遗传到非洲兽总目的，还是它们在后来才演化出此种奇特的生物特征。

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Dresden Germany investigated the evolution of testicles using a new DNA technique.

德国德累斯顿市普朗克研究所的研究者们曾通过一项新的DNA技术，来研究睾丸的进化。

Tissues break down over time making them difficult to study in ancient species but the new method gets around this by looking at the DNA of modern animals to work out the protein structure of long-extinct creatures.

器官组织随着时间推移而被分解，因此对古代生物的研究十分困难。但是此项新技术可以规避此种困难，通过观察现代动物的DNA来推算出已经灭绝动物的蛋白质结构。



-------------译者：翀翀麻麻-审核者：龙腾翻译总管------------

They focussed on two key genes known to trigger the development of a ligament that helps pull the testes downward during development.

他们专注于两个已知的关键基因，它们可以触发韧带的发育，从而能帮助睾丸在发育过程中向下移动。

In four Afrotherian species - the tenrec cape elephant shrew cape golden mole and manatee - the two genes were lost around 100 million years ago.

在四个非洲兽总目物种中——马岛猬、象鼩，金毛鼹鼠和海牛——这两个基因大约在一亿年前就消失了。

This happened around the time these species split from the common ancestor they share with the rest of the placental mammals.

这种情况发生在这些物种从它们与其他胎盘哺乳动物的共同祖先分裂的时候。

The genetic mutation that blocked the genes is different in each of the four species suggesting they developed it recently - likely between 20 and 80 million years ago.

阻断这些基因的基因变异在这四种物种中各不相同。这表明它们是最近才发展出来的——很可能是在2000万年到8000万年前。

This shows that the common ancestor of all placental mammals had descended testicles - modern animals with tests inside their bodies evolved them later on. 

这表明所有胎盘哺乳动物的共同祖先都有下移睾丸——睾丸在体内的现代动物是后面进化而来的。



Strangely the two genes were functional in two Afrotherian species - elephants and rock hyrax - and the causes of their testicular retention remain unknown.

奇怪的是，这两个基因在这两个非洲兽总目物种——大象和蹄兔中有起到功能，它们睾丸保留下来的原因仍不清楚。

Researchers said their new technique could help to resconstruct the evolutionary history of other animal body parts in future.

研究人员说，他们的新技术可以帮助在未来重新构建其他动物身体器官的进化史。

'Molecular vestiges offer an alternative strategy to investigate character ancestry' study coauthor Dr Michael Hiller said.

研究的合着者迈克尔·席勒（Michael Hiller）博士说，"分子遗迹提供了另一种调查祖先特征的策略。”

'Instead of investigating a soft-tissue structure directly one can trace the evolution of genes that are crucial for the development of this structure.'

“与直接研究软组织结构不同，人们可以追踪对这种结构发展至关重要的基因进化。”

-------------译者：H3CCH3-审核者：龙腾翻译总管------------

bzblbw, Cardiff, United Kingdom, 7 hours ago
So elephants are a more evolved mammal than man. That's put us in our place.

所以与人类相比，大象是种进化程度更高的哺乳动物。所以我们得安分点了。

Beachboy, Calahonda Spain, 7 hours ago
If you would rather have internal nuts go to the local pub and mouth off to the nearest hardmen

如果你想要体内睾丸，就去当地酒吧给离你最近的硬汉一嘴活就好。

Captain Common Sense, Hobiton, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago
This categorically proves that god doesn't exist. What intelligent being would design any animal with testicles on the outside? Absolutely stupid idea! Just saying.

这明确证明了上帝不存在。有哪个聪明人会把所有动物的睾丸都设计在体外？这主意蠢爆了！只是说说而已。

Rumann Koch, Fort Liquordale, United States, 5 hours ago
My girlfriend always gives me a test tickle to see if I'm awake.

我女朋友总是会给我一试探性撩摸来测我是不是“醒”着。

wasntMe, South East, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago
Has she got a sister?

她有姐姐/妹妹吗？

wasntMe, South East, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago
I like to keep one in and one out. Just to mix things up a bit.

我想把（蛋蛋）一个放里面、一个放外面。只是想把事情稍微搞混下。

GodsgifttoDM, Melbourne, Australia, 5 hours ago
As a woman I love playing with balls, some are small, some hang low and some are massive but the D is often smaller with massive ones. I guess a lot depends on room temperature

作为一个女人，我喜欢玩蛋，有些蛋小，有些挂得低，有大的，但是蛋大的一般屌都小些。我估计它在很大程度上取决于室内温度。

Nick12121212121212, The Tate, United Kingdom, 8 hours ago
So were they outside the body before that? So how did the reproduce before the normal manner? How did the first male suddenly find an evolved female? Also the first species needed food where did that evolve from? What came first the blood or the heart? One is usless without the other?

那么在那之前它们就是在体外的吗？那么繁衍在正常的方式出现之前是什么样呢？第一个雄性怎么才能找到一个进化好了的雌性？第一个物种也需要食物，这是从何进化出来的？血或者心脏事怎样诞生的？其中一个会因为没有另一个而变得无用吗？

-------------译者：willdemon-审核者：龙腾翻译总管------------

Steve0001 Bristol United Kingdom 8 hours ago
Put the Bible down look up the evolution of sexual reproduction.

放下圣经，仰望有性繁殖的进化吧。

Stop Scaremongering Am Timam Chad 7 hours ago
Don't listen to Steve stick to reading the bible don't bother educating yourself on the subject of evolution that way we can keep laughing at your brainless ignorance safe in the knowledge that anyone who isn't a fellow brainwashed religiot will see that you're utterly clueless and can therefore ignore your views. If any none religiots are not convinced of how clueless you are I will add that you also think that the Earth is flat LOL.

别听Steve(上面的回复）乱说，继续读圣经，别费劲去学什么进化了，这样我们就可以继续嘲笑你的无脑和无知。放心吧，只要不是被洗脑的宗教狂，都能看出你是个十足的愚货，并自然而然地忽视你的观点。如果有哪个非宗教狂还看不出你有多蠢，我会告诉他你还认为地球是方的，哈哈哈。

Marklovell748 London United Kingdom 6 hours ago
Nick he obviously believes he evolved from a rock and that rock itself came from nowhere so don't listen to him

Nick，很明显他以为他是从不知道哪来的石头里进化出来的，所以不要听他的。

Banana man Kevin Derby United Kingdom 8 hours ago
I know this is not new it has been around for some time I can tell you this is not evolution because evolution is rubbish unworkable unbelievable rubbish.

我知道这些发现不算新，它已经存在有段时间了。我可以告诉你这不算进化，因为进化就是个垃圾，完全无用、难以置信的垃圾。

liverpool wretch liverpool United Kingdom 4 hours ago
Well i suppose it better than having them hanging from your chin.

好吧，总比这东西挂在你下巴上要好。

Henry Noel Dover_Kent United States 2 hours ago
I don't mind 'em on the outside but they have a tendency to chafe my knees.

我倒是不在意它们长在体外，不过它们总是擦碰到我的膝盖。

Just a watcher Oblivion United States 5 hours ago
I am inverted ... I have evolved

我的是反的...我已经进化啦。

Jim Huddersfield United Kingdom 3 hours ago
Interesting point. I have three of the item in question and it has caused all manner of issues. I have twelve bairns and I can't fartt without her indoors producing another!

有趣的观点！讨论中的那东西我有三个，且它已经造成了各种各样的麻烦。我有12个小孩，没有她在家里继续造小人我连屁都不能放一个！