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  3. Of 100 billion nerve cells in the human brain, how many form after birth? For years, the official answer was "zero". Scientists

Of 100 billion nerve cells in the human brain, how many form after birth? For years, the official answer was "zero". Scientists

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问题     Of 100 billion nerve cells in the human brain, how many form after birth? For years, the official answer was "zero". Scientists thought people were born with all the neurons they’d ever have. But from 1980s, biologists overturned that doctrine, finding a reservoir of stem cells that became fresh neurons in two parts of the brains of adult birds, monkeys and humans. Those discoveries were stunning, but the next seemed to top them all. In 1999, psychologist Elizabeth Gould reported large numbers of new nerve cells in a third of the monkey brain, hinting that the same part in humans — the neocortex, which lets us reason and remember — was regenerating, too. If she was right, scientists would have to revise almost all their ideas about human memory, and doctors might someday find a way to treat Alzheimer’s patients by simply turning on the neural-construction equipment.
    The birth of new nerve cells, or "neurogenesis", is now confirmed in the original two parts of human brain, the hippocampus and olfactory bulb. But for the neocortex, the no-neurons theory lives — and it’s just gotten major boost.
    Until December, Gould’s study stood alone and unverified. Two neuroscientists have repeated her work in Science, but not her results. Where Gould saw new nerve cells in the neocortex, Rakic and Kormack see only glial cells, the "glue" that supports neurons. But they do spot new nerve cells in the other two areas. In a January review in Nature Neuroscience, Rakic charges Gould’s work with technical problems. Focusing on what appeared to be 100 new neurons, Rakic and Kornack found that every one was merely a new glial cell hiding behind an old neuron. Gould has a cross-sectioned image from her own study that she says shows one cell marked as new — and it’s clearly a neuron. But Rakic has an answer for that, too. The method that identified the cells as "new" finds DNA synthesis, which can happen in cells that aren’t actually dividing. Rakic says Gould’s tests were too sensitive, tagging "new" neurons that weren’t. Gould responses that Rakic’s methods just weren’t sensitive enough. But even she can’t explain why that might be.
    Rakic’s study squares with the idea that memory comes not from new nerve cells but from chemicals in the spaces between old ones.
    Gould’s team are circulating response to Rakic and Kornack and recreating two studies side by side to see if small differences in methods are to blame. Others are also redoing the tests: a Japanese team’s unpublished results echoes Rakic’s, while another team’s support Gould’s.
    Meanwhile work on less controversial new neurons marches forward. Neuroscientist Fred Gage, who’s just wrapped up a study of the function of new hippocampus nerve cells, says that’s as it should be. Still, until more studies confirm Rakic and Kornack, he’ll keep a close eye on the neocortex debate.
What contribution was made by Gould to the research of nerve cells?
选项 A、Stunned the scientists.
B、Provide a way to treat Alzheimer’s patients.
C、Established the neural construction equipment.
D、If the result is right, the scientists have to change their ideas and treatment for Alzheimer’s patients may be found.
答案D
解析 细节题。本题可以定位到第一段最后一句。本题是有关Gould提出的新的观点。根据首段末句If she was right，scientists wouldhave to revise almost all their ideas about human memory．．．如果她是正确的，科学家们将修改他们关于人类记忆的看法，而医生也许只需修复神经系统就可以治愈老年痴呆症。故选D。
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