Stormy weather approaches UK ()

approach (V) 逼近 (n) 路徑、途徑

Gale (n) 強風 Hurricane (n) 颶風

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/about/24686154

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Scientists are starting to understand how our genes influence the way we look. A study
with mice has shown that small changes to their DNA could alter the shape of their face.
The findings are published in the journal Science. The BBC's Rebecca Morelle reports:

This study helps to explain how one person's face can look so different from another's.
Scientists have identified thousands of sequences in our DNA that influence our
appearance as we develop in the womb.

By looking at mice, they found that removing some of this genetic material subtly
altered the rodent's appearance. In some, the modified DNA led to a longer or shorter
skull, while others had wider or narrower faces. The researchers say that although the
work was carried out on animals, the human face is likely to develop in the same way.

Dr Axel Visel, from the Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory in California led the study.
"We are trying to find out how the instructions for building the human face are
embedded in the human DNA, so somewhere in there, there must be that blueprint
that defines what our face looks like."

The researchers say understanding this complex process could also help to reveal how
facial birth defects - such as cleft lips and palates - arise.

Vocabulary and definitions

identified recognised
subtly altered made very small changes to
carried out performed, did
embedded combined with, made part of
blueprint full and detailed plan
birth defects abnormalities that people are born with

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/10/131025_witn_face.shtml

Related story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24654707

genetic (adj) 遺傳 ; appearance(n) 外表、出現 ; womb (n) 子宮

subtly 巧妙地 ; alter (V)改變 ;perform(V) 執行、演出 (carried out 執行)

sequence (sequences ) (n) 序列 ; skull 骨頭

http://www.wretch.cc/blog/MyCambridge/22917364 as 介紹