韓國大學證實世界首例克隆狼 (South Korean University Confirms World's First Wolf Clones)

韓國一家名牌大學證實，該大學的一個研究小組的確培育出世界首例克隆狼，從而結束了針對這個小組篡改數據的指稱進行的數星期調查。

首爾國立大學的一個專家小組星期五證實，研究人員沒有有意篡改數據，只是在撰寫有關克隆狼的研究論文中犯了一些簡單錯誤。這個克隆狼小組由李柄千領導，他們在2005年10月宣布克隆出兩條母狼。一些科學家指稱，3月出版的論文含有虛假DNA數據。李柄千承認有數據錯誤，并保證改正。

A top South Korean university has confirmed that a team of its researchers has created the world's first cloned wolves, ending weeks of investigation about the team's alleged manipulation of data.

A panel from Seoul National University confirmed Friday that researchers did not intentionally manipulate data, but made some basic mistakes in writing the research paper on the cloned wolves. The team of scientists, led by Lee Byung-chun, announced it had cloned two female wolves in October 2005. Some scientists had alleged that the paper, published in March, contained false DNA data. Lee acknowledged the errors and vowed to correct them.

科研新發現糖尿病基因聯系 (Research Reveals New Genetic Links to Diabetes)

美國和歐洲的研究人員發現了與一種最常見糖尿病有關的一組基因。在星期四出版的美國《科學》和《自然遺傳學》雜志的若干文章中，研究人員說，他們已經確認出至少7種可以增加人類患二型糖尿病風險的新基因。科學家測試了幾個國家數萬人的DNA數據，確認出上述基因。

科學家希望，這個發現能讓他們研制新的藥物來醫療、甚至防止一些人患糖尿病。二型糖尿病患者體內不能產生足夠的胰島素或不能有效利用體內的胰導素。胰島素把人體內的糖份轉換成能量。二型尿病患者還面臨心臟病、腎衰竭、失明和截肢等多種風險。全世界目前大約有2億糖尿病患者。

Researchers in the United States and Europe have discovered a new batch of genes connected to the most common form of diabetes. In a handful of reports published Thursday in the U.S.-based journals "Science" and "Nature Genetics," the researchers say they have identified at least seven new genes that could increase a person's risk to develop Type Two diabetes. The scientists identified the genes by testing the DNA of tens of thousands of people in several countries.

Scientists hope the findings will enable them to develop new drugs to treat, or even prevent someone from developing the disease. Type Two diabetics cannot produce enough insulin, which processes sugar into energy, or cannot make efficient use of the insulin in their body. They are at risk of heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputations. About 200 million people around the world are affected by the disease.