科学家说：这些基因变异真的能给你超能力

文◎LYDIA RAMSEY|

你的遗传信息有99%以上都与世界上的其他所有人一模一样。但是正因为那不足1%的不同使一切变得有趣。特定的遗传性变异使我们中的一些人获得了某些“超”能力。

hDEC2，变身超级短眠者

一些人天生就可以每晚只睡4个小时依然觉得精力充沛。这些人被称为“短眠者”。研究人员相信，这种能力基本上是与特定的基因突变有关，并且研究人员也已公开说明其中一种就是hDEC2基因。

More than 99 percent of your genetic information is exactly the same as every other person on the planet. But it's in that less than 1 percent that things get interesting. Specific genetic variations①variation 英 [veərɪ'eɪʃ(ə)n] 美 [,vɛrɪ'eʃən] n. 变化；变异allow some of us to acquire certain "super"qualities.

扫我，朗读给你听

▲HDEC2 and the super-sleeper mutation Some people naturally feel totally energised②energise 英 ['enədʒaɪz] 美 vt. 供给……能量；使精力充沛on just 4 hours of sleep each night. These people are called "shortsleepers". For the most part, researchers believe that the capabilities are connected to specific genetic mutations, and have publicly identified one on the hDEC2 gene.

▲TAS2R38 and the supertaster variant About a quarter of the population tastes food way more intensely than the rest of us. These "super tasters" are more likely to put milk and sugar in bitter coffee, or avoid fatty③fatty英 ['fætɪ] 美 ['fæti] adj. 脂肪的；肥胖的；多脂肪的；脂肪过多的foods. The reason for their reaction, scientists think, is programmed into their genes, specifically one called TAS2R38,the bitter-taste receptor gene.

▲LRP5 and the unbreakable④unbreakable 英 [ʌn'breɪkəb(ə)l] 美 [ʌn'brekəbl]adj. 牢不可破的；不易破损的mutation Researchers have identified a genetic mutation on the LRP5 gene that regulates bone-mineral density⑤density 英 ['densɪtɪ] 美 ['dɛnsəti] n. 密度, which can cause brittle bones. But a different type of mutation on the same gene could also have the opposite effect, giving some people extremely⑥extremely 英 [ɪk'striːmlɪ; ek-] 美 [ɪk'strimli]adv. 非常，极其；极端地dense bones that are practically unbreakable.

▲BDNF and SLC6A4 and the super coffee-drinker variants

There are at least six genes associated with how your body processes caffeine. Some variants, near the genes BDNF and SLC6A4, infl uence the rewarding effects of caffeine that make you want to drink more.

TAS2R38，变身超级品味家

约四分之一的人在品尝食物的时候，会比我们其他人觉得食物的味道更浓烈。这些“超级品味家”更可能会在苦咖啡中加牛奶和糖，或避免油腻性的食品。科学家认为，他们这种反应的原因是这种特性被编入基因中，特别是一种被称为TAS2R38的苦味感受基因。

LRP5，变得坚不可摧

研究人员已确定LRP5基因的遗传突变会调整骨密度，而这会使骨骼易碎。但相同基因不同的遗传突变也会有相反的效果，使一些人的骨密度大大增加，并使其骨骼变得坚不可摧。

BDNF和SLC6A4，变身咖啡狂热者

至少有六种基因会参与处理你身体里的咖啡因。BDNF和SLC6A4基因的一些变异会影响咖啡因的有益功效，使你想喝更多咖啡。