作物的生长发育都有自己的“生物钟“调节机制，这来自于基因，所以对相关基因的发现，以及后续的改造可以帮助我们控制这一生长机制，从而可以使作物的耐受性改变，更加适宜于严酷的环境。意义在于，在人口不断增加的将来，作物足够人类生存需要。和托福小编一起来看今天的托福阅读材料吧!
在进行托福阅读之前，一起学习一下文章中的疑难词：
mustard n. 芥末；芥菜
molecular adj. [化学] 分子的
Exhausted adj. 疲惫的；耗尽的v. 耗尽
biological clock生物钟
yield n. 产量；收益vt. 屈服
manipulate vt. 操纵；操作；巧妙地处理
in tune with(与...)一致；(与...)协调
阅读吧!
Changing Gene in Plant Could Yield More Crops
改变植物基因可以增加产量
Plants have a "biological clock" that tells them when to produce leaves, seeds and other growth. A new study says understanding that clock may help scientists develop crops that can feed a growing population in an increasingly warmer world.
Rob McClung is a scientist at Dartmouth College. He says scientists need to create ways to feed the nearly 10 billion people who will be living on Earth by the middle of the century.
He says estimates show that there will need to be an increase in the world food supply of about 50 to 60 percent in the next thirty-five years.
"And we're worried that the things that we've done to increase agricultural productivity may be becoming exhausted."
To find new ways to increase productivity, Mr. McClung examined the biological clocks of plants. He learned that different genes in plants affect the plant's clock.
He published his findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He says he identified a gene called GIGANTEA in a common species of the plant called field mustard.
He discovered that the speed of the gene's development can affect when the plant produces. Mr. McClung says the gene also affects how the plant deals with extreme cold and high levels of salt.
"We want to be able to predict if you do this to the clock, you will do this to crop yield."
He says he hopes his research will give plant developers a molecular tool they can use to create a plant that can accept a higher level of salt or grow in a colder environment than usual.
"...we think that by manipulating the plant clock, we will be able to make plants that are better in tune with their environment and able to perform more effectively."
Experts say the current growth in the production of the world's major food crops -- corn, rice, wheat and soybeans -- will not be enough to feed the 9.5 billion people who will be living on Earth in 2050.
长难句：
1.A new study says understanding that clock may help scientists develop crops that can feed a growing population in an increasingly warmer world.
句子类型：宾语从句+定语从句
句子拆分：
主干：A new study says…
宾语从句: understanding that clock may help scientists develop crops
定语从句: that can feed a growing population in an increasingly warmer world
翻译：一项新的研究表明：了解这种“生物钟“可以帮助研究者生产出在日益温暖气候中足够供给增长人口的作物。
2.He says he hopes his research will give plant developers a molecular tool they can use to create a plant( that can accept a higher level of salt or grow in a colder environment than usual).
句子类型：宾语从句+定语从句
句子拆分：
主干：He says…
宾语从句:he hopes his research will give plant developers a molecular tool they can use to create a plant
定语从句:that can accept a higher level of salt or grow in a colder environment than usual
翻译：他表示，他希望自己的研究结果可以给生产者一种分子水平的工具来用于生产可以耐高盐或者在高寒环境生长。
文章大意：
植物有控制着生叶，产种子，以及其他生长的“生物钟”。有研究表示，了解这种控制机制可以帮助植物增产，在现在这种越来越温暖的气候。
一位科学家表示研究者们应该寻找这种可以养活本世纪中期将要达到的100亿人口的增产方式。而需要达到的是：食物供给量在接下来的35年年间应该提高50%-60%。
为了寻找增产方式，他研究了影响植物生长调节“生物钟”的基因。
在田荠菜中发现一种命名为GIGANTEA的基因。它会影响植物生长以及耐冷和耐盐性。
我们想要达到的是对基因改动可以影响产量。
他表示，他希望自己的研究结果可以给生产者一种分子水平的工具来用于生产可以耐高盐或者在高寒环境生长。
“我们认为，通过对这种生长调节机制的控制，可以生产更加适应环境的作物，并增产。
专家表示世界的主要粮食作物对于在2050年会达到的95亿人口是不足的。
文章架构：
第1段：提出主题：研究者发现调节作物生长的“生物钟“，并认为对它的控制可以达到提高作物产量的效果。
第2-4段：一位研究者提出这种研究的目的和急切性所在。
第5-10段：研究的具体过程及发现。
第11段：专家表示世界的主要粮食作物对于在2050年会达到的95亿人口是不足的。
以上就是我们今天的托福阅读文章及分析，希望大家可以学到相应的托福阅读背景知识。前程百利祝大家都能取得理想的托福考试成绩。
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