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He and his colleagues noted parallel changes in the genes for three digestive enzymes whose job is to liberate two particular amino acids, lysine and arginine, from proteins.
他的團隊發現三種消化酶基因相似的改變，這些消化酶的作用是從蛋白質中釋放兩種特殊的氨基酸，賴氨酸和精氨酸。
Both lysine and arginine are abundant in meat, but in short supply in bamboo.
肉類中富含賴氨酸和精氨酸，而在竹子中卻很缺乏。
The team also noted parallel changes in four genes that encode proteins involved in the metabolism of two vitamins, A and B12, and of arachidonic acid, a lipid essential for bodily function.
該團隊還注意到四種變化相同的基因，這些基因編碼的蛋白質包括新陳代謝中所需的維生素A，維生素B12和機體功能必需的脂質-花生四烯酸。
All of these are scarce or non-existent in bamboo as well.
而這些在竹子中非常缺乏甚至不存在。
Exactly how the genetic changes seen alter the effectiveness of the proteins involved remains to be determined.
基因變化具體是如何改變所涉及蛋白質的有效性仍有待確定。
But the prediction would be that they enhance the availability of the nutrients in question.
但可預測的是，它們增強了討論中的營養素的可利用性。
The upshotis that the two pandas do indeed seem to have similar genetics underlying their similar peculiarities.
結論是：基于兩類熊貓的相似特性，它們確實有相似基因。
Such similarities are, admittedly, easier to find than different genetic routes to the same outcome would be.
誠然，這些相似之處比不同的基因路徑更容易找到相同的結果。
But Dr Hu has established that, at least in the case of pandas, natural selection has often taken the same paths to arrive at the same outcomes.
但是胡博士已經確定，至少在熊貓中，自然選擇通常以相同的途徑達到相同的結果。
英文文本來自經濟學人 譯文來自欄目二第五組
