China uses DNA to analyze 4000-year sheep fossil

时间：2006-09-16 07:10:17

（单词翻译:单击）

Chinanews, Zhengzhou, Sept. 15 – Yuan Jing, a researcher from the Archeological Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, recently said that in the first-phase study on the exploration of ancient Chinese civilization, they had used DNA1 technology to analyze2 the sheep’s fossil bones discovered in Taosi and Erlitou relic3 sites. This is the first time that scientists applied4 DNA technology to study the bones of sheep that lived 4,000 years ago.

 

By studying the 50,000 animal bone fossils discovered in Wangchenggang, Xizhai, Taosi, and Erlitou, scientists had grasped an overall picture of animal raising industry in central China region between 2500 B.C. and 1500 B.C.

 

During this period, people in this region continued to get meat by raising domestic animals. However, while pigs were still the dominant5 domestic animal for people to get meat, other animals, such as ox and sheep, had also been introduced in animal raising industry.

 

Apart from serving as a major meat source, sheep had played an important role in human’s religious ceremonies in the social development process that followed.

 

In the isotope6 analysis applied to human bone remains7 unearthed8 in Er’litou, Xinzhai and Taosi, scientists found that in ancient people’s dietary structure, the food that different people ate contained different nutrition elements, which was probably the result of the hierarchical system in the period under review.

 

At present, DNA testing can provide part of the information that scientists need to make their conclusions. Scientists find that as a domestic animal, sheep appeared in ancient China all of a sudden, and they might be brought to China as a result of cultural exchange activities between the East and the West. The DNA testing applied to sheep bones might provide some information needed to confirm the existence of such cultural exchanges.

 
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1 DNA 4u3z1l     
(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸
参考例句：
  • DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
  • Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。
2 analyze RwUzm     
vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)
参考例句：
  • We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
  • The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。
3 relic 4V2xd     
n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物
参考例句：
  • This stone axe is a relic of ancient times.这石斧是古代的遗物。
  • He found himself thinking of the man as a relic from the past.他把这个男人看成是过去时代的人物。
4 applied Tz2zXA     
adj.应用的；v.应用，适用
参考例句：
  • She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
  • This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
5 dominant usAxG     
adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因
参考例句：
  • The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
  • She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。
6 isotope isotope     
n.同位素
参考例句：
  • The isotope ratio is directly used for comparing oils or gases.同位素比率直接用于比较各种石油或天然气。
  • How to apply a radio isotope?如何运用放射性同位素？
7 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
8 unearthed e4d49b43cc52eefcadbac6d2e94bb832     
出土的（考古）
参考例句：
  • Many unearthed cultural relics are set forth in the exhibition hall. 展览馆里陈列着许多出土文物。
  • Some utensils were in a state of decay when they were unearthed. 有些器皿在出土时已经残破。

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