ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lee Cronin - Chemist
A professor of chemistry, nanoscience and chemical complexity, Lee Cronin and his research group investigate how chemistry can revolutionize modern technology and even create life.

Why you should listen

Lee Cronin's lab at the University of Glasgow does cutting-edge research into how complex chemical systems, created from non-biological building blocks, can have real-world applications with wide impact. At TEDGlobal 2012, Cronin shared some of the lab's latest work: creating a 3D printer for molecules. This device -- which has been prototyped -- can download plans for molecules and print them, in the same way that a 3D printer creates objects. In the future, Cronin says this technology could potentially be used to print medicine -- cheaply and wherever it is needed. As Cronin says: "What Apple did for music, I'd like to do for the discovery and distribution of prescription drugs."

At TEDGlobal 2011, Cronin shared his lab's bold plan to create life. At the moment, bacteria is the minimum unit of life -- the smallest chemical unit that can undergo evolution. But in Cronin's emerging field, he's thinking about forms of life that won't be biological. To explore this, and to try to understand how life itself originated from chemicals, Cronin and others are attempting to create truly artificial life from completely non-biological chemistries that mimic the behavior of natural cells. They call these chemical cells, or Chells. 

Cronin's research interests also encompass self-assembly and self-growing structures -- the better to assemble life at nanoscale. At the University of Glasgow, this work on crystal structures is producing a raft of papers from his research group. He says: "Basically one of my longstanding research goals is to understand how life emerged on planet Earth and re-create the process."

Read the papers referenced in his TEDGlobal 2102 talk:

Integrated 3D-printed reactionware for chemical synthesis and analysis, Nature Chemistry

Configurable 3D-Printed millifluidic and microfluidic ‘lab on a chip’ reactionware devices, Lab on a Chip

More profile about the speaker
Lee Cronin | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2011

Lee Cronin: Making matter come alive

李.克罗宁:让物质具有生命

Filmed:
770,372 views

在生命出现之前,地球上只有物质,那些无机的、死的“东西”。看似不可能地,生命却从这里萌芽。有没有可能它用了一种不同的化学组成?化学家李.克罗宁给生命下了一个简单而优雅的定义(任何可演化的物质),同时他使用了一种不含碳元素、可合成、复制和竞争的分子——“乐高积木”创造一个完全无机细胞,从而对这个问题作出了深入的探索。
- Chemist
A professor of chemistry, nanoscience and chemical complexity, Lee Cronin and his research group investigate how chemistry can revolutionize modern technology and even create life. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:15
What I'm going to try and do in the next下一个 15 minutes分钟 or so
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我在接下来的15分钟准备做的
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is tell you about an idea理念
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就是告诉你们一个
00:20
of how we're going to make matter come alive.
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关于人们如何让物质具有生命的理念
00:23
Now this may可能 seem似乎 a bit ambitious有雄心,
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这理念听起来可能有些野心勃勃
00:25
but when you look at yourself你自己, you look at your hands,
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可是当你看着自己,看着自己的双手
00:27
you realize实现 that you're alive.
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你意识到你是活着的
00:29
So this is a start开始.
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这便是我们理念的开始
00:31
Now this quest寻求 started开始 four billion十亿 years年份 ago on planet行星 Earth地球.
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对这种理念的探寻始于四十亿年前的地球上
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There's been four billion十亿 years年份
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在过去的四十亿年中
00:36
of organic有机, biological生物 life.
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生命是有机的,生物上的概念
00:38
And as an inorganic无机 chemist化学家,
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作为一名无机化学家
00:40
my friends朋友 and colleagues同事 make this distinction分别
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我的朋友和同事在
00:42
between之间 the organic有机, living活的 world世界
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有机的,有生命的世界
00:45
and the inorganic无机, dead world世界.
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和无机的,死得世界间做出了区分。
00:47
And what I'm going to try and do is plant some ideas思路
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我接下来要做的就是播种一些思想
00:50
about how we can transform转变 inorganic无机, dead matter
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关于我们如何能将无机的、没有生命的物质
00:54
into living活的 matter, into inorganic无机 biology生物学.
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转化为有生命的物质、转化为无机生物学。
00:57
Before we do that,
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所以在我们开始之前,
00:59
I want to kind of put biology生物学 in its place地点.
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我想要摆正一下生物学的位置。
01:02
And I'm absolutely绝对 enthralled如醉如痴 by biology生物学.
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我完全为生物学而着迷。
01:04
I love to do synthetic合成的 biology生物学.
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我喜欢合成生物学。
01:06
I love things that are alive.
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我爱有生命的东西。
01:08
I love manipulating操纵 the infrastructure基础设施 of biology生物学.
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我喜欢研究生物学的基础领域。
01:10
But within that infrastructure基础设施,
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但是在基础领域里,
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we have to remember记得
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我们必须记得,
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that the driving主动 force of biology生物学
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生物学的驱动力
01:16
is really coming未来 from evolution演化.
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事实上来自于进化。
01:18
And evolution演化,
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而进化,
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although虽然 it was established既定 well over 100 years年份 ago by Charles查尔斯 Darwin达尔文
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尽管它的理论在一百年以前就被查尔斯.达尔文
01:23
and a vast广大 number of other people,
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和许多其他的科学家所建立和完善
01:25
evolution演化 still is a little bit intangible无形.
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进化论依然有一点点抽象。
01:28
And when I talk about Darwinian达尔文 evolution演化,
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当我谈到达尔文的进化论时,
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I mean one thing and one thing only,
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我仅仅指的是一个论点,
01:32
and that is survival生存 of the fittest适者生存.
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即适者生存。
01:34
And so forget忘记 about evolution演化
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所以不要用
01:36
in a kind of metaphysical抽象的 way.
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形而上学的方法来研究进化论。
01:38
Think about evolution演化
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当想到进化时,
01:40
in terms条款 of offspring子孙 competing竞争,
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要从子孙后代彼此竞争,
01:42
and some winning胜利.
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同时产生一些赢家的角度来考虑。
01:44
So bearing轴承 that in mind心神,
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这一点我牢记心中
01:46
as a chemist化学家, I wanted to ask myself
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作为一个化学家的我,不禁扪心自问,
01:48
the question frustrated受挫 by biology生物学:
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这个被生物学忽视掉的问题:
01:50
What is the minimal最小 unit单元 of matter
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什么是最小的
01:53
that can undergo经历 Darwinian达尔文 evolution演化?
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且能适应达尔文进化论的物质单元?
01:56
And this seems似乎 quite相当 a profound深刻 question.
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这是个看起来有些深奥的问题。
01:58
And as a chemist化学家,
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作为一个化学家,
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we're not used to profound深刻 questions问题 every一切 day.
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我们并不是每天都思考这样深奥的问题。
02:02
So when I thought about it,
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所以当我考虑它的时候,
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then suddenly突然 I realized实现
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我忽然意识到,
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that biology生物学 gave us the answer回答.
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生物学给了我们答案。
02:08
And in fact事实, the smallest最少 unit单元 of matter
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事实上,最小的
02:10
that can evolve发展 independently独立地
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可以独立进化的物质单元,
02:12
is, in fact事实, a single cell细胞 --
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是一个单细胞——
02:14
a bacteria.
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细菌。
02:16
So this raises加薪 three really important重要 questions问题:
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这既引出了三个十分重要的问题。
02:19
What is life?
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生命是什么?
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Is biology生物学 special特别?
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生物是独一无二的吗?
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Biologists生物学家 seem似乎 to think so.
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生物学家当然这样认为。
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Is matter evolvable可进化?
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物质是可以进化的吗?
02:27
Now if we answer回答 those questions问题 in reverse相反 order订购,
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现在如果我们以倒序来回答这些问题,
02:30
the third第三 question -- is matter evolvable可进化? --
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第三个问题——生命是可以演化的吗?
02:32
if we can answer回答 that,
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如果我们能回答这个问题,
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then we're going to know how special特别 biology生物学 is,
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我们便可以知道生物学究竟有多特殊,
02:36
and maybe, just maybe,
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同时可能,仅仅是可能,
02:38
we'll have some idea理念 of what life really is.
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我们能够一窥生命的本质。
02:41
So here's这里的 some inorganic无机 life.
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这里有一些无机生命。
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This is a dead crystal水晶,
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这是一个没有生命的晶体。
02:45
and I'm going to do something to it,
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我准备在它身上加工一下,
02:47
and it's going to become成为 alive.
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它就会变得具有生命。
02:49
And you can see,
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你可以看到
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it's kind of pollinating授粉, germinating萌动, growing生长.
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这个过程有点像授粉、发芽和成长。
02:54
This is an inorganic无机 tube.
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这是一个无机晶体管。
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And all these crystals晶体 here under the microscope显微镜
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这些放在显微镜下的晶体,
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were dead a few少数 minutes分钟 ago, and they look alive.
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都在几分钟前死掉了,但他们看起来依旧鲜活。
03:00
Of course课程, they're not alive.
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当然,他们并非真的活着
03:02
It's a chemistry化学 experiment实验 where I've made制作 a crystal水晶 garden花园.
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这个化学实验里我制造一个晶体花园
03:05
But when I saw this, I was really fascinated入迷,
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但是当我看到这里,我完全被迷住了,
03:08
because it seemed似乎 lifelike逼真.
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因为他们看起来栩栩如生。
03:10
And as I pause暂停 for a few少数 seconds, have a look at the screen屏幕.
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暂停一下我们看看屏幕
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You can see there's architecture建筑 growing生长, filling填充 the void空虚.
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你们可以看到它的架构正在成长,逐渐将空白处填满。
03:18
And this is dead.
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但它没有生命。
03:20
So I was positive that,
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所以我十分乐观,
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if somehow不知何故 we can make things mimic模仿者 life,
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如果我们可以以某种方式模拟生命,
03:24
let's go one step further进一步.
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我们未尝不能再往前走一步。
03:26
Let's see if we can actually其实 make life.
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让我们看看,能不能真的制造生命。
03:28
But there's a problem问题,
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但是依然存在一个问题,
03:30
because up until直到 maybe a decade ago,
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因为大概在十年前
03:32
we were told that life was impossible不可能
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我们得知生命是不可能形成的
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and that we were the most incredible难以置信 miracle奇迹 in the universe宇宙.
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并且我们是宇宙中最难以置信的奇迹
03:37
In fact事实, we were the only people
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事实上,我们是浩瀚宇宙中的
03:39
in the universe宇宙.
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唯一生物
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Now, that's a bit boring无聊.
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这有点无趣了
03:43
So as a chemist化学家,
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作为一个化学家
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I wanted to say, "Hang on. What is going on here?
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我想说,“等等,怎么回事?
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Is life that improbable难以置信?"
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生命真的是无法形成的吗?”
03:49
And this is really the question.
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这正是问题所在
03:52
I think that perhaps也许 the emergence紧急情况 of the first cells细胞
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我想也许第一个细胞的形成
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was as probable可能 as the emergence紧急情况 of the stars明星.
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正如第一颗行星的出现一样
03:58
And in fact事实, let's take that one step further进一步.
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事实上,让我们更进一步的思考
04:01
Let's say
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比如说
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that if the physics物理 of fusion聚变
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如果聚变物理学
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is encoded编码 into the universe宇宙,
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蕴含在宇宙的编码之中
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maybe the physics物理 of life is as well.
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也许生命的物理学也是如此
04:09
And so the problem问题 with chemists化学家 --
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所以化学家的任务
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and this is a massive大规模的 advantage优点 as well --
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同时也是一种巨大的优势
04:13
is we like to focus焦点 on our elements分子.
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便是我们要将重点放在化学元素上
04:15
In biology生物学, carbon takes center中央 stage阶段.
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在生物学领域,碳是中心
04:18
And in a universe宇宙 where carbon exists存在
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并且在碳
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and organic有机 biology生物学,
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和有机生物存在的宇宙中
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then we have all this wonderful精彩 diversity多样 of life.
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我们能看到这美妙的生命多样性。
04:25
In fact事实, we have such这样 amazing惊人 lifeforms生命形式 that we can manipulate操作.
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事实上,我们能够掌控如此奇妙的生命形式。
04:29
We're awfully非常 careful小心 in the lab实验室
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实验室里,我们极其小心的
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to try and avoid避免 various各个 biohazards生物危害.
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去尝试和避免各种各样的生物危害。
04:33
Well what about matter?
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那物质方面呢?
04:35
If we can make matter alive, would we have a matterhazardmatterhazard?
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如果我们能够赋予物质生命,我们会不会面临物质危害?
04:38
So think, this is a serious严重 question.
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所以,请认真思考一下,这个严肃的问题。
04:40
If your pen钢笔 could replicate复制,
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如果你的笔能够自我复制
04:43
that would be a bit of a problem问题.
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那确实会产生一些问题
04:45
So we have to think differently不同
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所以我们必须从不同的角度进行思考
04:47
if we're going to make stuff东东 come alive.
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如果我们想要赋予物质生命
04:49
And we also have to be aware知道的 of the issues问题.
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我们必须对可能产生的问题谨慎看待
04:51
But before we can make life,
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但是在我们能够制造生命以前
04:53
let's think for a second第二
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让我们先想一想
04:55
what life really is characterized特征 by.
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生命的特质为何
04:57
And forgive原谅 the complicated复杂 diagram.
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原谅我不得不给你们看这些复杂的图表
04:59
This is just a collection采集 of pathways途径 in the cell细胞.
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这只是一张细胞内代谢路径的总图
05:02
And the cell细胞 is obviously明显 for us
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并且细胞对于我们而言
05:04
a fascinating迷人 thing.
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很明显是令人着迷的东西
05:06
Synthetic合成的 biologists生物学家 are manipulating操纵 it.
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合成化学家正对细胞进行操作。
05:09
Chemists化学家 are trying to study研究 the molecules分子 to look at disease疾病.
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化学家正试图通过研究分子来探究疾病。
05:12
And you have all these pathways途径 going on at the same相同 time.
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并且在你体内正同时进行着这些代谢路径。
05:14
You have regulation;
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你的身体可以进行调控
05:16
information信息 is transcribed转录;
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转录信息
05:18
catalysts催化剂 are made制作; stuff东东 is happening事件.
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制造催化剂、并产生各种机能。
05:20
But what does a cell细胞 do?
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但是细胞能做什么?
05:22
Well it divides分歧, it competes竞争,
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它会分裂、彼此竞争、
05:24
it survives生存.
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最后存活下来。
05:26
And I think that is where we have to start开始
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我认为这是我们
05:28
in terms条款 of thinking思维 about
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创造生命的想法的
05:30
building建造 from our ideas思路 in life.
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起点
05:32
But what else其他 is life characterized特征 by?
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但是生命的特质还有哪些?
05:34
Well, I like think of it
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我喜欢将它想象成
05:36
as a flame火焰 in a bottle瓶子.
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在瓶子里的一束火焰。
05:38
And so what we have here
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我们在图中看到的是
05:40
is a description描述 of single cells细胞
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对单细胞
05:42
replicating复制, metabolizing代谢,
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的复制、代谢
05:44
burning燃烧 through通过 chemistries化学品.
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和通过化学反应燃烧的过程的描绘。
05:46
And so we have to understand理解
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因此我们必须理解
05:48
that if we're going to make artificial人造 life or understand理解 the origin起源 of life,
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如果我们想要人工制造生命或理解生命的起源
05:51
we need to power功率 it somehow不知何故.
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我们必须通过某种方式提供能量。
05:53
So before we can really start开始 to make life,
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所以在我们真正能够制造生命以前,
05:56
we have to really think about where it came来了 from.
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我们必须认真想一想它来自何方。
05:58
And Darwin达尔文 himself他自己 mused沉思 in a letter to a colleague同事
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达尔文本人曾在一封给他同时的信中谈道
06:00
that he thought that life probably大概 emerged出现
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他认为生命可能从
06:02
in some warm little pond池塘 somewhere某处 --
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一些小而温暖的池塘或其他地方演化而来
06:05
maybe not in Scotland苏格兰, maybe in Africa非洲,
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可能在苏格兰,可能在非洲
06:07
maybe somewhere某处 else其他.
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也可能在其他地方。
06:09
But the real真实 honest诚实 answer回答 is, we just don't know,
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但是最坦诚的答案是,我们无从得知。
06:12
because there is a problem问题 with the origin起源.
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因为生命的起源依旧是个问题。
06:15
Imagine想像 way back, four and a half billion十亿 years年份 ago,
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想象一下我们回到四十五亿年前,
06:18
there is a vast广大 chemical化学 soup of stuff东东.
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只有一些化学物质的溶液。
06:20
And from this stuff东东 we came来了.
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人类从中诞生。
06:22
So when you think about the improbable难以置信 nature性质
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如果你觉得接下来几分钟里我讲的内容
06:25
of what I'm going to tell you in the next下一个 few少数 minutes分钟,
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有些不大可能的话,
06:27
just remember记得,
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请记住
06:29
we came来了 from stuff东东 on planet行星 Earth地球.
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我们从地球上的物质中诞生。
06:31
And we went through通过 a variety品种 of worlds世界.
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我们经历了多种多样的世界。
06:34
The RNARNA people would talk about the RNARNA world世界.
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RNA研究者谈论着RNA世界
06:37
We somehow不知何故 got to proteins蛋白质 and DNA脱氧核糖核酸.
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我们却不知怎么成为了蛋白质和DNA。
06:39
We then got to the last ancestor祖先.
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接着出现了生命的始祖。
06:41
Evolution演化 kicked in -- and that's the cool bit.
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进化开始了——这是关键。
06:44
And here we are.
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然后人类出现。
06:46
But there's a roadblock路障 that you can't get past过去.
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但是依然存在着一个你无法逾越的障碍。
06:49
You can decode解码 the genome基因组, you can look back,
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你可以解码基因组,你可以回溯往昔,
06:52
you can link链接 us all together一起 by a mitochondrial线粒体 DNA脱氧核糖核酸,
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你可以将我们所有人借由一个线粒体DNA联系在一起,
06:55
but we can't get further进一步 than the last ancestor祖先,
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但是你无法追溯到第一个生命始祖以前,
06:58
the last visible可见 cell细胞
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这是
07:00
that we could sequence序列 or think back in history历史.
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我们能基因测序和追溯历史的最后一个细胞。
07:03
So we don't know how we got here.
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所以我们无从得知我们是怎么走到今天这一步的。
07:06
So there are two options选项:
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我们有两个选择:
07:08
intelligent智能 design设计, direct直接 and indirect间接 --
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直接或间接的智能设计论——
07:10
so God,
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要么是上帝
07:12
or my friend朋友.
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要么是我的朋友,
07:15
Now talking about E.T. putting us there, or some other life,
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如果说是E.T.将我们,或其他的生命放在这里,
07:18
just pushes the problem问题 further进一步 on.
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这就将问题更推进一步。
07:21
I'm not a politician政治家, I'm a scientist科学家.
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我不是政治家,我是一名科学家。
07:24
The other thing we need to think about
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我们可以思考的另外一件事,
07:26
is the emergence紧急情况 of chemical化学 complexity复杂.
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是化学复杂度的出现。
07:28
This seems似乎 most likely容易.
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这似乎是最有可能的情形。
07:30
So we have some kind of primordial原始 soup.
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因此地球上出现了某种原始汤
07:32
And this one happens发生 to be
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并且它碰巧是
07:34
a good source资源 of all 20 amino氨基 acids.
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所有20种氨基酸的最好的来源。
07:36
And somehow不知何故
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并且通过某种方式,
07:38
these amino氨基 acids are combined结合,
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这些氨基酸彼此结合
07:40
and life begins开始.
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随后生命出现。
07:42
But life begins开始, what does that mean?
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但是生命的出现意味着什么?
07:44
What is life? What is this stuff东东 of life?
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什么是生命?形成生命的物质是什么?
07:47
So in the 1950s,
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50年代,
07:49
Miller-Urey米勒 - 尤里 did their fantastic奇妙 chemical化学 Frankenstein科学怪人 experiment实验,
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Miller和Urey进行了一项奇特的化学怪人试验,
07:54
where they did the equivalent当量 in the chemical化学 world世界.
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在试验中他们制造出一种相同的化学环境。
07:56
They took the basic基本 ingredients配料, put them in a single jar
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他们提取了一些基本的元素,将他们放到一个烧瓶里
07:59
and ignited点燃 them
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随后将其点燃
08:01
and put a lot of voltage电压 through通过.
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并且通过了大量的电压。
08:03
And they had a look at what was in the soup,
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他们观察溶液中出现了什么,
08:05
and they found发现 amino氨基 acids,
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于是他们发现了氨基酸。
08:08
but nothing came来了 out, there was no cell细胞.
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但是没有其他东西出现,并没有细胞。
08:10
So the whole整个 area's地区的 been stuck卡住 for a while,
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因此整项研究停滞了一段时间。
08:13
and it got reignited重燃 in the '80s
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直到80年代才重新开始,
08:16
when analytical分析 technologies技术 and computer电脑 technologies技术 were coming未来 on.
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正是分析技术和计算机科技正在发展的时期。
08:19
In my own拥有 laboratory实验室,
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在我自己的实验室里,
08:21
the way we're trying to create创建 inorganic无机 life
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我们创造物及生物的方式
08:24
is by using运用 many许多 different不同 reaction反应 formats格式.
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是通过使用许多不同的反应形式。
08:26
So what we're trying to do is do reactions反应 --
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因此我们正在做的是进行反应——
08:28
not in one flask烧瓶, but in tens of flasks,
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不是在一个烧瓶中,而是在数十个烧瓶中,
08:30
and connect them together一起,
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并且让他们彼此相连,
08:32
as you can see with this flow system系统, all these pipes管道.
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正如你看见的这些流动系统一样,他们全部由管道连接。
08:34
We can do it microfluidically微流体, we can do it lithographically光刻,
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我们可以通过微流体或平板印刷技术进行,
08:37
we can do it in a 3D printer打印机,
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也可以用3D打印机来制作,
08:39
we can do it in droplets液滴 for colleagues同事.
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同时我们可以让同事们在滴液中操作。
08:41
And the key thing is to have lots of complex复杂 chemistry化学
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而最关键的便是让一系列的化学反应
08:44
just bubbling冒泡 away.
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自然发生。
08:46
But that's probably大概 going to end结束 in failure失败,
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但这也很可能以失败告终。
08:50
so we need to be a bit more focused重点.
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所也我们需要更加努力。
08:52
And the answer回答, of course课程, lies with mice老鼠.
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至于答案,当然,就在老鼠身上。
08:54
This is how I remember记得 what I need as a chemist化学家.
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这让我想起我作为一个化学家所需要的一切东西。
08:57
I say, "Well I want molecules分子."
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我说,“我想制造分子。”
08:59
But I need a metabolism代谢, I need some energy能源.
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但是我需要一个新陈代谢系统,我需要一些能量。
09:02
I need some information信息, and I need a container容器.
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我需要一些信息,我需要一个容器。
09:05
Because if I want evolution演化,
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因为如果我想要进化,
09:07
I need containers集装箱 to compete竞争.
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我需要这些容器间彼此进行竞争。
09:09
So if you have a container容器,
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如果你拥有一个容器,
09:11
it's like getting得到 in your car汽车.
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就像你坐在你的车里。
09:13
"This is my car汽车,
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说,“这是我的车”,
09:15
and I'm going to drive驾驶 around and show显示 off my car汽车."
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“我想开着它转一转,并好好炫耀一番。”
09:17
And I imagine想像 you have a similar类似 thing
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我会想在细胞生物学上
09:19
in cellular细胞的 biology生物学
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生命出现时
09:21
with the emergence紧急情况 of life.
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你也会是这样的
09:23
So these things together一起 give us evolution演化, perhaps也许.
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所以也许这些事情共同使进化发生。
09:26
And the way to test测试 it in the laboratory实验室
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并且检测它的方法便是在实验室里,
09:28
is to make it minimal最小.
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使其最小化。
09:30
So what we're going to try and do
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所以我们接下来要尝试
09:32
is come up with an inorganic无机 Lego乐高玩具 kit套件 of molecules分子.
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捣鼓出一个无机的乐高分子积木
09:35
And so forgive原谅 the molecules分子 on the screen屏幕,
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请谅解这些屏幕上的分子,
09:37
but these are a very simple简单 kit套件.
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但是它们只是一种很简单的积木。
09:39
There's only maybe three or four different不同 types类型 of building建造 blocks present当下.
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现在可能只有三到四种不同的积木。
09:41
And we can aggregate骨料 them together一起
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我们可以将他们组合在一起
09:43
and make literally按照字面 thousands数千 and thousands数千
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并真实地制造出上千种
09:45
of really big nano-molecular纳米分子 molecules分子
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相当大的纳米分子
09:48
the same相同 size尺寸 of DNA脱氧核糖核酸 and proteins蛋白质,
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大小相当于DNA及蛋白质,
09:50
but there's no carbon in sight视力.
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但是其里面不含碳元素。
09:52
Carbon is banned取缔.
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碳并不是什么好东西。
09:54
And so with this Lego乐高玩具 kit套件,
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所以至于这个乐高积木,
09:56
we have the diversity多样 required需要
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我们需要它的复杂多样
09:58
for complex复杂 information信息 storage存储
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来储存复杂的信息
10:01
without DNA脱氧核糖核酸.
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而不需要DNA的参与。
10:03
But we need to make some containers集装箱.
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但是我们仍需要制作一些容器。
10:05
And just a few少数 months个月 ago in my lab实验室,
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就在几个月前,在我的实验室,
10:07
we were able能够 to take these very same相同 molecules分子 and make cells细胞 with them.
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我们可以以这些几乎相同的分子来制造细胞。
10:10
And you can see on the screen屏幕 a cell细胞 being存在 made制作.
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并且你可以从屏幕上看到一个细胞正在被制作出来。
10:13
And we're now going to put some chemistry化学 inside and do some chemistry化学 in this cell细胞.
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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。
10:16
And all I wanted to show显示 you
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我想要展示给你的是
10:18
is we can set up molecules分子
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我们能够建立分子
10:20
in membranes, in real真实 cells细胞,
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并置于细胞膜上,在真正的细胞里,
10:22
and then it sets up a kind of molecular分子 Darwinism达尔文主义,
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它能够建立一种适用达尔文主义的分子,
10:26
a molecular分子 survival生存 of the fittest适者生存.
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一种适者生存的分子。
10:28
And this movie电影 here
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这部影片
10:30
shows节目 this competition竞争 between之间 molecules分子.
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展示了分子间的竞争
10:32
Molecules分子 are competing竞争 for stuff东东.
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分子间为了物质而竞争
10:34
They're all made制作 of the same相同 stuff东东,
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他们都由同一种物质组成,
10:36
but they want their shape形状 to win赢得.
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但他们希望以自己的形态取胜。
10:38
They want their shape形状 to persist坚持.
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他们想让自己的形态存活下来。
10:40
And that is the key.
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那便是关键所在。
10:42
If we can somehow不知何故 encourage鼓励 these molecules分子
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如果我们能够以某种方式鼓励这些分子
10:44
to talk to each other and make the right shapes形状 and compete竞争,
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彼此连通、而后形成正确的形态并彼此竞争,
10:47
they will start开始 to form形成 cells细胞
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他们便会开始形成
10:49
that will replicate复制 and compete竞争.
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可以自我复制和竞争的细胞。
10:51
If we manage管理 to do that,
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如果我们真的能够做到,
10:53
forget忘记 the molecular分子 detail详情.
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先别理会分子的细节。
10:56
Let's zoom放大 out to what that could mean.
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让我们把回过头来看看那意味着什么。
10:58
So we have this special特别 theory理论 of evolution演化
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我们已经了解这种狭义进化论
11:00
that applies适用 only to organic有机 biology生物学, to us.
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这种进化论只能被应用于有机生物学,我们身上
11:03
If we could get evolution演化 into the material材料 world世界,
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如果我们能够使进化进入物质世界,
11:06
then I propose提出 we should have a general一般 theory理论 of evolution演化.
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我建议我们应得到一种广义进化论。
11:09
And that's really worth价值 thinking思维 about.
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这确实值得认真思考。
11:12
Does evolution演化 control控制
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进化会控制
11:14
the sophistication诡辩 of matter in the universe宇宙?
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宇宙中物质的复杂多样性吗?
11:17
Is there some driving主动 force through通过 evolution演化
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在进化的过程中是否存在某种推动力
11:20
that allows允许 matter to compete竞争?
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让物质能够彼此竞争?
11:22
So that means手段 we could then start开始
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因此那意味着我们能够开始
11:24
to develop发展 different不同 platforms平台
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开发出不同的平台
11:27
for exploring探索 this evolution演化.
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来探索这种进化。
11:29
So you imagine想像,
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所以你可以想象以下,
11:31
if we're able能够 to create创建 a self-sustaining自持 artificial人造 life form形成,
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如果我们能够创造一种能够独立生存的人工生命形式,
11:34
not only will this tell us about the origin起源 of life --
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这不仅能够告诉我们生命的起源——
11:37
that it's possible可能 that the universe宇宙 doesn't need carbon to be alive;
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宇宙可能不需要碳便能存活
11:40
it can use anything --
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宇宙可以由任何元素形成
11:42
we can then take [it] one step further进一步 and develop发展 new technologies技术,
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我们可以更进一步的开发新的技术,
11:45
because we can then use software软件 control控制
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因为我们能够用软件控制
11:47
for evolution演化 to code in.
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将进化译成编码。
11:49
So imagine想像 we make a little cell细胞.
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所以想象一下我们制造了一个小小的细胞。
11:51
We want to put it out in the environment环境,
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我们希望将它放在自然环境中,
11:53
and we want it to be powered动力 by the Sun太阳.
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我们想让它由太阳来供给能量。
11:55
What we do is we evolve发展 it in a box with a light on.
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我们要做的是将它放在一个有光照的盒子里
11:58
And we don't use design设计 anymore. We find what works作品.
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我们不需要任何其他的设计,便可以知道发生了什么。
12:01
We should take our inspiration灵感 from biology生物学.
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我们应该从生物学中获取灵感。
12:03
Biology生物学 doesn't care关心 about the design设计
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设计在生物学中并不重要,
12:05
unless除非 it works作品.
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除非它实用
12:07
So this will reorganize改组
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所以这将重新建构
12:09
the way we design设计 things.
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我们设计事物的方式。
12:11
But not only just that,
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但是不仅如此,
12:13
we will start开始 to think about
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我们会开始思考
12:15
how we can start开始 to develop发展 a symbiotic共生 relationship关系 with biology生物学.
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我们要怎样在生物学中发展出一种共生关系。
12:18
Wouldn't岂不 it be great
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这不是很棒吗?
12:20
if you could take these artificial人造 biological生物 cells细胞
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如果你能确实得到这些人工制造的生物细胞
12:22
and fuse保险丝 them with biological生物 ones那些
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并将他们同生物细胞相融合
12:24
to correct正确 problems问题 that we couldn't不能 really deal合同 with?
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从而修正那些我们未能真正解决的问题。
12:27
The real真实 issue问题 in cellular细胞的 biology生物学
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细胞生物学的真正问题
12:29
is we are never going to understand理解 everything,
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在于我们从来没有试图理解过任何事情,
12:32
because it's a multidimensional多维 problem问题 put there by evolution演化.
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因为它是一个由进化产生的多维度问题。
12:35
Evolution演化 cannot不能 be cut apart距离.
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进化不能被分割开来。
12:38
You need to somehow不知何故 find the fitness身体素质 function功能.
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你需要通过某种方式找到最合适的机能。
12:41
And the profound深刻 realization实现 for me
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并且于我而言,最深层的体会
12:43
is that, if this works作品,
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在于,如果这能成功的话,
12:45
the concept概念 of the selfish自私 gene基因 gets得到 kicked up a level水平,
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自利基因的概念会成为众矢之的
12:48
and we really start开始 talking about selfish自私 matter.
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因为这些是真正的自私基因
12:51
And what does that mean in a universe宇宙
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在一个我们人类为最高物质形态的宇宙中
12:53
where we are right now the highest最高 form形成 of stuff东东?
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那意味着什么?
12:56
You're sitting坐在 on chairs椅子.
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你坐在椅子上。
12:58
They're inanimate老成, they're not alive.
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椅子是没有生命的,他们不是活着的。
13:00
But you are made制作 of stuff东东, and you are using运用 stuff东东,
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但是你是由物质组成的,并且你正在使用物质,
13:02
and you enslave奴役 stuff东东.
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同时你奴役着物质。
13:04
So using运用 evolution演化
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所以使用进化这个概念
13:06
in biology生物学,
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在生物学领域
13:08
and in inorganic无机 biology生物学,
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和有机生物学领域
13:10
for me is quite相当 appealing吸引人的, quite相当 exciting扣人心弦.
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对我来说是非常有说服力,非常令人激动的。
13:12
And we're really becoming变得 very close
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同时我们彼此间变得十分紧密
13:15
to understanding理解 the key steps脚步
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从而理解这些
13:17
that makes品牌 dead stuff东东 come alive.
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使无生命的物质具有生命的关键步骤。
13:20
And again, when you're thinking思维 about how improbable难以置信 this is,
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再一次,当你觉得这不大可能的话
13:23
remember记得, five billion十亿 years年份 ago,
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别忘了,50亿年前,
13:25
we were not here, and there was no life.
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地球上没有人类,没有生命。
13:28
So what will that tell us
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所以这能告诉我们什么
13:30
about the origin起源 of life and the meaning含义 of life?
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关于生命的起源和含义?
13:33
But perhaps也许, for me as a chemist化学家,
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也许对于我一个化学家来说,
13:35
I want to keep away from general一般 terms条款;
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我不想仅是笼统的思考;
13:37
I want to think about specifics细节.
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而是具体的思考这一点。
13:39
So what does it mean about defining确定 life?
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给生命下个定义,这意味着什么?
13:41
We really struggle斗争 to do this.
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我们真的尽了最大的努力去做这件事。
13:43
And I think, if we can make inorganic无机 biology生物学,
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我想,如果我们能够制造无机生物,
13:45
and we can make matter become成为 evolvable可进化,
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并且我们能让物质变得可以进化。
13:48
that will in fact事实 define确定 life.
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事实上我们已经能够定义生命。
13:50
I propose提出 to you
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我的目的是告诉你们
13:52
that matter that can evolve发展 is alive,
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能够进化的物质就是有生命的,
13:55
and this gives us the idea理念 of making制造 evolvable可进化 matter.
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并且这给了我们制造可进化物质的灵感。
13:58
Thank you very much.
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非常感谢。
14:00
(Applause掌声)
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(掌声)
14:07
Chris克里斯 Anderson安德森: Just a quick question on timeline时间线.
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Chris Anderson:还有一个很短的问题。
14:11
You believe you're going to be successful成功 in this project项目?
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你相信你能在这个项目上取得成功吗?
14:13
When?
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什么时候?
14:15
Lee背风处 Cronin克罗宁: So many许多 people think
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Lee Cronin:很多人认为
14:17
that life took millions百万 of years年份 to kick in.
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生命用了数百万年的时间起作用。
14:19
We're proposing建议 to do it in just a few少数 hours小时,
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而我们的方法只要配置好
14:22
once一旦 we've我们已经 set up
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化学成分
14:24
the right chemistry化学.
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几个小时就成
14:26
CACA: And when do you think that will happen发生?
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CA:你认为那什么时候会发生?
14:28
LCLC: Hopefully希望 within the next下一个 two years年份.
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LC:希望在接下来的两年内。
14:31
CACA: That would be a big story故事.
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CA:那一定是件大事。
14:33
(Laughter笑声)
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(笑声)
14:35
In your own拥有 mind心神, what do you believe the chances机会 are
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在你看来,你相信这件事情发生的概率是多少
14:37
that walking步行 around on some other planet行星
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当你走在其他的星球上
14:39
is non-carbon-based非碳基 life,
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发现并没有碳基生命
14:41
walking步行 or oozing渗血 or something?
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在行走或流动着?
14:43
LCLC: I think it's 100 percent百分.
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LC:我认为是百分百可能。
14:45
Because the thing is, we are so chauvinistic盲目的爱国心的 to biology生物学,
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因为关键的是,我们在生物学领域太过沙文主义,
14:48
if you take away carbon, there's other things that can happen发生.
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如果你去掉碳元素,会其他的事情发生。
14:50
So the other thing
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所以那些其他的事情
14:52
that if we were able能够 to create创建 life that's not based基于 on carbon,
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如果我们能够创造非碳基生命,
14:54
maybe we can tell NASANASA what really to look for.
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也许我们能够告诉NASA到底要寻找什么。
14:57
Don't go and look for carbon, go and look for evolvable可进化 stuff东东.
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不要去找碳元素,去找一下可进化的物质。
15:00
CACA: Lee背风处 Cronin克罗宁, good luck运气. (LCLC: Thank you very much.)
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CA:Lee Cronin,祝你好运。(LC:非常感谢。)
15:02
(Applause掌声)
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(掌声)
Translated by heather Zhao
Reviewed by Chunxiang Qian

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lee Cronin - Chemist
A professor of chemistry, nanoscience and chemical complexity, Lee Cronin and his research group investigate how chemistry can revolutionize modern technology and even create life.

Why you should listen

Lee Cronin's lab at the University of Glasgow does cutting-edge research into how complex chemical systems, created from non-biological building blocks, can have real-world applications with wide impact. At TEDGlobal 2012, Cronin shared some of the lab's latest work: creating a 3D printer for molecules. This device -- which has been prototyped -- can download plans for molecules and print them, in the same way that a 3D printer creates objects. In the future, Cronin says this technology could potentially be used to print medicine -- cheaply and wherever it is needed. As Cronin says: "What Apple did for music, I'd like to do for the discovery and distribution of prescription drugs."

At TEDGlobal 2011, Cronin shared his lab's bold plan to create life. At the moment, bacteria is the minimum unit of life -- the smallest chemical unit that can undergo evolution. But in Cronin's emerging field, he's thinking about forms of life that won't be biological. To explore this, and to try to understand how life itself originated from chemicals, Cronin and others are attempting to create truly artificial life from completely non-biological chemistries that mimic the behavior of natural cells. They call these chemical cells, or Chells. 

Cronin's research interests also encompass self-assembly and self-growing structures -- the better to assemble life at nanoscale. At the University of Glasgow, this work on crystal structures is producing a raft of papers from his research group. He says: "Basically one of my longstanding research goals is to understand how life emerged on planet Earth and re-create the process."

Read the papers referenced in his TEDGlobal 2102 talk:

Integrated 3D-printed reactionware for chemical synthesis and analysis, Nature Chemistry

Configurable 3D-Printed millifluidic and microfluidic ‘lab on a chip’ reactionware devices, Lab on a Chip

More profile about the speaker
Lee Cronin | Speaker | TED.com