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LeeCronin_2011G-_让物质具有生命_
What I'm going to try and do in the next 15 minutes or so is tell you about an idea of how we're going to make matter come alive. 我在接下来的15分钟准备做的 就是告诉你们一个 关于人们如何让物质具有生命的理念
Now this may seem a bit ambitious , but when you look at yourself, you look at your hands, you realize that you're alive. 这理念听起来可能有些野心勃勃 可是当你看着自己,看着自己的双手 你意识到你是活着的
ambitious:adj.野心勃勃的;有雄心的;热望的;炫耀的;
So this is a start. 这便是我们理念的开始
Now this quest started four billion years ago on planet Earth. 对这种理念的探寻始于四十亿年前的地球上
quest:n.追求;寻找;vi.追求;寻找;vt.探索;
There's been four billion years of organic , biological life. 在过去的四十亿年中 生命是有机的,生物上的概念
organic:adj.有机的;不使用化肥的;绿色的;有机物的;n.分子有机体; biological:adj.生物学的;生物的;与生命过程有关的;加酶的;n.[药]生物制品;
And as an inorganic chemist , my friends and colleagues make this distinction between the organic, living world and the inorganic, dead world. 作为一名无机化学家 我的朋友和同事在 有机的,有生命的世界 和无机的,死得世界间做出了区分。
inorganic:adj.[无化]无机的;无生物的; chemist:n.化学家;药剂师;药房;化学师; colleagues:n.同事;同行(colleague的复数); distinction:n.区别;区分;差别;卓越;
And what I'm going to try and do is plant some ideas about how we can transform inorganic, dead matter into living matter, into inorganic biology . 我接下来要做的就是播种一些思想 关于我们如何能将无机的、没有生命的物质 转化为有生命的物质、转化为无机生物学。
transform:v.使改变;使改观;使转换;n.[数]变换式;[化]反式; biology:n.(一个地区全部的)生物;生物学;
So before we do that, 所以在我们开始之前,
I want to kind of put biology in its place. 我想要摆正一下生物学的位置。
And I'm absolutely enthralled by biology. 我完全为生物学而着迷。
absolutely:adv.绝对地;完全地; enthralled:adj.被迷住的;v.迷住;奴役;吸引住;(enthral的过去分词)
I love to do synthetic biology. 我喜欢合成生物学。
synthetic:adj.综合的;合成的,人造的;n.合成物;
I love things that are alive. 我爱有生命的东西。
I love manipulating the infrastructure of biology. 我喜欢研究生物学的基础领域。
manipulating:v.(暗中)控制,操纵,影响;正骨;治疗脱臼;(manipulate的现在分词) infrastructure:n.基础设施;公共建设;下部构造;
But within that infrastructure, we have to remember that the driving force of biology is really coming from evolution . 但是在基础领域里, 我们必须记得, 生物学的驱动力 事实上来自于进化。
evolution:n.演变;进化;发展;渐进;
And evolution, although it was established well over 100 years ago by Charles Darwin and a vast number of other people, evolution still is a little bit intangible . 而进化, 尽管它的理论在一百年以前就被查尔斯.达尔文 和许多其他的科学家所建立和完善 进化论依然有一点点抽象。
established:adj.已确立的;著名的;v.建立;创立;设立;(establish的过去分词和过去式) intangible:adj.无形的,触摸不到的;难以理解的;
And when I talk about Darwinian evolution, 当我谈到达尔文的进化论时,
Darwinian:adj.达尔文的;达尔文学说的;n.进化论者;
I mean one thing and one thing only, and that is survival of the fittest. 我仅仅指的是一个论点, 即适者生存。
survival:n.幸存,残存;幸存者,残存物;
And so forget about evolution in a kind of metaphysical way. 所以不要用 形而上学的方法来研究进化论。
metaphysical:adj.形而上学的;超自然的;玄学派诗歌的;
Think about evolution in terms of offspring competing , and some winning. 当想到进化时, 要从子孙后代彼此竞争, 同时产生一些赢家的角度来考虑。
offspring:n.后代,子孙;产物; competing:adj.相互冲突的;相互矛盾的;v.竞争;对抗;参加比赛;(compete的现在分词)
So bearing that in mind, as a chemist, I wanted to ask myself the question frustrated by biology: 这一点我牢记心中 作为一个化学家的我,不禁扪心自问, 这个被生物学忽视掉的问题:
bearing:n.关系;影响;姿态;举止v.承受;忍受;承担责任;(bear的现在分词) frustrated:adj.失意的,挫败的;泄气的;v.挫败;阻挠;(frustrate的过去式和过去分词)
What is the minimal unit of matter that can undergo Darwinian evolution? 什么是最小的 且能适应达尔文进化论的物质单元？
minimal:adj.最低的;最小限度的; undergo:vt.经历,经受;忍受;
And this seems quite a profound question. 这是个看起来有些深奥的问题。
profound:adj.深厚的;意义深远的;渊博的;
And as a chemist, we're not used to profound questions everyday. 作为一个化学家, 我们并不是每天都思考这样深奥的问题。
So when I thought about it, then suddenly I realized that biology gave us the answer. 所以当我考虑它的时候, 我忽然意识到, 生物学给了我们答案。
And in fact, the smallest unit of matter that can evolve independently is, in fact, a single cell -- a bacteria . 事实上,最小的 可以独立进化的物质单元, 是一个单细胞—— 细菌。
evolve:v.(使)逐渐形成;进化;进化形成; independently:adv.独立地;自立地; bacteria:n.[微]细菌;
So this raises three really important questions: 这既引出了三个十分重要的问题。
What is life? 生命是什么？
Is biology special? 生物是独一无二的吗？
Biologists seem to think so. 生物学家当然这样认为。
Biologists:n.生物学家(biologist的复数);
Is matter evolvable ? 物质是可以进化的吗？
evolvable:adj.[数]可展开的;
Now if we answer those questions in reverse order, the third question -- is matter evolvable? -- if we can answer that, then we're going to know how special biology is, and maybe, just maybe, we'll have some idea of what life really is. 现在如果我们以倒序来回答这些问题, 第三个问题——生命是可以演化的吗？ 如果我们能回答这个问题, 我们便可以知道生物学究竟有多特殊, 同时可能,仅仅是可能, 我们能够一窥生命的本质。
reverse:n.反面; v.颠倒; adj.相反的;
So here's some inorganic life. 这里有一些无机生命。
This is a dead crystal , and I'm going to do something to it, and it's going to become alive. 这是一个没有生命的晶体。 我准备在它身上加工一下, 它就会变得具有生命。
crystal:n.水晶; adj.晶莹的;
And you can see, it's kind of pollinating , germinating , growing. 你可以看到 这个过程有点像授粉、发芽和成长。
pollinating:vt.对...授粉; germinating:n.发芽;adj.发芽的;v.使发芽(germinate的ing形式);
This is an inorganic tube. 这是一个无机晶体管。
And all these crystals here under the microscope were dead a few minutes ago, and they look alive. 这些放在显微镜下的晶体, 都在几分钟前死掉了,但他们看起来依旧鲜活。
crystals:n.[晶体]晶体(crystal的复数形式);石英晶体; microscope:n.显微镜;
Of course, they're not alive. 当然,他们并非真的活着
It's a chemistry experiment where I've made a crystal garden. 这个化学实验里我制造一个晶体花园
But when I saw this, I was really fascinated, because it seemed lifelike . 但是当我看到这里,我完全被迷住了, 因为他们看起来栩栩如生。
lifelike:adj.栩栩如生的;逼真的;
And as I pause for a few seconds, have a look at the screen. 暂停一下我们看看屏幕
have a look at:看一看,看一眼;
You can see there's architecture growing, filling the void . 你们可以看到它的架构正在成长,逐渐将空白处填满。
architecture:n.建筑学;建筑风格;建筑式样;架构; void:adj.空的;无效的;无人的;n.空虚;空间;空隙;v.使无效;排放;
And this is dead. 但它没有生命。
So I was positive that, if somehow we can make things mimic life, let's go one step further. 所以我十分乐观, 如果我们可以以某种方式模拟生命, 我们未尝不能再往前走一步。
positive:adj.积极的;[数]正的,[医][化学]阳性的;确定的;n.正数;[摄]正片; somehow:adv.以某种方法;莫名其妙地; mimic:vt.模仿,摹拟;n.效颦者,模仿者;仿制品;小丑;adj.模仿的,模拟的;假装的;
Let's see if we can actually make life. 让我们看看,能不能真的制造生命。
But there's a problem, because up until maybe a decade ago, we were told that life was impossible and that we were the most incredible miracle in the universe. 但是依然存在一个问题, 因为大概在十年前 我们得知生命是不可能形成的 并且我们是宇宙中最难以置信的奇迹
incredible:adj.难以置信的,惊人的; miracle:n.奇迹,奇迹般的人或物;惊人的事例;
In fact, we were the only people in the universe. 事实上,我们是浩瀚宇宙中的 唯一生物
Now, that's a bit boring . 这有点无趣了
boring:adj.无聊的;令人厌烦的;n.钻孔;v.使厌烦;钻孔;(bore的现在分词)
So as a chemist, 作为一个化学家
I wanted to say, "Hold on. What is going on here? 我想说,“等等,怎么回事？
Is life that improbable ?" 生命真的是无法形成的吗？”
improbable:adj.不大可能的,未必确实的;不可信的;
And this is really the question. 这正是问题所在
I think that perhaps the emergence of the first cells was as probable as the emergence of the stars. 我想也许第一个细胞的形成 正如第一颗行星的出现一样
emergence:n.出现,浮现;发生;露头;
And in fact, let's take that one step further. 事实上,让我们更进一步的思考
Let's say that if the physics of fusion is encoded into the universe, maybe the physics of life is as well. 比如说 如果聚变物理学 蕴含在宇宙的编码之中 也许生命的物理学也是如此
fusion:n.融合;熔化;熔接;融合物;[物]核聚变; encoded:adj.[计]编码的;v.把…编码(encode的过去分词);
And so the problem with chemists -- and this is a massive advantage as well -- is we like to focus on our elements . 所以化学家的任务 同时也是一种巨大的优势 便是我们要将重点放在化学元素上
chemists:n.化学家(chemist的复数);药剂师; massive:adj.大量的;巨大的,厚重的;魁伟的; advantage:n.有利条件:优势:优点: elements:n.要素;基本部分;少量;一群;(element的复数)
In biology, carbon takes center stage. 在生物学领域,碳是中心
carbon:n.[化学]碳;碳棒;复写纸;adj.碳的;碳处理的;
And in a universe where carbon exists and organic biology, then we have all this wonderful diversity of life. 并且在碳 和有机生物存在的宇宙中 我们能看到这美妙的生命多样性。
diversity:n.差异(性):多样性:多样化:
In fact, we have such amazing lifeforms that we can manipulate . 事实上,我们能够掌控如此奇妙的生命形式。
manipulate:vt.操纵;操作;巧妙地处理;篡改;
We're awfully careful in the lab to try and avoid various biohazards. 实验室里,我们极其小心的 去尝试和避免各种各样的生物危害。
awfully:adv.非常;极其;
Well what about matter? 那物质方面呢？
If we can make matter alive, would we have a matterhazard? 如果我们能够赋予物质生命,我们会不会面临物质危害？
So think, this is a serious question. 所以,请认真思考一下,这个严肃的问题。
If your pen could replicate , that would be a bit of a problem. 如果你的笔能够自我复制 那确实会产生一些问题
replicate:vt.复制; vi.重复; adj.复制的; n.复制品;
So we have to think differently if we're going to make stuff come alive. 所以我们必须从不同的角度进行思考 如果我们想要赋予物质生命
stuff:n.东西:物品:基本特征:v.填满:装满:标本:
And we also have to be aware of the issues . 我们必须对可能产生的问题谨慎看待
issues:n.重要议题;争论的问题;v.宣布;公布;发出;(issue的第三人称单数和复数)
But before we can make life, let's think for a second what life is really characterized by. 但是在我们能够制造生命以前 让我们先想一想 生命的特质为何
characterized:adj.以…为特点的;
And forgive the complicated diagram. 原谅我不得不给你们看这些复杂的图表
forgive:v.原谅;免除(债务,义务等); complicated:adj.复杂的;难懂的;v.使复杂化;(complicate的过去分词和过去式)
This is just a collection of pathways in the cell. 这只是一张细胞内代谢路径的总图
pathways:n.小路;小径(pathway的复数);
And the cell is obviously for us a fascinating thing. 并且细胞对于我们而言 很明显是令人着迷的东西
fascinating:adj.极有吸引力的;迷人的;v.深深吸引;迷住;(fascinate的现在分词)
Synthetic biologists are manipulating it. 合成化学家正对细胞进行操作。
Chemists are trying to study the molecules to look at disease . 化学家正试图通过研究分子来探究疾病。
molecules:n.[化学]分子,微粒;[化学]摩尔(molecule的复数); disease:n.病,[医]疾病;弊病;vt.传染;使…有病;
And you have all these pathways going on at the same time . 并且在你体内正同时进行着这些代谢路径。
at the same time:同时;另一方面;与此同时;
You have regulation; information is transcribed; catalysts are made; stuff is happening. 你的身体可以进行调控 转录信息 制造催化剂、并产生各种机能。
catalysts:[物化]催化剂;
But what does a cell do? 但是细胞能做什么？
Well it divides, it competes , it survives. 它会分裂、彼此竞争、 最后存活下来。
competes:竞争;争夺;
And I think that is where we have to start in terms of thinking about building from our ideas in life. 我认为这是我们 创造生命的想法的 起点
But what else is life characterized by? 但是生命的特质还有哪些？
Well, I like think of it as a flame in a bottle. 我喜欢将它想象成 在瓶子里的一束火焰。
and so what we have here is a description of single cells replicating , metabolizing , burning through chemistries. 我们在图中看到的是 对单细胞 的复制、代谢 和通过化学反应燃烧的过程的描绘。
description:n.说明;形容;描写(文字);类型; replicating:n.八音阶间隔的反复音; adj.复制的; v.复制(replicate的ing形式); metabolizing:vt.使新陈代谢;使变形;vi.新陈代谢;
And so we have to understand that if we're going to make artificial life or understand the origin of life, we need to power it somehow. 因此我们必须理解 如果我们想要人工制造生命或理解生命的起源 我们必须通过某种方式提供能量。
artificial:adj.人造的;仿造的;虚伪的;非原产地的;武断的; origin:n.起源;起因;源头;出身;
So before we can really start to make life, we have to really think about where it came from. 所以在我们真正能够制造生命以前, 我们必须认真想一想它来自何方。
And Darwin himself mused in a letter to a colleague that he thought that life probably emerged in some warm little pond somewhere -- maybe not in Scotland, maybe in Africa, maybe somewhere else. 达尔文本人曾在一封给他同时的信中谈道 他认为生命可能从 一些小而温暖的池塘或其他地方演化而来 可能在苏格兰,可能在非洲 也可能在其他地方。
mused:n.沉思;冥想;vt.沉思;沉思地说;vi.沉思;凝望; emerged:v.(从隐蔽处或暗处)出现;暴露;露出真相;显现;(emerge的过去分词和过去式) pond:n.池塘;水池(尤指人工的);v.把…挖成池塘;堵(溪流)水成池;
But the real honest answer is, we just don't know, because there is a problem with the origin. 但是最坦诚的答案是,我们无从得知。 因为生命的起源依旧是个问题。
Imagine way back four and a half billion years ago, there is a vast chemical soup of stuff. 想象一下我们回到四十五亿年前, 只有一些化学物质的溶液。
chemical:n.化学制品,化学药品;adj.化学的;
And from this stuff we came. 人类从中诞生。
So when you think about the improbable nature of what I'm going to tell you in the next few minutes, just remember, we came from stuff on planet Earth. 如果你觉得接下来几分钟里我讲的内容 有些不大可能的话, 请记住 我们从地球上的物质中诞生。
And we went through a variety of worlds. 我们经历了多种多样的世界。
variety:n.多样;种类;杂耍;变化,多样化;
The RNA people would talk about the RNA world. RNA研究者谈论着RNA世界
We somehow got to proteins and DNA. 我们却不知怎么成为了蛋白质和DNA。
proteins:n.[生化]蛋白质(protein复数);
We then got to the last ancestor. 接着出现了生命的始祖。
Evolution kicked in -- and that's the cool bit. 进化开始了——这是关键。
And here we are. 然后人类出现。
But there's a roadblock that you can't get past. 但是依然存在着一个你无法逾越的障碍。
roadblock:n.路障;障碍物;vi.设置路障;
You can decode the genome , you can look back, you can link us all together by a mitochondrial DNA, but we can't get further than the last ancestor, the last visible cell that we could sequence or think back in history. 你可以解码基因组,你可以回溯往昔, 你可以将我们所有人借由一个线粒体DNA联系在一起, 但是你无法追溯到第一个生命始祖以前, 这是 我们能基因测序和追溯历史的最后一个细胞。
decode:vt.[计][通信]译码,解码;vi.从事破译工作; genome:n.基因组;染色体组; mitochondrial:adj.线粒体的; visible:adj.明显的;看得见的;现有的;可得到的;n.可见物;进出口贸易中的有形项目; sequence:n.顺序; v.按顺序排列;
So we don't know how we got here. 所以我们无从得知我们是怎么走到今天这一步的。
So there are two options : intelligent design, direct and indirect -- so God, or my friend. 我们有两个选择: 直接或间接的智能设计论—— 要么是上帝 要么是我的朋友,
options:n.选择; v.得到或获准进行选择; (option的三单形式) intelligent:adj.有才智的;悟性强的;聪明的;有智力的 indirect:adj.间接的;迂回的;非直截了当的;
Now talking about E.T. putting us there, or some other life, just pushes the problem further on. 如果说是E.T.将我们,或其他的生命放在这里, 这就将问题更推进一步。
I'm not a politician , I'm a scientist. 我不是政治家,我是一名科学家。
politician:n.政治家;(蔑)政客;(美)政治贩;
The other thing we need to think about is the emergence of chemical complexity . 我们可以思考的另外一件事, 是化学复杂度的出现。
complexity:n.复杂性;难以理解的局势
This seems most likely. 这似乎是最有可能的情形。
So we have some kind of primordial soup. 因此地球上出现了某种原始汤
primordial:adj.原始的;根本的;原生的;
And this one happens to be a good source of all 20 amino acids. 并且它碰巧是 所有20种氨基酸的最好的来源。
source:n.来源;水源;原始资料; amino:adj.氨基的;n.[化学]氨基;
And somehow these amino acids are combined, and life begins. 并且通过某种方式, 这些氨基酸彼此结合 随后生命出现。
But life begins, what does that mean? 但是生命的出现意味着什么？
What is life? What is this stuff of life? 什么是生命？形成生命的物质是什么？
So in the 1950s, 50年代,
Miller-Urey did their fantastic chemical Frankenstein experiment, where they did the equivalent in the chemical world. Miller和Urey进行了一项奇特的化学怪人试验, 在试验中他们制造出一种相同的化学环境。
fantastic:奇异的,空想的 Frankenstein:n.毁灭创造者自己之物;作法自毙的人; equivalent:adj.等价的,相等的;同意义的;n.等价物,相等物;
They took the basic ingredients , put them in a single jar and ignited them and put a lot of voltage through. 他们提取了一些基本的元素,将他们放到一个烧瓶里 随后将其点燃 并且通过了大量的电压。
ingredients:n.成分;(尤指烹饪)原料;(成功的)要素;(ingredient的复数) ignited:v.(使)燃烧,着火;点燃;(ignite的过去分词和过去式) voltage:n.电压;伏特数;
And they had a look at what was in the soup, and they found amino acids, but nothing came out, there was no cell. 他们观察溶液中出现了什么, 于是他们发现了氨基酸。 但是没有其他东西出现,并没有细胞。
So the whole area's been stuck for a while , and it got reignited in the 80s when analytical technologies and computer technologies were coming on. 因此整项研究停滞了一段时间。 直到80年代才重新开始, 正是分析技术和计算机科技正在发展的时期。
for a while:adv.片刻;暂时;一会儿;一时; reignited:vt.再次点燃;重新激起…;再点火; analytical:adj.分析的;解析的;善于分析的; technologies:n.技术;科技(technology的复数);
In my own laboratory , the way we're trying to create inorganic life is by using many different reaction formats. 在我自己的实验室里, 我们创造物及生物的方式 是通过使用许多不同的反应形式。
laboratory:n.实验室,研究室; reaction:n.反应,感应;反动,复古;反作用;
So what we're trying to do is do reactions -- not in one flask, but in tens of flasks , and connect them together, as you can see with this flow system, all these pipes. 因此我们正在做的是进行反应—— 不是在一个烧瓶中,而是在数十个烧瓶中, 并且让他们彼此相连, 正如你看见的这些流动系统一样,他们全部由管道连接。
reactions:n.反应;回应;抗拒;生理反应;副作用(reaction的复数) flasks:n.[分化]烧瓶;长颈瓶,细颈瓶;酒瓶,携带瓶; as you can see:正如你所看到的;你是知道的;
We can do it microfluidically, we can do it lithographically, we can do it in a 3D printer, we can do it in droplets for colleagues. 我们可以通过微流体或平板印刷技术进行, 也可以用3D打印机来制作, 同时我们可以让同事们在滴液中操作。
droplets:n.[流]液滴(droplet的复数);飞沫;
And the key thing is to have lots of complex chemistry just bubbling away. 而最关键的便是让一系列的化学反应 自然发生。
bubbling:v.起泡;冒泡;洋溢着(某种感情);(bubble的现在分词)
But that's probably going to end in failure, so we need to be a bit more focused. 但这也很可能以失败告终。 所也我们需要更加努力。
And the answer, of course, lies with mice. 至于答案,当然,就在老鼠身上。
This is how I remember what I need as a chemist. 这让我想起我作为一个化学家所需要的一切东西。
I say, "Well I want molecules." 我说,“我想制造分子。”
But I need a metabolism , I need some energy. 但是我需要一个新陈代谢系统,我需要一些能量。
metabolism:n.[生理]新陈代谢;
I need some information, and I need a container. 我需要一些信息,我需要一个容器。
Because if I want evolution, 因为如果我想要进化,
I need containers to compete. 我需要这些容器间彼此进行竞争。
So if you have a container, it's like getting in your car. 如果你拥有一个容器, 就像你坐在你的车里。
'"This is my car, and I'm going to drive around and show off my car." 说,“这是我的车”, “我想开着它转一转,并好好炫耀一番。”
And I imagine you have a similar thing in cellular biology with the emergence of life. 我会想在细胞生物学上 生命出现时 你也会是这样的
cellular:adj.细胞的;多孔的;由细胞组成的;n.移动电话;单元;
So these things together give us evolution, perhaps. 所以也许这些事情共同使进化发生。
And the way to test it in laboratory is to make it minimal. 并且检测它的方法便是在实验室里, 使其最小化。
So what we're going to try and do is come up with an inorganic Lego kit of molecules. 所以我们接下来要尝试 捣鼓出一个无机的乐高分子积木
come up with:提出;想出;赶上; Lego:n.乐高积木(商标名); kit:v.装备;n.成套工具;配套元件;成套设备;全套衣服及装备;
And so forgive the molecules on the screen, but these are a very simple kit. 请谅解这些屏幕上的分子, 但是它们只是一种很简单的积木。
There's only maybe three or four different types of building blocks present. 现在可能只有三到四种不同的积木。
building blocks:(儿童玩的)积木;建筑砌块;堆积木;建筑砖块;基石;
And we can aggregate them together and make literally thousands and thousands of really big nano-molecular molecules the same size of DNA and proteins, but there's no carbon in sight. 我们可以将他们组合在一起 并真实地制造出上千种 相当大的纳米分子 大小相当于DNA及蛋白质, 但是其里面不含碳元素。
aggregate:vi.集合; vt.集合; n.合计; adj.聚合的; literally:adv.按字面:字面上:确实地:
Carbon is bad. 碳并不是什么好东西。
And so with this Lego kit, we have the diversity required for complex information storage without DNA. 所以至于这个乐高积木, 我们需要它的复杂多样 来储存复杂的信息 而不需要DNA的参与。
But we need to make some containers. 但是我们仍需要制作一些容器。
And just a few months ago in my lab, we were able to take these very same molecules and make cells with them. 就在几个月前,在我的实验室, 我们可以以这些几乎相同的分子来制造细胞。
And you can see on the screen a cell being made. 并且你可以从屏幕上看到一个细胞正在被制作出来。
And we're now going to put some chemistry inside and do some chemistry in this cell. 我们准备在里面放上一些化学物质,并在细胞内进行一些化学反应。
And all I wanted to show you is we can set up molecules in membranes , in real cells, and then it sets up a kind of molecular Darwinism , a molecular survival of the fittest. 我想要展示给你的是 我们能够建立分子 并置于细胞膜上,在真正的细胞里, 它能够建立一种适用达尔文主义的分子, 一种适者生存的分子。
membranes:n.细胞膜(membrane的复数);薄膜;膜皮; molecular:adj.[化学]分子的;由分子组成的; Darwinism:n.达尔文主义;进化论;达尔文学说;
And this movie here shows this competition between molecules. 这部影片 展示了分子间的竞争
competition:n.竞争;比赛,竞赛;
Molecules are competing for stuff. 分子间为了物质而竞争
They're all made of the same stuff, but they want their shape to win. 他们都由同一种物质组成, 但他们希望以自己的形态取胜。
They want their shape to persist . 他们想让自己的形态存活下来。
persist:v.保持;持续存在;维持;顽强地坚持;
And that is the key. 那便是关键所在。
If we can somehow encourage these molecules to talk to each other and make the right shapes and compete, they will start to form cells that will replicate and compete. 如果我们能够以某种方式鼓励这些分子 彼此连通、而后形成正确的形态并彼此竞争, 他们便会开始形成 可以自我复制和竞争的细胞。
If we manage to do that, forget the molecular detail. 如果我们真的能够做到, 先别理会分子的细节。
Let's zoom out to what that could mean. 让我们把回过头来看看那意味着什么。
So we have this special theory of evolution that applies only to organic biology, to us. 我们已经了解这种狭义进化论 这种进化论只能被应用于有机生物学,我们身上
applies:v.适用;申请;运用;专心;(apply的第三人称单数)
If we could get evolution into the material world, then I propose we should have a general theory of evolution. 如果我们能够使进化进入物质世界, 我建议我们应得到一种广义进化论。
propose:v.建议;提议;求婚;打算;
And that's really worth thinking about. 这确实值得认真思考。
Does evolution control the sophistication of matter in the universe? 进化会控制 宇宙中物质的复杂多样性吗？
sophistication:n.复杂;诡辩;老于世故;有教养;
Is there some driving force through evolution that allows matter to compete? 在进化的过程中是否存在某种推动力 让物质能够彼此竞争？
So that means we could then start to develop different platforms for exploring this evolution. 因此那意味着我们能够开始 开发出不同的平台 来探索这种进化。
platforms:n.平台; v.把…放在台上; exploring:v.探索:考察:探查;(explore的现在分词)
So you imagine, if we're able to create a self-sustaining artificial life form , not only will this tell us about the origin of life -- that it's possible that the universe doesn't need carbon to be alive; it can use anything -- 所以你可以想象以下, 如果我们能够创造一种能够独立生存的人工生命形式, 这不仅能够告诉我们生命的起源—— 宇宙可能不需要碳便能存活 宇宙可以由任何元素形成
self-sustaining:adj.自立的;自谋生活的;自撑的; life form:n.生物;
we can then take it one step further and develop new technologies, because we can then use software control for evolution to code in. 我们可以更进一步的开发新的技术, 因为我们能够用软件控制 将进化译成编码。
So imagine we make a little cell. 所以想象一下我们制造了一个小小的细胞。
We want to put it out in the environment, and we want it to be powered by the Sun. 我们希望将它放在自然环境中, 我们想让它由太阳来供给能量。
What we do is we involve it in a box with a light on. 我们要做的是将它放在一个有光照的盒子里
involve:v.包含;需要;牵涉;牵连;影响;(使)参加;
And we don't use design anymore. We find what works. 我们不需要任何其他的设计,便可以知道发生了什么。
We should take our inspiration from biology. 我们应该从生物学中获取灵感。
Biology doesn't care about the design unless it works. 设计在生物学中并不重要, 除非它实用
So this will reorganize the way we design things. 所以这将重新建构 我们设计事物的方式。
reorganize:v.重新组织;改组;整顿;
But not only just that, we will start to think about how we can start to develop a symbiotic relationship with biology. 但是不仅如此, 我们会开始思考 我们要怎样在生物学中发展出一种共生关系。
symbiotic:adj.[生态]共生的;共栖的;
Wouldn't it be great if you could take these artificial biological cells and fuse them with biological ones to correct problems that we couldn't really deal with? 这不是很棒吗？ 如果你能确实得到这些人工制造的生物细胞 并将他们同生物细胞相融合 从而修正那些我们未能真正解决的问题。
fuse:n.保险丝;导火线;v.(使)融合,熔断;熔接;
The real issue in cellular biology is we are never going to understand everything, because it's a multidimensional problem put there by evolution. 细胞生物学的真正问题 在于我们从来没有试图理解过任何事情, 因为它是一个由进化产生的多维度问题。
multidimensional:adj.[数]多维的;多面的;
Evolution cannot be cut apart. 进化不能被分割开来。
You need to somehow find the fitness function. 你需要通过某种方式找到最合适的机能。
fitness:n.健康;适当;适合性;
And the profound realization for me is that, if this works, the concept of the selfish gene gets kicked up a level, and we really start talking about selfish matter. 并且于我而言,最深层的体会 在于,如果这能成功的话, 自利基因的概念会成为众矢之的 因为这些是真正的自私基因
realization:n.实现;领悟; gene:n.基因;遗传基因;遗传因子;
And what does that mean in a universe where we are right now the highest form of stuff? 在一个我们人类为最高物质形态的宇宙中 那意味着什么？
You're sitting on chairs. 你坐在椅子上。
They're inanimate , they're not alive. 椅子是没有生命的,他们不是活着的。
inanimate:adj.无生命的;无生气的;
But you are made of stuff, and you are using stuff, and you enslave stuff. 但是你是由物质组成的,并且你正在使用物质, 同时你奴役着物质。
enslave:v.使成为奴隶;奴役;使受控制;征服;
So using evolution in biology, and in organic biology, for me is quite appealing , quite exciting. 所以使用进化这个概念 在生物学领域 和有机生物学领域 对我来说是非常有说服力,非常令人激动的。
appealing:adj.吸引人的; v.呼吁; (appeal的现在分词)
And we're really becoming very close to understanding the key steps that makes dead stuff come alive. 同时我们彼此间变得十分紧密 从而理解这些 使无生命的物质具有生命的关键步骤。
And again, when you're thinking about how improbable this is, remember, five billion years ago, we were not here, and there was no life. 再一次,当你觉得这不大可能的话 别忘了,50亿年前, 地球上没有人类,没有生命。
So what will that tell us about the origin of life and the meaning of life? 所以这能告诉我们什么 关于生命的起源和含义？
For perhaps, for me as a chemist, 也许对于我一个化学家来说,
I want to keep away from general terms; 我不想仅是笼统的思考;
I want to think about specifics . 而是具体的思考这一点。
specifics:n.细节;特性(specific的复数);详情;
So what does it mean about defining life? 给生命下个定义,这意味着什么？
defining:v.解释(词语)的含义;给(词语)下定义;阐明;界定;(define的现在分词)
We really struggle to do this. 我们真的尽了最大的努力去做这件事。
And I think, if we can make inorganic biology, and we can make matter become evolvable, that will in fact define life. 我想,如果我们能够制造无机生物, 并且我们能让物质变得可以进化。 事实上我们已经能够定义生命。
define:v.定义;使明确;规定;
I purpose to you that matter that can evolve is alive, and this gives us the idea of making evolvable matter. 我的目的是告诉你们 能够进化的物质就是有生命的, 并且这给了我们制造可进化物质的灵感。
Thank you very much. 非常感谢。
(Applause) （掌声）
Chris Anderson: Just a quick question on timeline . Chris Anderson:还有一个很短的问题。
timeline:n.时间轴,时间线;大事年表;
You believe you're going to be successful in this project? 你相信你能在这个项目上取得成功吗？
When? 什么时候？
Lee Cronin: So many people think that life took millions of years to kick in. Lee Cronin:很多人认为 生命用了数百万年的时间起作用。
We're proposing to do it in just a few hours, once we've set up the right chemistry. 而我们的方法只要配置好 化学成分 几个小时就成
proposing:v.提议;建议;打算;计划;求婚;(propose的现在分词)
CA: And when do you think that will happen? CA:你认为那什么时候会发生？
LC: Hopefully within the next two years. LC:希望在接下来的两年内。
CA: That would be a big story. CA:那一定是件大事。
(Laughter) （笑声）
In your own mind, what do you believe the chances are that walking around on some other planet there is non-carbon-based life walking or oozing or something? 在你看来,你相信这件事情发生的概率是多少 当你走在其他的星球上 发现并没有碳基生命 在行走或流动着？
oozing:v.(浓液体)渗出,慢慢流出;洋溢着,充满(ooze的现在分词)
LC: I think it's 100 percent. LC:我认为是百分百可能。
Because the thing is, we are so chauvinistic to biology, if you take away carbon, there's other things that can happen. 因为关键的是,我们在生物学领域太过沙文主义, 如果你去掉碳元素,会其他的事情发生。
chauvinistic:adj.沙文主义的;盲目爱国的;
So the other thing that if we were able to create life that's not based on carbon, maybe we can tell NASA what really to look for. 所以那些其他的事情 如果我们能够创造非碳基生命, 也许我们能够告诉NASA到底要寻找什么。
Don't go and look for carbon, go and look for evolvable stuff. 不要去找碳元素,去找一下可进化的物质。
CA: Lee Cronin, good luck. (LC: Thank you very much.) CA:Lee Cronin,祝你好运。（LC:非常感谢。）
(Applause) （掌声）