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The study of genes has shown that every individual is genetically unique, and this discovery leads to a host ofquestions as to the relationship between an individual's genesand environmental factors such as diet.
由對基因的研究人們得出結論，每個人從遺傳學的角度來看都是獨一無二的。這一結論引出了一大堆的問題，例如人體基因與環境因素之間的關系。
That is, how does diet interact with one's genetic make-up to affect one's health?
換句話說，飲食是如何與人體的基因相互作用，從而影響到人們的身體健康？
This is the primary concern of nutrigenomics.
這是營養基因組學關注的核心問題。
It is the study of how different foods interact with particular genes, affecting howthese genes act or altering their structures.
營養基因組學是研究不同的食物是如何與特定的基因相互作用，進而影響這些基因的活動以及結構轉變的科學。
Specifically, nutrigenomics is concerned with how chemicals in different foods can interact withparticular genes to increase the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease,and some cancers.
特別要說明一點，這門科學關注的問題是:不同食物中的化學物質是如何與特定的基因作用來增加人體患病的風險的，這些疾病可能是2型糖尿病、肥胖癥、心臟病和一些癌癥。
Nutrigenomics dictates that understanding how dietary chemicals regulate different genes will leadto individualized nutrition, the ability to design diets catered to one's specific genetic make-up.
在營養基因組學研究中，如果了解膳食化合物如何影響不同的基因，便可以研究出個性化營養方案，還可以根據一個人特定的基因構造來制定日常飲食計劃。
For example, the food pyramid developed by the USDA assumes that all Americans are the sameand have the same dietary needs.
比如說，由美國農業部發布的食物金字塔，我們可以做出假設：所有的美國人都是一樣的，人們有著同樣的飲食需求。
Of course, the truth is that we're not.
當然，事實并非如此。
A lucky few of us can consume high fat diets and yet not develop heart disease, while others onmoderate fat diets may develop heart disease.
只有少數的幸運兒才可能在攝入高脂肪的食物后不患上心臟病，很多人就算食物脂肪含量適中也可能患上心臟病。
Perhaps one day our doctors will read our DNA and take into account our genotype along withother environmental factors such as our physical activity.
也許某一天，我們的醫生能解讀我們的DNA，同時將各人的基因型及其他的環境因素考慮在內。
They may then prescribe usindividualized diets, designed to match our unique nutritional needs.
其后，再根據各人獨特的營養需求開出個性化的飲食規定。
This way, diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's may actually be slowed down or evenprevented.
這樣一來，像癌癥、老年癡呆這樣的病的患病率就可能有所降低，甚至是得到預防！
