Dec 20, 2012 Vol.

150
(by Jason Grenier, special correspondent)

A Time for Dying

Scientists from the University of Toronto and Harvard Universitys medical
school believe they may have discovered a gene that determines when a person will
die. Were not talking about the average age at which a man or woman can be
expected to diewe already know how to calculate longevity and identify certain
factors that contribute to peoples lives being longer or shorter. Instead, we are
talking about being able to predict the actual time of day when an individuals death
is most likely to occur.
There is an interesting story behind this rather startling breakthrough. The
researchers were actually doing a long-term study of the human body clockthe
internal mechanism that regulates a persons natural rhythms of sleeping and being
awake. In trying to understand why some old people have trouble sleeping, the
scientists managed to identify a gene that determines when we feel tired and when we
feel awake. In other words, the way in which these genes combine with each other
determines whether somebody is likely to be an early riser or a night owl by nature.
While it should come as no great surprise to hear that our body clocks are not all
wired the same way, the scientists were surprised by something their data showed:
the same genes that regulate our body clocks also seem to determine what time of day
we are most likely to die.
There are three possibilities for the various ways these genes combine with one
another inside the body: AA, AG, and GG. People in the study with the AA gene
variation woke up an average of one hour earlier than people with the GG gene
variation did. The AG genotype, which may account for 48% of the worlds
population, woke up midway between the AA and GG genotypes. It was found that
those with the AA or AG genotype on average died just before 11 am, whereas those
with the GG genotype died just before 6 pm.
Although these statistics dont mean much on their own, understanding how these
different gene combinations affect the body clock is very important. It can help

doctors determine the best times for certain patients to take their medications, for
maximum effect. It can also help managers to schedule work shifts to make the most
of their employees productivity, and it might even help international air travelers to
overcome the tiredness they feel when crossing multiple time zones.
Reading Comprehension
( ) 1. What is the main idea of this passage?
(A) Ways to create the AA, GG, and AG genotypes.
(B) Gene combinations that predict the time of day a person would die.
(C) Ways to calculate the length of time a man or woman can live.
(D) Reasons why some old people become early risers.
( ) 2. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
(A) The GG genotype accounts for almost half of the worlds population.
(B) The genes that regulate our body clocks cant determine what time of
day one would die.
(C) The scientists created a gene that could determine when we feel tired or
awake.
(D) There are three gene combinations affecting the body clock greatly.
( ) 3. Based on the passage, an early riser is most likely to be a person with
________.
(A) the AA and GG genotypes
(B) the AA genotype
(C) the GG genotype
(D) the AG and GG genotypes
( ) 4. According to the passage, why are our body clocks not all wired the same
way?
(A) A persons natural rhythm of sleeping and being awake is controlled by
ones brain.
(B) Sex determines how our body clocks work.
(C) There are different gene combinations that regulate our body clocks.
(D) Age decides the gene combinations and our body clocks.
( ) 5. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ________.
(A) the average AA air traveler cant travel across multiple time zones
(B) patients with the GG genotype should take their medications before 11
am
(C) the study results may benefit a lot of people all over the world
(D) the research results have nothing to do with employees productivity
Vocabulary and Phrases
1. medical adj.

A career in the medical profession is not regarded as desirable as before because

working in hospitals usually involves long hours and high pressure.

2. gene n. [C]
Daisy inherited a gene for breast cancer from her mother. Many women in her
mothers family died of breast cancer.
3. calculate vt.
Scientists today are able to calculate the life spans of many kinds of animals and
plants.
4. longevity n. [U]
In general, people in developed countries enjoy greater longevity. That is, they live
longer than those in developing countries.
5. contribute vi.
Bad spending habits contributed to Ryans financial problems.
6. predict vt.
Paul predicted the results of the tennis matches. He already knew who would win
before each match began.
7. startling adj.
The newspaper covered the startling discovery of a British princes grave which
dates back to the 15th century in Africa.
8. breakthrough n. [C]
The breakthrough in cancer treatment is good news for those who are afraid of the
side effects of chemotherapy.
9. researcher n. [C]
These researchers used a new method of analyzing these fossils in the laboratory.
research n. [U]
do/conduct/undertake research
Tim was inspired to conduct research on living things in oases after he watched a
movie with a setting in an oasis.
research vi., vt.
The professor and his students are researching into the relationship between early
education and childrens future development.
10. long-term adj.
Hair loss may be the long-term effect of malnutrition.
11. internal adj.
ANT external
A strong blow from a car accident may cause internal bleeding because some
organs inside ones body may be severely injured.
12. mechanism n. [C] ()

Thanks to the mechanism for controlling the body temperature, one can adjust to

the change in temperature and weather.

13. regulate vt.
Breathing, pulse, and heartbeat are regulated by certain parts of the brain.
14. rhythm n. [C] ()
Work pressure has upset Jasons normal rhythm of life these days. He couldnt
sleep or eat well.
15. awake adj.
To stay awake, Ben drank cups of coffee when driving long distances.
16. in doing sth phr.
In trying to support his family, Kyle sacrificed his holidays to take a part-time job
on weekends.
17. combine vi.
This type of flu can become deadly when it combines with a certain type of virus.
combination n. [C]
We can order chicken fried rice, seafood fried rice, and curry fried rice, or any
combinations of these.
18. come as no surprise phr.
It should come as no surprise that kids prefer hanging out with their friends to
being with their parents when they turn into teenagers.
19. variation n. [C]
The rice burger served in the fast-food restaurants is a variation on the traditional
hamburger to suit the local consumers tastes.
20. account for phr. ()
High-school graduates accounted for more than 90% of the staff in this company.
21. midway adv.
SYN halfway
Feeling sick, Maggie left for home midway through the party.
22. whereas conj.
Whereas some parts of Europe were flooding, people in Australia suffered from a
long drought that year.
23. medication n. [C][U]
It is still doubtful whether it is safe to take medication for this rare disease during
pregnancy.
24. shift n. [C]
As a shift worker, Terry sleeps in the daytime and works at night.
25. make the most of sth phr.
Rick is going out on a first date with Cathy, so he is thinking about how to make

the most of the opportunity to know more about her.

26. employee adj.
These employees who are asked to take unpaid leave are the victims of the global
economic depression.
27. productivity n. [U]
To improve productivity of the factory workers, the manager came up with some
ways to help them work more efficiently and effectively.
28. overcome vt.
The baseball player still has many obstacles to overcome before he can get noticed
and come off the bench.
Words for Recognition
1. University of Toronto
1827
(Toronto
School)(global village)
(Marshall Mcluhan)

2. body clock
SYN circadian/biological clock
24

3. early riser phr.

SYN early bird
4. night owl n. [C]
5. genotype n. [C]

6. time zone
15

180 (international date line)

Translation

AAAG GGAA
GG
48% AG AA GG
AA AG 11 GG
6

1. B 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. C