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PaulKnoepfler_2015X-_订制婴儿进退两难的道德问题_
So what if I could make for you a designer baby ? 如果我可以幫你做出一个订制婴儿,那会发生甚么事？ 那政府很有可能会强制他们的市民
what if:如果…怎么办? designer baby:n.定制婴儿;
What if you as a parent-to-be and I as a scientist decided to go down that road together? 要是身为父母的你, 与身为科学家的我决定一起合作完成呢？
What if we didn't? 要是我们没这样做呢？
What if we thought, "That's a bad idea," 如果我们认为「订制宝宝不对」,
but many of our family, friends and coworkers did make that decision? 但我们的家人、朋友、同仁 很多人却做了那个决定,那又会如何呢？
coworkers:n.同事;合作人;(coworker的复数形式)
Let's fast-forward just 15 years from now. 让我们快进到 15 年之后,
fast-forward:n.快进功能;adj.进展迅速的;vi.快进;vt.使快进;
Let's pretend it's the year 2030, and you're a parent. 假设现在是 2030 年, 你已经为人父母,
You have your daughter, Marianne, next to you, and in 2030, she is what we call a natural because she has no genetic modifications . 坐在你旁边的是你女儿,玛丽安, 2030年,我们称她为自然人 因为她没有被基因改造过,
genetic:adj.基因的;遗传学的; modifications:n.修改;改进;改变;(modification的复数)
And because you and your partner consciously made that decision, many in your social circle, they kind of look down on you. 而因为你和你的另一半所做的决定, 使你在很多社交场合中,让人有点瞧不起你。
consciously:adv.自觉地;有意识地;
They think you're, like, a Luddite or a technophobe . 他们认为你是个反对新科技或排斥科技产品的人。
Luddite:n.鲁德分子;强烈反对提高机械化和自动化者; technophobe:n.技术恐惧者;
Marianne's best friend Jenna, who lives right next door, is a very different story. 你女儿最好的朋友珍娜,就住在你家隔壁, 完全是另一回事。
She was born a genetically modified designer baby with numerous upgrades . 她是一个基因改造宝宝,而且升级了很多功能。
genetically modified:adj.(植物等)遗传修饰的; numerous:adj.许多的,很多的; upgrades:n.[计]升级; v.[计]升级(upgrade单三形式);
Yeah. Upgrades. 是的,升级。
And these enhancements were introduced using a new genetic modification technology that goes by the funny name CRISPR, you know, like something's crisp , this is CRISPR. 而这些改造,是经由一种 全新的基因改造技术所完成, 它有一个好笑的名称,叫做「CRISPR」, 有点像脆薯的感觉,
enhancements:n.增强,增强功能(enhancement的复数形式); technology:n.技术;工艺;术语; crisp:adj.脆的;新鲜的;易碎的;v.使卷曲;使发脆;n.松脆物;油炸马铃薯片;
The scientist that Jenna's parents hired to do this for several million dollars introduced CRISPR into a whole panel of human embryos . 珍娜父母亲聘请科学家来做这件事情 需要花他们数百万美元, 因为他们要在一整盘的胚胎上使用 CRISPR 技术,
panel:n.镶板;仪表盘;钣金;(衣服上的)镶条;v.镶板(用木或玻璃板等镶嵌或装饰); embryos:n.胚;胚胎;人类胚胎;(embryo的复数)
And then they used genetic testing, and they predicted that that little tiny embryo, Jenna's embryo, would be the best of the bunch . 且之后还要进行基因檢测, 并确定筛选出来的小胚胎,珍娜的胚胎, 会是当中最棒的一个。
predicted:v.预言;预告;预报;(predict的过去分词和过去式) bunch:n.群;串;突出物;vi.隆起;打褶;形成一串;vt.使成一串;使打褶;
And now, Jenna is an actual, real person. 现在,珍娜长大了,
She's sitting on the carpet in your living room playing with your daughter Marianne. 她坐在你家客厅的地毯上, 跟你女儿玛丽安一起玩。
carpet:n.地毯;v.用地毯铺(房间的)地板; living room:n.客厅;起居室;
And your families have known each other for years now, and it's become very clear to you that Jenna is extraordinary . 你们双方家庭认识好几年了, 你们都很清楚, 珍娜相当优秀。
extraordinary:adj.非凡的;特别的;离奇的;临时的;特派的;
She's incredibly intelligent . 她聪明绝顶。
incredibly:adv.难以置信地;非常地; intelligent:adj.有才智的;悟性强的;聪明的;有智力的
If you're honest with yourself, she's smarter than you, and she's five years old. 如果你够自觉的话,她的确比你聪明, 而且她才五岁。
She's beautiful, tall, athletic , and the list goes on and on . 她长得很漂亮、身材高挑,又有运动细胞, 还有一大堆说不完的优点。
athletic:adj.健壮的;体育运动的;田径运动的 on and on:继续不停地;
And in fact, there's a whole new generation of these GM kids like Jenna. 实际上,到时候整个世代 会像珍娜一样,都是基改小孩。
And so far it looks like they're healthier than their parents' generation, than your generation. 到时候,他们看起来 似乎比他们父母那个世代的人更健康, 比你这个世代的人更健康。
And they have lower health care costs. 而且他们的医疗照顾成本也比较低,
health care:n.卫生保健;
They're immune to a host of health conditions, including HIV/AIDS and genetic diseases . 他们在健康条件方面,对疾病是免疫的, 包括爱滋病及其它基因上的疾病。
immune:adj.免疫的;免于…的,免除的;n.免疫者;免除者; diseases:n.[医]病(disease的复数);[医]疾病;[植保]病害;疾病种类;
It all sounds so great, but you can't help but have this sort of unsettling feeling, a gut feeling , that there's something just not quite right about Jenna, and you've had the same feeling about other GM kids that you've met. 听起来相当完美, 但你难免会有一种不安的感觉。 一种觉得珍娜好像不太对劲的直觉, 而且你对其他你遇到的基改小孩都有同样的感受。
unsettling:adj.使人不安的;(消息)扰乱的;v.动乱不定;心绪不宁(unsettle的现在分词) gut feeling:直觉;
You were also reading in the newspaper earlier this week that a study of these children who were born as designer babies indicates they may have some issues , like increased aggressiveness and narcissism . 那个礼拜稍早,你读到了一篇新闻, 一篇有关于基因改造小孩的研究, 研究指出他们可能有一些状况了, 像是越来越好斗、自恋。
indicates:v.表明指示,显示;(indicate的第三人称单数) 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) aggressiveness:n.攻击性;侵犯;进取精神; narcissism:n.[心理]自恋,自我陶醉;
But more immediately on your mind is some news that you just got from Jenna's family. 但你脑袋立刻想到的是... 你从珍娜家人那边听到的事情。
She's so smart, she's now going to be going to a special school , a different school than your daughter Marianne, and this is kind of throwing your family into a disarray . 珍娜很聪明, 她准备上特殊学校, 不同于你女儿的学校, 这件事让你的家人陷入一场混乱。
special school:n.特殊学校(为有身体障碍或学习障碍的儿童设立); disarray:n.无秩序;杂乱;衣冠不整;vt.使混乱;弄乱;使脱去衣服;
Marianne's been crying, and last night when you took her to bed to kiss her goodnight, she said, "Daddy, will Jenna even be my friend anymore?" 玛丽安一直哭, 昨晚妳跟女儿在床上道晚安时, 她问你:「爸爸,珍娜不会再跟我做朋友了吗？」
So now, as I've been telling you this imagined 2030 story, 虽然,我现在说的是2030年想像出来的场景,
I have a feeling that I may have put some of you into this sci-fi frame of reference . Right? 我在想,各位是不是觉得我所说的 像是一种科幻情节,对吧？
sci-fi:n.科幻小说(等于sciencefiction); frame of reference:n.(影响人理解和判断事物的)信仰;
You think you're reading a sci-fi book. 一种好像在读科幻小说一样的感觉。
Or maybe, like, in Halloween mode of thinking. 或者,像是万圣节前夕的场景。
Halloween:n.万圣节前夕
But this is really a possible reality for us, just 15 years from now. 但从现在起15年内, 以上是真的有可能发生的。
I'm a stem cell and genetics researcher and I can see this new CRISPR technology and its potential impact . 我是一位干细胞基因研究人员, 我已经可以看到 CRISPR 这项新技术 它潜在的引响力。
stem cell:干细胞; genetics:n.遗传学; potential:n.潜能;可能性;[电]电势;adj.潜在的;可能的;势的; impact:n.影响;效果;碰撞;冲击力;v.挤入,压紧;撞击;对…产生影响;
And we may find ourselves in that reality, and a lot will depend on what we decide to do today. 而我们人类也许可以在那个实境当中找到自己, 而这取决于我们今天所做的决定。
And if you're still kind of thinking in sci-fi mode, consider that the world of science had a huge shock earlier this year, and the public largely doesn't even know about it. 如果你还在想,这有点科幻, 思考一下今年稍早科学界发生的重大事件, 大部分的人都不知道这件事,
largely:adv.主要地;大部分;大量地;
Researchers in China just a few months ago reported the creation of genetically modified human embryos. 几个月前,中国的研究人员, 发表了他们已经创造出人类基改胚胎。
creation:n.创造,创作;创作物,产物;
This was the first time in history. 这是史上第一次。
And they did it using this new CRISPR technology. 他们就是运用 CRISPR 这项技术。
It didn't work perfectly, but I still think they sort of cracked the door ajar on a Pandora's box here. 虽然做得不怎么完美, 但我在想,他们已经掀开了潘朵拉盒的秘密了。
cracked:adj.疯狂;破裂的;有裂纹的;v.破裂;裂开;断裂;(crack的过去分词和过去式) ajar:adj.半开的;微开的;不和谐的;adv.半开地;微开地;不协调地;
And I think some people are going to run with this technology and try to make designer babies. 我认为已经有人要用这项技术 尝试做出订制婴儿。
Now, before I go on, some of you may hold up your hands and say, "Stop, Paul, wait a minute. 在我继续说明之前,你们有些人可能会想举手说, 「停,保罗,等一下...
Wouldn't that be illegal ? 这不是不合法的吗？
illegal:adj.不合法的;非法的;n.非法移民;非法劳工;
You can't just go off and create a designer baby." 你不能不管法律,执意要做这件事吧？」
And in fact, to some extent , you're right. 没错,在某种程度上,你是对的。
extent:n.程度;范围;长度;
In some countries, you couldn't do that. 有些国家,你确实不能做。
But in many other countries, including my country, the US, there's actually no law on this, so in theory, you could do it. 但有很多国家,包括我的国家,美国, 实际上根本都还没有相关的法律规范,所以理论上,你可以做。
And there was another development this year that resonates in this area, and that happened not so far from here over in the UK. 今年,在这个领域有另外一个重要的事件发生, 这件事就发生在离这儿不远的英国。
resonates:vt.共鸣;共振;vi.共鸣;共振;
And the UK traditionally has been the strictest country when it comes to human genetic modification. 英国传统上是个非常严谨的国家, 一旦涉及到有关人类的基改问题,
traditionally:adv.传统上;习惯上;传说上;
It was illegal there, but just a few months ago, they carved out an exception to that rule. 在英国,是不合法的, 但就在几个月前, 他们在这条规则上增订了一条豁免条款。
carved:v.雕刻;刻;把(熟肉)切成块;(carve的过去分词和过去式) exception:n.例外;异议;
They passed a new law allowing the creation of genetically modified humans with the noble goal of trying to prevent a rare kind of genetic disease. 他们通过了一条新的法律, 有条件允许制造基改人类, 只要你有预防类似罕见基因疾病这样的崇高目的。
noble:adj.高尚的;贵族的;惰性的;宏伟的;n.贵族;
But still I think in combination these events are pushing us further towards an acceptance of human genetic modification. 但我依然认为,这些综合事件, 目的都是要强迫我们接受 人类的基因改造。
combination:n.结合;组合;联合;[化学]化合; acceptance:n.验收;接受;认可;承认;
So I've been talking about this CRISPR technology. 我一直在谈 CRISPR 技术。
What actually is CRISPR? 那 CRISPR 到底是甚么？
So if you think about the GMOs that we're all more familiar with, like GMO tomatoes and wheat and things like that, this technology is similar to the technologies that were used to make those, but it's dramatically better, cheaper and faster. 如果你想像一下我们都孰悉的基改生物, 像是基改的番茄、小麦, 等等类似的东西, 这项技术的原理 就跟我们制造基改食物的技术类似, 但它表现得更好, 更便宜、更快速。
familiar:adj.熟悉的;常见的;亲近的;n.常客;密友; technologies:n.技术;科技(technology的复数); dramatically:adv.戏剧地;引人注目地;adv.显著地,剧烈地;
So what is it? 那它的原理是甚么？
It's actually like a genetic Swiss army knife . 它有点像是瑞士基因军用刀。
Swiss army knife:n.瑞士军刀;万能的方法;
We can pretend this is a Swiss army knife with different tools in it, and one of the tools is kind of like a magnifying glass or a GPS for our DNA, so it can home in on a certain spot. 我们假装它就是瑞士军用刀, 里面有各种不同的工具, 其中一个工具像是放大镜, 或是说我们 DNA 的导航器, 它可以导引到某个特定的 DNA 位置片段。
magnifying glass:n.放大镜;
And the next tool is like scissors that can cut the DNA right in that spot. 下一个工具像是一把剪刀, 它可以准确地把该位置的DNA 片段剪下来。
scissors:n.剪刀;v.剪断;删除;(scissor的第三人称单数和复数)
And finally we have a pen where we can literally rewrite the genetic code in that location . 最后,我们会有一只笔, 我们完全可以在截断点处重新编写基因码。
finally:adv.终于;最终;(用于列举)最后;彻底地; literally:adv.按字面:字面上:确实地: genetic code:n.遗传密码; location:n.地方;地点;位置;定位
It's really that simple. 真的就这么简单。
And this technology, which came on the scene just three years ago, has taken science by storm. 这项科技,才刚诞生三年, 但已经造成科学界的轰动。
It's evolving so fast, and it's so freaking exciting to scientists, and I admit I'm fascinated by it and we use it in my own lab, that I think someone is going to go that extra step and continue the GM human embryo work and maybe make designer babies. 它演化地相当快,科学家们都相当兴奋, 我承认我对这项技术也很着迷,我们也会在自己的实验室里使用它, 所以我认为已经有人要跨出下一步了, 并开始进行人类胚胎的基因改造工程了, 且很有可能会制造出订制婴儿。
evolving:v.(使)逐渐形成,逐渐演变;进化形成;(evolve的现在分词) freaking:adj.该死的,他妈的;v.(使)强烈反应,畏惧;(freak的现在分词)
This is so ubiquitous now. 类似的现象到处都是,
ubiquitous:adj.普遍存在的;无所不在的;
It just came on the scene three years ago. 而这只不过才三年的时间,
Thousands of labs literally have this in hand today, and they're doing important research. 已经有好几千个实验室掌握了这项技术, 他们已经开始进行重要的研究。
labs:n.实验室;实验大楼;(lab的复数)
Most of them are not interested in designer babies. 他们大部分的人对订制婴儿并不感到兴趣。
They're studying human disease and other important elements of science. 他们研究人类的疾病, 以及其它重要的科学议题。
elements:n.要素;基本部分;少量;一群;(element的复数)
So there's a lot of good research going on with CRISPR. 所以,已经有很多、很棒的有关 CRISPR 技术方面的应用。
And the fact that we can now do genetic modifications that used to take years and cost millions of dollars in a few weeks for a couple thousand bucks , to me as a scientist that's fantastic , but again, at the same time , it opens the door to people going too far. 实际上,我们现在已经可以把 过去要花好几年、好几百万的基改工程, 减少到只要花几个礼拜、几千美金就能办到, 对我这样的科学家而言,这真的太神奇了, 但,与此同时, 这项技术也会让人走火入魔。
bucks:n.元;雄鹿;(buck的复数) fantastic:奇异的,空想的 at the same time:同时;另一方面;与此同时;
And I think for some people the focus is not going to be so much on science. 我认为有些人, 并不会把焦点放在科学研究上,
That's not what's going to be driving them. 那些不是驱动他们的原因。
It's going to be ideology or the chase for a profit . 驱使他们的会是意识形态或者想赚大钱。
ideology:n.意识形态;思想意识;观念学; profit:n.利润;利益;v.获利;有益;
And they're going to go for designer babies. 他们只对订制婴儿感兴趣。
So why should we be concerned about this? 那么,我们为什么要在意这件事情？
concerned:adj.有关的;关心的;v.关心;与…有关;(concern的过去时和过去分词)
We know from Darwin, if we go back two centuries, that evolution and genetics profoundly have impacted humanity , who we are today. 回到两个世纪前,从达尔文年代开始, 我们就知道演化及基因学深深地引响着人类, 并造就出我们现在的世界。
evolution:n.演变;进化;发展;渐进; profoundly:adv.深刻地;深深地;极度地; impacted:adj.压紧的;结实的;嵌入的;(人口)稠密的;v.装紧;挤满(impact的过去分词); humanity:n.人类;人道;仁慈;人文学科;
And some think there's like a social Darwinism at work in our world, and maybe even a eugenics as well. 有些人认为,我们的世界似乎是由社会达尔文主义运作, 甚至也许有优生学主义在影响着这个世界。
Darwinism:n.达尔文主义;进化论;达尔文学说; eugenics:n.优生学;
Imagine those trends , those forces, with a booster rocket of this CRISPR technology that is so powerful and so ubiquitous. 想像一下这些趋势、这股势力 无所不在、强大的技术会变成怎样。
trends:n.趋势;倾向;动态;动向;(trend的第三人称单数和复数) booster:n.升压机;支持者;扩爆器;
And in fact, we can just go back one century to the last century to see the power that eugenics can have. 实际上,我们只要回到上个世纪, 就能看到优生学带来了甚么影响。
So my father, Peter Knoepfler, was actually born right here in Vienna. 我的父亲,彼得纳佛勒, 就出生在维也纳。
He was Viennese , and he was born here in 1929. 他是维也纳人,1929年在这出生的。
Viennese:adj.维也纳的;维也纳人的;维也纳式的;n.维也纳人;
And when my grandparents had little baby Peter, the world was very different. Right? 当我的爷爷有了我爸爸小彼得, 世界又变了样了,对吧？
It was a different Vienna. 维也纳变不一样了。
The United States was different. 美国也变不一样了。
United:adj.联合的; v.联合,团结; (unite的过去分词和过去式)
The world was different. 世界变不一样了。
There was a eugenics rising, and my grandparents realized, pretty quickly I think, that they were on the wrong side of the eugenics equation . 当时优生学正在兴起, 我想我爷爷 应该很快就明白, 在优生学方面,他们选错边站了。
on the wrong side of:过了…岁;已过…岁;亏欠; equation:n.方程式,等式;相等;[化学]反应式;
And so despite this being their home and their whole extended family's home, and this area being their family's home for generations, they decided because of eugenics that they had to leave. 所以除了他们的家人, 还有整个亲戚家族, 都被优生学主义影响了好几世代, 因为优生学,他们必须选择离开家乡。
despite:prep.尽管,不管;n.轻视;憎恨;侮辱; extended:adj.延长了的;扩展了的;v.使伸长;扩大;扩展;(extend的过去式和过去分词)
And they survived, but they were heartbroken , and I'm not sure my dad ever really got over leaving Vienna. 他们存活下来了,但他们心也碎了, 我不确定我爸是不是真的想离开维也纳。
heartbroken:adj.悲伤的,伤心的;
He left when he was just eight years old in 1938. 1938年,他当时才 8 岁。
So today, I see a new eugenics kind of bubbling to the surface. 今日,我看到一个新的优生学 正浮出台面。
bubbling:v.起泡;冒泡;洋溢着(某种感情);(bubble的现在分词)
It's supposed to be a kinder, gentler, positive eugenics, different than all that past stuff . 它必须是个仁慈、温和正面的优生学, 一个不同于以往的优生学。
supposed:adj.误信的;所谓的;v.认为;假设;设想;(suppose的过去分词和过去式) positive:adj.积极的;[数]正的,[医][化学]阳性的;确定的;n.正数;[摄]正片; different than:不同于; stuff:n.东西:物品:基本特征:v.填满:装满:标本:
But I think even though it's focused on trying to improve people, it could have negative consequences , and it really worries me that some of the top proponents of this new eugenics, they think CRISPR is the ticket to make it happen. 但我认为即使我们把重点摆在改进人类, 很可能也会造成负面的结果, 我真的很担心, 有一些支持新优生学主义的顶尖人士认为, CRISPR 技术就是他们订制婴儿的入门票。
improve:v.改进;改善; negative:adj.[数]负的;消极的;否定的;阴性的;n.否定;负数;[摄]底片;v.否定;拒绝; consequences:n.后果,结果;影响(consequence的复数); proponents:n.支持者;建议者(proponent的复数);
So I have to admit, you know, eugenics, we talk about making better people. 所以,我必须承认,各位知道, 我们谈的优生学只是要让人变好。
It's a tough question. 这是个很难回答的问题,
What is better when we're talking about a human being? 一提到人类,哪些才是对人类比较好的？
But I admit I think maybe a lot of us could agree that human beings, maybe we could use a little betterment . 我承认,我们大部分的人 应该都会同意 我们可以做一些小改善。
betterment:n.改善,改进;改良;涨价;
Look at our politicians here, you know, back in the US — 看一下我们的政治人物, 这边的、美国的——
politicians:n.政治家;(蔑)政客;(美)政治贩;(politician的复数)
God forbid we go there right now. 上帝目前禁止我们这样做。
forbid:v.禁止;不准;不允许;(正式)严禁;
Maybe even if we just look in the mirror, there might be ways we think we could be better. 或许如果我们面对着镜子里的自己, 我们都会希望有可以让自己更好看一点的方法。
I might wish, honestly, that I had more hair here, instead of baldness . 我可能会希望,老实说,我会希望这边头发多点,不要秃头。
baldness:n.光秃;率直;枯燥;
Some people might wish they were taller, have a different weight, a different face. 有些人会希望可以再高一些, 有个适当的体重、不同的脸蛋。
If we could do those things, we could make those things happen, or we could make them happen in our children, it would be very seductive . 如果我们要做这些事,我们就一定能办到, 或者让我们的孩子拥有这些优点, 这样真的会很吸引人。
seductive:adj.有魅力的;性感的;引人注意的;
And yet coming with it would be these risks. 但这也伴随了风险。
I talked about eugenics, but there would be risks to individuals as well. 我谈论的优生学, 对个人而言可能也会造成风险。
individuals:n.[经]个人;[生物]个体(individual的复数);
So if we forget about enhancing people and we just try to make them healthier using genetic modification, this technology is so new and so powerful, that by accident we could make them sicker. 先不谈改进人类的议题, 就只是尝试着用基因改造来让人类更健康这件事, 这项技术这么的新、 这么的强而有力, 一旦发生意外,我们可能会更容易生病。
enhancing:n.优化,增强;暖色加重效果;v.增强(enhance的现在分词);
That easily could happen. 这是很有可能会发生的。
And there's another risk, and that is that all of the legitimate , important genetic modification research going on just in the lab — again, no interest in designer babies — a few people going the designer baby route , things go badly, that entire field could be damaged. 还有另外一个风险, 就是所有合法、重要的基改研究 只能在实验室进行—— 我再强调一次,他们对订制婴儿没兴趣—— 少数人钻进订制婴儿这条路, 只会让事情变糟, 整个产業可能会被摧毁掉。
legitimate:adj.合法的;正当的;合理的;正统的;v.使合法;认为正当(等于legitimize); route:n.路线;路途;固定线路;途径;v.按某路线发送;
I also think it's not that unlikely that governments might start taking an interest in genetic modification. 我也认为政府 不太可能不对基因改造有兴趣。
unlikely:adj.不大可能发生的;非心目中的;非想象的;难以相信的;
So for example our imagined GM Jenna child who is healthier, if there's a generation that looks like they have lower health care costs, it's possible that governments may start trying to compel their citizens to go the GM route. 比如,我们想像的基改小孩珍娜, 她是比较健康的, 如果可以降低一个世代的医疗照顾成本, 那政府很有可能会强制他们的市民 走向基改这条路。
compel:v.强迫;迫使;使必须;引起(反应);
Look at China's one-child policy . 看一下中国的一胎政策。
one-child:独生子女; policy:n.政策,方针;保险单;
It's thought that that prevented the birth of 400 million human beings. 他们限制了将近四亿人口的出生。
So it's not beyond the realm of possible that genetic modification could be something that governments push. 所以极有可能 基改工程是由政府来推动的。
realm:n.领域,范围;王国;
And if designer babies become popular, in our digital age — viral videos, social media — what if designer babies are thought to be fashionable , and they kind of become the new glitterati , the new Kardashians or something? 一旦订制婴儿变成流行的代名词, 在我们这个数位年代—— 病毒式影片,社群媒体—— 要是订制婴儿被认为是跟得上流行的脚步, 一旦他们变成了新世代的社会名流, 下一个卡戴珊之类的
digital:adj.数字的;手指的;n.数字;键; viral:adj.滤过性毒菌引起的;滤过性毒菌的; media:n.媒体;媒质(medium的复数);血管中层;浊塞音;中脉; fashionable:adj.流行的;时髦的;上流社会的; glitterati:n.上层人士;
(Laughter) （笑声）
You know, are those trends that we really could control? 这样的趋势我们真能掌控吗？
I'm not convinced that we could. 我不觉得我们有办法掌控。
convinced:adj.坚信; v.使确信; (convince的过去分词和过去式)
So again, today it's Halloween and when we talk about genetic modification, there's one Halloween-associated character that is talked about or invoked more than anything else, and that is Frankenstein . 我再说一遍,这件事现在看起来像万圣节前夕, 而当我们在谈论基因改造时, 还有一个万圣节前夕相关的字眼, 而且常常被人提到的, 就是「自掘坟墓」。
invoked:v.叫唤(invoke的过去式,过去分词); Frankenstein:n.毁灭创造者自己之物;作法自毙的人;
Mostly that's been Frankenfoods and all this other stuff. 像是基因改造食品这样被很多人怀疑的东西等等,
But if we think about this now and we think about it in the human context on a day like Halloween, if parents can in essence costume their children genetically, are we going to be talking about a Frankenstein 2.0 kind of situation? 但如果我们现在好好思考,想像人类有这么一天, 比如像是圣诞夜前夕的情节, 如果父母已经可以订制他们的基改小孩, 我们现在谈论的会不会就是人类「自掘坟墓2.0版本」的情节？
context:n.环境;上下文;来龙去脉; in essence:本质上;其实;大体上; costume:n.服装;装束;戏装,服装;v.给(某人)穿上特殊服装;
I don't think so. I don't think it's going to get to that extreme . 我想应该不至于会走到那样极端的地步。
extreme:adj.极端的;极度的;偏激的;尽头的;n.极端;末端;最大程度;极端的事物;
But when we are going about hacking the human code, 但一旦我们准备开始窜改人类的基因编码,
hacking:v.黑客行为;砍;劈;猛踢;(hack的现在分词)
I think all bets are off in terms of what might come of that. 进了赌场,就一番两瞪眼了。
bets:v.下赌注(于);用…打赌;敢说;八成儿(bet的第三人称单数)
There would still be dangers. 还是很危险的。
And we can look in the past to other elements of transformative science and see how they can basically go out of control and permeate society. 我们可以回顾一下历史, 仔细观察科技变革所带来的影响, 并看看它们是如何失去控制 并弥漫到整个社会的。
transformative:adj.变化的,变形的;有改革能力的; basically:adv.主要地,基本上; permeate:vt.渗透,透过;弥漫;vi.弥漫;透入;散布;
So I'll just give you one example, and that is in vitro fertilization . 我就给各位举个例子,人工授精。
vitro:n.在试管内; fertilization:n.[农]施肥;[胚]受精;肥沃;
Almost exactly 40 years ago, test tube baby number one Louise Brown was born, and that's a great thing, and I think since then five million IVF babies have been born, bringing immeasurable happiness. 大约在 40 年前, 史上第一个试管婴儿路易斯布朗诞生了, 这是一件很伟大的事, 我在想在那之后,大约有500万个试管婴儿诞生, 带来了无限的幸福,
test tube:adj.人工授精的;在试验管中作成的;n.试管;试验管;人工受精; immeasurable:adj.无限的;[数]不可计量的;不能测量的;
A lot of parents now can love those kids. 让很多双亲都可以享天伦之乐。
But if you think about it, in four decades, five million babies being born from a new technology is pretty remarkable , and the same kind of thing could happen with human genetic modification and designer babies. 但如果你仔细想想,才40年的时间, 新科技就为我们带来了 500 万个宝宝, 真的很了不起, 同样的状况也有可能 在基改人类与订制婴儿上发生。
remarkable:adj.卓越的;非凡的;值得注意的;
So depending on the decisions we make in the next few months, the next year or so, if designer baby number one is born, within a few decades, there could well be millions of genetically modified humans. 接下来几个月或几年的变化, 都取决于我们今日所做的决定, 如果第一个订制婴儿出生, 只要几十年的时间, 可能就有上百万的基改人类诞生。
And there's a difference there too, because if we, you in the audience, or I, if we decide to have a designer baby, then their children will also be genetically modified, and so on, because it's heritable . 但这有点差别,因为如果我们、台下的你或者是我... 如果我们都决定要订制婴儿, 他们的后代也会被基因改造,一代接一代... 因为它会一直遗传下去,
heritable:adj.可继承的;可传让的;
So that's a big difference. 这就大不同了。
So with all of this in mind, what should we do? 所以仔细想想, 我们该怎么做？
There's actually going to be a meeting a month from tomorrow in Washington, D.C. 实际上,从明天开始,下一个月 在华盛顿哥伦比亚特区有一场会议,
by the US National Academy of Sciences to tackle that exact question. 这场会议是由美国国家科学院举办, 会议主旨就是要解决这些问题。
Academy:n.学院;研究院;学会;专科院校; tackle:v.处理; n.用具;
What is the right path forward with human genetic modification? 人类的基因改造之路应该怎么走才是正确的？
I believe at this time we need a moratorium . 我相信在这个节骨眼, 我们需要再缓一缓。
moratorium:n.暂停,中止;[金融]延期偿付;
We have to ban this. 我们必须先禁止会议的进行。
ban:v.下令禁止;查禁;n.禁令;
We should not allow creating genetically modified people, because it's just too dangerous and too unpredictable . 我们不应该允许基改人类的诞生, 因为太危险、太无法预测了。
unpredictable:adj.不可预知的;不定的;出乎意料的;n.不可预言的事;
But there's a lot of people — 但,有很多人——
(Applause) （掌声）
Thanks. 谢谢。
(Applause) （掌声）
And let me say, just as a scientist, it's a little bit scary for me to say that in public, because science generally doesn't like self-regulation and things like that. 说真的,身为一位科学家, 我实在有点害怕在大众面前讲出这件事, 因为科学的发展普遍都不会自我设限或自我规范之类的。
generally:adv.通常;普遍地,一般地; self-regulation:n.自动调节;
So I think we need to put a hold on this, but there are many people who not only disagree with me, they feel the exact opposite. 所以,我认为基改人类这件事,我们还要再等等, 但很多人并不同意我的观点, 他们完全是相反的。
They're like, step on the gas, full speed ahead, let's make designer babies. 他们像是,马力全开,全力冲刺, 让我们开始制造订制婴儿吧！
And so in the meeting in December and other meetings that are likely to follow in the next few months, it's very possible there may be no moratorium. 所以,12 月的会议, 以及接下来几个月类似的会议, 很有可能我们再也没有机会可以延缓了。
And I think part of the problem that we have is that all of this trend, this revolution in genetic modification applying to humans, the public hasn't known about it. 我认为这个问题的部分原因 是这样的趋势, 在人体上做基因改造的变革, 社会大众根本都不知道有这些事,
revolution:n.革命;旋转;运行;循环; applying:v.申请,请求;使用;应用;(apply的现在分词)
Nobody has been saying, look, this is a big deal , this is a revolution, and this could affect you in very personal ways. 没有人站出来说, 等等,这是很重大的决定,重大的变革, 而这会造成每个人不同程度的影响。
a big deal:na.要人;重要的事; personal:adj.个人的;身体的;亲自的;n.人事消息栏;人称代名词;
And so part of my goal is actually to change that and to educate and engage with the public and get you guys talking about this. 所以我其中的目标是希望可以改变这件事, 并教育大众、呼吁大众 邀请所有人一起来讨论这件事。
engage:v.吸引,占用;使参加;雇佣;使订婚;预定;
And so I hope at these meetings that there will be a role for the public to bring their voice to bear as well. 所以,我希望在这些会议中,能有大众参与的空间, 让大众的声音也能被听见。
So if we kind of circle back now to 2030 again, that imagined story, and depending on the decisions we make, again, today — literally we don't have a lot of time — in the next few months, the next year or so, because this technology is spreading like wildfire . 让我们回到 2030 年的故事场景, 由于我们所做的决定,我再说一遍,今日—— 基本上我们时间不多了—— 无论接下来几个月、几年... 因为这项科技已经像野火般地蔓延开来了。
wildfire:n.火灾;磷火,鬼火;散布极快的事物;
Let's pretend we're back in that reality. 让我们假装回到了那个真实的场景,
We're at a park, and our kid is swinging on the swing. 我们在公园里, 我们的孩子正在荡秋千。
Is that kid a regular old kid, or did we decide to have a designer baby? 我们的小孩会是正常的小孩？ 或者,我们决定要一个订制的小孩呢？
And let's say we went the sort of traditional route, and there's our kid swinging on the swing, and frankly, they're kind of a mess . 又或者,我们选择了传统的道路, 我们的孩子一样在荡秋千, 坦白说,他们很会把自己弄脏,
mess:n.混乱;餐厅;杂乱;肮脏;v.使不整洁;弄脏;弄乱;随地便溺;
Their hair is all over the place like mine. 他们的头发跟我一样多,
They have a stuffy nose. 鼻子还留着鼻涕。
stuffy:adj.闷热的;古板的;不通气的;
They're not the best student in the world. 他们不是世上最好的学生。
They're adorable , you love them, but there on the swing next to them, their best friend is a GM kid, and the two of them are kind of swinging like this, and you can't help but compare them, right? 但他们很可爱,你很爱他们, 但隔壁秋千上的孩子, 他们最好的朋友是一位基改过的孩子, 两个都在荡秋千, 你会忍不住比较,对吧？
adorable:adj.可爱的;可敬重的,值得崇拜的; compare:v.比较;对比;n.比较;
And the GM kid is swinging higher, they look better, they're a better student, they don't have that stuffy nose you need to wipe . 基改的小朋友荡得比较高, 他们长得比我孩子好看,功课又比他好, 你不用擦鼻涕,因为他们不会流鼻涕。
wipe:v.擦;抹;拭;消除;n.擦;拭;揩;(湿)抹布;
How is that going to make you feel and what decision might you make next time? 你当下会有怎样的感受？ 如果再一次,你会做出甚么样的决定？
Thank you. 谢谢。
(Applause) （掌声）