力量与肌肉增长的科学秘密：英语精读讲义

We all have a fascination with muscles and strength, 短語搭配

我们都对肌肉和力量深感着迷，

whether we want to be stronger, feel better, or look like Superman.

无论是想变得更强壮、感觉更好，还是看起来像超人。

And there are many proposed strategies and exercise regimens to get this done. 短語搭配

为了实现这些目标，人们提出了许多方法和锻炼方案。

But what if I told you that it was out of your control 講解

但如果我告诉你，这其实不受你的控制，

and that your genetics may be entirely holding you back? 短語動詞

而且你的基因可能正彻底限制着你呢？

Conversely, what if there was a secret out there that could lead you to superhuman strength? 表達脈絡

反过来说，如果真有一个秘密能让你获得超人般的力量呢？

The truth is, your muscle size has a limit.

事实是，你的肌肉大小存在上限。

Sure, it may seem obvious when you hear it,

当然，听起来这似乎显而易见，

but your muscles are under the strict control of a protein called myostatin, 短語搭配

但你的肌肉受到一种名为肌肉生长抑制素的蛋白质严格控制，

which determines exactly how large a muscle can become. 語法

它精确决定了一块肌肉最多能长多大。

And this limit is different for everyone,

而且每个人的这个上限都不同，

depending on their myostatin levels. 語法

取决于各自的肌肉生长抑制素水平。

As a muscle reaches this limit, 語法

当肌肉达到这个上限时，

myostatin prevents any further growth. 短語搭配

肌肉生长抑制素会阻止它继续生长。

But if the myostatin itself is limited or absent,

但如果肌肉生长抑制素本身水平很低或完全不存在，

this muscle limit suddenly goes away.

这个肌肉上限就会突然消失。

This phenomenon was first noticed in Belgian Blue cattle. 文化背景

这种现象最早在比利时蓝牛身上被发现。

These cows developed two to three times more muscle mass than a normal cow, 語法

这些牛的肌肉量能达到普通牛的两到三倍，

and it was later discovered that they had a deletion of the gene GDF8, 用詞

后来人们发现，它们的GDF8基因出现了缺失，

which just so happens to create myostatin. 短語搭配

而这个基因恰好负责产生肌肉生长抑制素。

As a result, without any exercise or special diet,

因此，无需任何锻炼或特殊饮食，

these cows have incredible muscle mass.

这些牛就拥有惊人的肌肉量。

Similar cases have been documented in some dogs, mice, 用詞

一些狗和小鼠身上也记录到了类似情况，

and even a few cases of human babies lacking the GDF8 gene. 語法

甚至还有少数人类婴儿缺失GDF8基因的案例。

These findings have helped scientists understand why some people bulk up easily, 短語動詞

这些发现帮助科学家理解了为什么有些人很容易增肌，

while others struggle to. 語法

而另一些人却很难做到。

Lower levels of myostatin equals more muscle mass. 語法

肌肉生长抑制素水平越低，肌肉量就越大。

In fact, some studies have even shown that many champion bodybuilders 短語搭配

事实上，一些研究甚至表明，许多健美冠军

have naturally lower levels or even entire deletions of the myostatin gene.

天生就有较低的肌肉生长抑制素水平，甚至整个肌肉生长抑制素基因都缺失了。

If you look at somebody like Arnold Schwarzenegger,

如果看看阿诺德·施瓦辛格这样的人，

as a teen, he just looks naturally muscular.

他十几岁时看起来就天生肌肉发达。

As such, perhaps many champion bodybuilders owe their success 講解

因此，或许许多健美冠军的成功

more to genetics than to training or drug use.

更多要归功于基因，而不是训练或药物使用。

Eventually, it may be possible to develop drugs which deplete or block myostatin. 語法

未来或许能开发出可减少肌肉生长抑制素或阻断其作用的药物。

Of course, it's a double-edged sword. 習語

当然，这是一把双刃剑。

On the one hand, patients with muscular dystrophy or muscle loss from aging 表達脈絡

一方面，肌营养不良患者或因衰老而肌肉流失的人

could regrow and restore muscle.

可以重新长出并恢复肌肉。

On the other hand, the potential for abuse as performance enhancers seems inevitable. 用詞

另一方面，这类药物被滥用于提升运动表现似乎不可避免。

But the prospect of seeing a real-life human Hulk seems kind of cool. 講解

不过，想到现实中可能出现真人版绿巨人，似乎还挺酷的。

Besides, should those who already have low levels of myostatin

另外，那些肌肉生长抑制素水平本来就低的人

be considered to have an unfair advantage? 語法

是否也该被视为拥有不公平的优势呢？

It's hard to say. 語氣意圖

这很难说。

Regardless, be wary of anybody selling or promoting this unproven and unregulated treatment. 講解

无论如何，都要提防任何兜售或推广这种未经证实、未受监管疗法的人。

At the end of the day, whether you have naturally low or high myostatin levels, 習語

归根结底，无论你天生的肌肉生长抑制素水平是低是高，

remember, this is the level that is optimal for your mechanical and metabolic efficiency.

都要记住，这个水平能让你的机械效率和代谢效率达到最佳状态。

With proper exercise and general health, you'll reach your own unique physiological peak. 短語搭配

通过适当锻炼并保持整体健康，你会达到自己独一无二的生理巅峰。

And while you may not be destined to pack a punch like Superman, 講解

虽然你可能注定无法像超人那样打出威力惊人的一拳，

you can push your own limits through training and hard work. 習語

但你可以通过训练和努力挑战自己的极限。

But what if you could punch as hard as Superman?

但如果你能打出和超人一样重的一拳呢？

Our friend Jake over at Vsauce3 has the answer to this smashing superhero question,

我们在Vsauce3的朋友Jake解答了这个劲爆的超级英雄问题，

which you definitely need to check out.

你绝对要去看看。

And if you want to know how much myostatin you have,

如果你想知道自己体内有多少肌肉生长抑制素，

there's only one real way to find out. 短語動詞

真正的办法只有一个。

Get working. 語法

练起来吧。

This episode of AsapSCIENCE is supported by 23andMe. 文化背景

本期AsapSCIENCE由23andMe赞助播出。

23andMe is a DNA analysis service that allows you to explore your own genes.

23andMe是一项DNA分析服务，让你能够探索自己的基因。

Whether you're interested in discovering your global origins 語法

无论你是想探索自己的祖先来自世界何处，

or understanding your health and your risk for disease, 短語搭配

还是了解自身健康状况和患病风险，

be sure to check out 23andme.com/asap.

都别忘了访问23andme.com/asap。

With the help of their DNA kits, connect to your past,

借助他们的DNA检测套件，追溯你的过去，

learn about your present health, and potentially be part of future genetic research,

了解你现在的健康状况，还有机会参与未来的遗传学研究，

all at 23andme.com/asap.

这一切尽在23andme.com/asap。

And subscribe for more weekly science videos.

别忘了订阅，观看每周更新的更多科学视频。