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Jim Al-Khalili: How quantum biology might explain life's biggest questions
量子生物学如何解答关于生命的最重要问题
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知更鸟如何向南迁徙？其原因或比你想的还奇怪：因为它到了牵涉量子力学。Jim Al-Khalili的演讲集合了量子生物世界里的一些极其新颖、迥异的例子，其中一个被爱因斯坦称为“鬼魅般的超具作用”参与了鸟类的导航，且量子效应或可为我们揭示生命的起源。
Jim Al-Khalili - Quantum physicist
Physicist Jim Al-Khalili and co-author Johnjoe McFadden, a biologist, explore the far edges of quantum biology in their book "Life on the Edge." Full bio
Physicist Jim Al-Khalili and co-author Johnjoe McFadden, a biologist, explore the far edges of quantum biology in their book "Life on the Edge." Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
I'd like to introduce you
to an emerging area of science,
to an emerging area of science,
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我想给大家介绍一个新兴的科学领域，
00:17
one that is still speculative
but hugely exciting,
but hugely exciting,
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这个领域还处在理论阶段，但也很激动人心，
00:21
and certainly one
that's growing very rapidly.
that's growing very rapidly.
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当然目前发展也很迅猛。
00:25
Quantum biology
asks a very simple question:
asks a very simple question:
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量子生物学提出了一个非常简单的问题：
00:29
Does quantum mechanics --
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量子力学——
00:30
that weird and wonderful
and powerful theory
and powerful theory
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这是个关于原子和分子的亚原子世界理论，
00:34
of the subatomic world
of atoms and molecules
of atoms and molecules
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一个既神秘又奇妙还很强大的理论，
00:36
that underpins so much
of modern physics and chemistry --
of modern physics and chemistry --
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也是支撑着现代物理学和化学的理论——
00:40
also play a role inside the living cell?
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那它是否也在活体细胞里起着重要作用呢？
00:43
In other words: Are there processes,
mechanisms, phenomena
mechanisms, phenomena
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换句话说：在生物体当中，
00:47
in living organisms
that can only be explained
that can only be explained
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是否有一些过程、生理反应、现象，
00:51
with a helping hand
from quantum mechanics?
from quantum mechanics?
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是只能借助量子力学来解释的呢？
00:55
Now, quantum biology isn't new;
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其实量子生物学也不算新学科；
00:57
it's been around since the early 1930s.
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它的历史可追溯至20世纪30年代。
00:59
But it's only in the last decade or so
that careful experiments --
that careful experiments --
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但是直到十年前左右，才有了周密的实验——
01:03
in biochemistry labs,
using spectroscopy --
using spectroscopy --
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就是在生化实验室，利用光谱仪来做的实验——
01:07
have shown very clear, firm evidence
that there are certain specific mechanisms
that there are certain specific mechanisms
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结果给出了非常明确有力的证据，说明确实有某些生理反应
01:14
that require quantum mechanics
to explain them.
to explain them.
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需要通过量子力学来解释。
01:17
Quantum biology brings together
quantum physicists, biochemists,
quantum physicists, biochemists,
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量子生物学集合了物理学家、生化学家
01:21
molecular biologists --
it's a very interdisciplinary field.
it's a very interdisciplinary field.
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和分子生物学家——是一个极其跨学科的领域。
01:24
I come from quantum physics,
so I'm a nuclear physicist.
so I'm a nuclear physicist.
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我来自量子物理学领域，是个核物理学家。
01:28
I've spent more than three decades
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我花了三十多年的时间
01:30
trying to get my head
around quantum mechanics.
around quantum mechanics.
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来试图理解量子力学。
01:33
One of the founders
of quantum mechanics, Niels Bohr,
of quantum mechanics, Niels Bohr,
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Niels Bohr，量子力学之父之一，
01:36
said, If you're not astonished by it,
then you haven't understood it.
then you haven't understood it.
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说过，谁要是第一次听到量子理论时没有感到震惊，那他一定没听懂。
01:40
So I sort of feel happy
that I'm still astonished by it.
that I'm still astonished by it.
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我还蛮庆幸自己现在还挺震惊的。
01:43
That's a good thing.
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这是个好事。
01:44
But it means I study the very
smallest structures in the universe --
smallest structures in the universe --
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这是个好但这也说明我研究的只是这个宇宙最小的结构，
01:51
the building blocks of reality.
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这个建立现实世界的一砖一瓦。
01:53
If we think about the scale of size,
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要想知道这个结构的大小，
01:57
start with an everyday object
like the tennis ball,
like the tennis ball,
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那么我们从网球这种日常物品开始吧，
02:00
and just go down orders
of magnitude in size --
of magnitude in size --
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然后将物体按大小将序排列——
02:03
from the eye of a needle down to a cell,
down to a bacterium, down to an enzyme --
down to a bacterium, down to an enzyme --
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从针眼，到细胞，到细菌，再到酶——
02:08
you eventually reach the nano-world.
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最后才到纳米世界。
02:09
Now, nanotechnology may be
a term you've heard of.
a term you've heard of.
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你们也许都听过纳米技术这个词。
02:12
A nanometer is a billionth of a meter.
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一纳米就是十亿分之一米。
02:16
My area is the atomic nucleus,
which is the tiny dot inside an atom.
which is the tiny dot inside an atom.
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我的研究领域是原子核，也就是原子当中的那小个点。
02:20
It's even smaller in scale.
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它体积比这更小。
02:22
This is the domain of quantum mechanics,
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这就是量子力学的领域，
02:24
and physicists and chemists
have had a long time
have had a long time
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而物理学家和化学家花了很长的时间
02:27
to try and get used to it.
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来努力适应这个领域。
02:29
Biologists, on the other hand,
have got off lightly, in my view.
have got off lightly, in my view.
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而生物学家，在我看来，很轻松就避开了它。
02:34
They are very happy with their
balls-and-sticks models of molecules.
balls-and-sticks models of molecules.
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他们很满足于这些分子球棍模型。
02:38
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
02:39
The balls are the atoms, the sticks
are the bonds between the atoms.
are the bonds between the atoms.
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这球指的是原子，棍负责把原子连在一起。
02:42
And when they can't build them
physically in the lab,
physically in the lab,
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如果在实验室里无法建立起实体的分子模型，
02:45
nowadays, they have
very powerful computers
very powerful computers
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现在，他们也可以用强大的电脑
02:47
that will simulate a huge molecule.
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来建立模拟的巨大分子模型。
02:49
This is a protein made up
of 100,000 atoms.
of 100,000 atoms.
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这个蛋白质由100,000个原子组成。
02:54
It doesn't really require much in the way
of quantum mechanics to explain it.
of quantum mechanics to explain it.
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这不怎么需要量子力学来解释。
02:59
Quantum mechanics
was developed in the 1920s.
was developed in the 1920s.
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量子力学从上世纪20年代开始发展。
03:02
It is a set of beautiful and powerful
mathematical rules and ideas
mathematical rules and ideas
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这是一套美丽而又强大的数学法则和理念，
03:09
that explain the world of the very small.
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帮人们理解这个世界最小的结构。
03:12
And it's a world that's very different
from our everyday world,
from our everyday world,
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这是个和我们日常生活很不一样的世界，
03:15
made up of trillions of atoms.
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它由数万亿个原子组成。
03:17
It's a world built
on probability and chance.
on probability and chance.
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这是个建立在机率和概率之上的世界。
03:21
It's a fuzzy world.
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是个模糊的世界。
03:23
It's a world of phantoms,
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是个幽灵的世界，
03:24
where particles can also behave
like spread-out waves.
like spread-out waves.
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在这里，粒子们也可表现出散开的波状形态。
03:30
If we imagine quantum mechanics
or quantum physics, then,
or quantum physics, then,
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如果我们把量子力学或量子物理学想象成
03:33
as the fundamental
foundation of reality itself,
foundation of reality itself,
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现实世界的最根本基础，那么，
03:38
then it's not surprising that we say
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量子物理学支撑了有机化学，
03:40
quantum physics underpins
organic chemistry.
organic chemistry.
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这种说法就不足为奇了。
03:42
After all, it gives us
the rules that tell us
the rules that tell us
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毕竟，它有一套原则，
03:44
how the atoms fit together
to make organic molecules.
to make organic molecules.
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解释了原子如何组合在一起，从而建立起一个有机分子。
03:47
Organic chemistry,
scaled up in complexity,
scaled up in complexity,
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有机化学，随着复杂度的增加，
03:50
gives us molecular biology,
which of course leads to life itself.
which of course leads to life itself.
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又建立了分子生物学，而它又将我们带入生命科学。
03:54
So in a way, it's sort of not surprising.
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所以，从某个角度来说，这不足为奇。
03:56
It's almost trivial.
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这算是鸡毛蒜皮了。
03:57
You say, "Well, of course life ultimately
must depend of quantum mechanics."
must depend of quantum mechanics."
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你会说，“嗯，生命当然最终要靠量子力学来解释。”
04:02
But so does everything else.
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但此外的一切也都是如此。
04:04
So does all inanimate matter,
made up of trillions of atoms.
made up of trillions of atoms.
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所有无机物，也都是由数万亿个原子组成的。
04:08
Ultimately, there's a quantum level
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最后，我们得在量子的层面上
04:13
where we have to delve into
this weirdness.
this weirdness.
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来探究这领域的神秘之处。
04:15
But in everyday life,
we can forget about it.
we can forget about it.
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但在日常生活中，我们会忘记它的神秘感。
04:18
Because once you put together
trillions of atoms,
trillions of atoms,
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因为，当数万亿个原子聚集在一起时，
04:21
that quantum weirdness
just dissolves away.
just dissolves away.
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量子的神秘感就消失了。
04:27
Quantum biology isn't about this.
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量子生物学说的不是这个。
04:29
Quantum biology isn't this obvious.
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量子生物学没这么浅显。
04:32
Of course quantum mechanics
underpins life at some molecular level.
underpins life at some molecular level.
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当然，量子力学在分子水平上支撑着生命。
04:37
Quantum biology is about looking
for the non-trivial --
for the non-trivial --
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量子生物学旨在寻找重要的东西——
04:43
the counterintuitive ideas
in quantum mechanics --
in quantum mechanics --
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量子力学当中的反直觉观念——
04:47
and to see if they do, indeed,
play an important role
play an important role
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然后了解它们是否会在
04:50
in describing the processes of life.
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描述生命进程中起到重要的作用。
04:54
Here is my perfect example
of the counterintuitiveness
of the counterintuitiveness
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我有一个完美的例子来解释
04:59
of the quantum world.
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量子世界的反直觉观念。
05:01
This is the quantum skier.
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这是个量子滑雪者。
05:02
He seems to be intact,
he seems to be perfectly healthy,
he seems to be perfectly healthy,
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他看起来很完整，看起来很健康，
05:05
and yet, he seems to have gone around
both sides of that tree at the same time.
both sides of that tree at the same time.
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但是，他也好像同时穿过了那棵树的两边。
05:09
Well, if you saw tracks like that
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嗯，当然，如果你看到这样的滑雪轨迹，
05:11
you'd guess it was some
sort of stunt, of course.
sort of stunt, of course.
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你可能会觉得这是某种特技。
05:13
But in the quantum world,
this happens all the time.
this happens all the time.
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但在量子世界里，这无时不刻都会发生。
05:16
Particles can multitask,
they can be in two places at once.
they can be in two places at once.
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粒子是可以进行多任务处理的，它们可以同时出现在两个地方。
05:19
They can do more than one thing
at the same time.
at the same time.
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它们在同一时间能执行多项任务。
05:22
Particles can behave
like spread-out waves.
like spread-out waves.
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它们好像散开的涟漪一样。
05:25
It's almost like magic.
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就好比魔术。
05:27
Physicists and chemists have had
nearly a century
nearly a century
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物理学家和化学家用了近一个世纪
05:30
of trying to get used to this weirdness.
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来适应这种神秘之物。
05:33
I don't blame the biologists
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我也不怪生物学家
05:34
for not having to or wanting
to learn quantum mechanics.
to learn quantum mechanics.
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不用或不想学习量子力学。
05:37
You see, this weirdness is very delicate;
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你们看，这种神秘是很微妙的；
05:40
and we physicists work very hard
to maintain it in our labs.
to maintain it in our labs.
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我们物理学家在实验室里下了很大功夫来稳定它。
05:45
We cool our system down
to near absolute zero,
to near absolute zero,
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我们把我们的系统冷却到接近绝对零度，
05:49
we carry out our experiments in vacuums,
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在真空中进行我们的实验，
05:51
we try and isolate it
from any external disturbance.
from any external disturbance.
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我们努力将其从任何外界干扰中分离出来。
05:55
That's very different from the warm,
messy, noisy environment of a living cell.
messy, noisy environment of a living cell.
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那和活体细胞里温暖、凌乱又嘈杂的环境大相径庭。
06:01
Biology itself, if you think of
molecular biology,
molecular biology,
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生物学，就分子生物学而言
06:04
seems to have done very well
in describing all the processes of life
in describing all the processes of life
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，它似乎在化学——化学反应方面
06:08
in terms of chemistry --
chemical reactions.
chemical reactions.
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非常好地阐释了所有的生命进程。
06:10
And these are reductionist,
deterministic chemical reactions,
deterministic chemical reactions,
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而这都是还原论、确定性的化学反应，
06:15
showing that, essentially, life is made
of the same stuff as everything else,
of the same stuff as everything else,
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它们显示，生命的成分说到底和其他事物一样，
06:20
and if we can forget about quantum
mechanics in the macro world,
mechanics in the macro world,
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而且我们要是可以在宏观世界里忘掉量子力学，
06:23
then we should be able to forget
about it in biology, as well.
about it in biology, as well.
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那我们也可以在生物学中忘掉它。
06:27
Well, one man begged
to differ with this idea.
to differ with this idea.
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然而，有个人不同意这个观点。
06:32
Erwin Schrödinger,
of Schrödinger's Cat fame,
of Schrödinger's Cat fame,
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那就是埃尔温·薛定谔，他有个著名的薛定谔猫实验，
06:35
was an Austrian physicist.
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是个奥地利物理学家。
06:36
He was one of the founders
of quantum mechanics in the 1920s.
of quantum mechanics in the 1920s.
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他是20世纪20年代量子力学创始人之一。
06:40
In 1944, he wrote a book
called "What is Life?"
called "What is Life?"
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1944年，他写了本书叫做《生命是什么？》
06:43
It was tremendously influential.
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这本书影响巨大。
06:45
It influenced Francis Crick
and James Watson,
and James Watson,
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它影响了弗朗西斯·克里克和詹姆斯·沃森，
06:48
the discoverers of the double-helix
structure of DNA.
structure of DNA.
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就是发现DNA双螺旋结构的那两个人。
06:51
To paraphrase a description
in the book, he says:
in the book, he says:
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在书中，他表达了这样的意思：
06:55
At the molecular level,
living organisms have a certain order,
living organisms have a certain order,
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在分子水平上，生命体有着某种秩序，
07:00
a structure to them that's very different
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一种结构，使其和其他随机的热力学原子冲撞
07:04
from the random thermodynamic jostling
of atoms and molecules
of atoms and molecules
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以及一样复杂的无机质分子
07:08
in inanimate matter
of the same complexity.
of the same complexity.
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有着天壤之别。
07:13
In fact, living matter seems to behave
in this order, in a structure,
in this order, in a structure,
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实际上，生命体似乎就是在一个结构中，以这种秩序运转着，
07:18
just like inanimate matter
cooled down to near absolute zero,
cooled down to near absolute zero,
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就好像被冷却到近绝对零度的无机质一样，
07:22
where quantum effects
play a very important role.
play a very important role.
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量子理论在这里起到了很重要的作用。
07:26
There's something special
about the structure -- the order --
about the structure -- the order --
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活体细胞中的这个结构——这个秩序——
07:30
inside a living cell.
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有着一些特别之处。
07:32
So, Schrödinger speculated that maybe
quantum mechanics plays a role in life.
quantum mechanics plays a role in life.
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所以，薛定谔推测，也许量子力学在生命学当中起到了某些作用。
07:38
It's a very speculative,
far-reaching idea,
far-reaching idea,
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这是个极具推测性的且影响深远的观点，
07:41
and it didn't really go very far.
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但也没怎么发展下去了。
07:45
But as I mentioned at the start,
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但正如我一开始说的，
07:47
in the last 10 years, there have been
experiments emerging,
experiments emerging,
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在过去10年做了些实验，
07:49
showing where some of these
certain phenomena in biology
certain phenomena in biology
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实验结果显示生物学中的某些现象
07:53
do seem to require quantum mechanics.
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确实需要量子力学来解释。
07:55
I want to share with you
just a few of the exciting ones.
just a few of the exciting ones.
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我想和大家分享几个最激动人心的实验。
08:00
This is one of the best-known
phenomena in the quantum world,
phenomena in the quantum world,
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这是量子世界里最有名的现象之一，
08:03
quantum tunneling.
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叫做量子隧穿。
08:05
The box on the left shows
the wavelike, spread-out distribution
the wavelike, spread-out distribution
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左边的框里有一个量子实体，它像波一样扩散开来——
08:10
of a quantum entity --
a particle, like an electron,
a particle, like an electron,
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这是个像电子一样的粒子，
08:12
which is not a little ball
bouncing off a wall.
bouncing off a wall.
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它和从墙上反弹回来的小球不一样。
08:16
It's a wave that has a certain probability
of being able to permeate
of being able to permeate
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它是一个波，可以穿过
08:21
through a solid wall, like a phantom
leaping through to the other side.
leaping through to the other side.
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一个实心墙，像个幽灵似地从一边穿透到另一边。
08:24
You can see a faint smudge of light
in the right-hand box.
in the right-hand box.
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你在右手边的框里可以看到一些微弱的光斑。
08:29
Quantum tunneling suggests that a particle
can hit an impenetrable barrier,
can hit an impenetrable barrier,
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量子隧穿表明，一个粒子能够撞上一堵无法穿透的墙，
08:34
and yet somehow, as though by magic,
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然而却又能像魔术一样，
08:36
disappear from one side
and reappear on the other.
and reappear on the other.
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从墙的一侧消失并出现在另一侧。
08:39
The nicest way of explaining it is
if you want to throw a ball over a wall,
if you want to throw a ball over a wall,
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用最好的方法来解释的话，就是说如果你要把一个球扔到墙的另一侧，
08:43
you have to give it enough energy
to get over the top of the wall.
to get over the top of the wall.
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那你要给它足够能量让它越过墙顶。
08:47
In the quantum world,
you don't have to throw it over the wall,
you don't have to throw it over the wall,
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但在量子世界里，你不需要将它从墙顶上扔过去，
08:50
you can throw it at the wall,
and there's a certain non-zero probability
and there's a certain non-zero probability
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你只要往墙上扔就好了，然后这个球会在你这侧消失并出现在另一侧，
08:54
that it'll disappear on your side,
and reappear on the other.
and reappear on the other.
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而这个概率为非零。
08:57
This isn't speculation, by the way.
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这不是推测，顺便提下。
08:59
We're happy -- well, "happy"
is not the right word --
is not the right word --
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我们很高兴——额，“高兴”这个词用得不对——
09:02
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
09:04
we are familiar with this.
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我们是熟悉这个的。
09:06
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
09:08
Quantum tunneling
takes place all the time;
takes place all the time;
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量子隧穿随时随刻都在发生；
09:11
in fact, it's the reason our Sun shines.
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实际上，这也是太阳发光的原因。
09:14
The particles fuse together,
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粒子融合在一起，
09:16
and the Sun turns hydrogen
into helium through quantum tunneling.
into helium through quantum tunneling.
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然后太阳通过量子隧穿将氢转化为氦。
09:21
Back in the 70s and 80s, it was discovered
that quantum tunneling also takes place
that quantum tunneling also takes place
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七八十年代的时候，人们发现活细胞中
09:26
inside living cells.
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也有量子隧穿。
09:28
Enzymes, those workhorses of life,
the catalysts of chemical reactions --
the catalysts of chemical reactions --
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酶，为维持生命努力运作着，是化学反应的催化剂——
09:34
enzymes are biomolecules that speed up
chemical reactions in living cells,
chemical reactions in living cells,
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酶这种生物分子加快了活细胞中的化学反应，
09:38
by many, many orders of magnitude.
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规模大小不一。
09:40
And it's always been a mystery
how they do this.
how they do this.
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但它们是如何做到这点的，至今任是一个谜。
09:43
Well, it was discovered
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嗯，人们发现
09:44
that one of the tricks that enzymes
have evolved to make use of,
have evolved to make use of,
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酶发展出了一种方法，
09:49
is by transferring subatomic particles,
like electrons and indeed protons,
like electrons and indeed protons,
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就是通过传送亚原子粒子，例如电子和当然还有质子这种，
09:54
from one part of a molecule
to another via quantum tunneling.
to another via quantum tunneling.
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酶通过量子隧穿将它们从分子的一部分传输到另一部分。
10:00
It's efficient, it's fast,
it can disappear --
it can disappear --
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这效率非常高，很快，它——
10:03
a proton can disappear from one place,
and reappear on the other.
and reappear on the other.
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一个质子能从一个地方消失，然后在另一个地方再出现。
10:06
Enzymes help this take place.
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而酶使之成为可能。
10:08
This is research that's been
carried out back in the 80s,
carried out back in the 80s,
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这个研究是在80年代进行的，
10:11
particularly by a group
in Berkeley, Judith Klinman.
in Berkeley, Judith Klinman.
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其中Judith Klinman带领的一个伯克利的团队作用尤其突出。
10:15
Other groups in the UK
have now also confirmed
have now also confirmed
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另一些英国的团队现在也已肯定
10:17
that enzymes really do this.
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酶有这种能力。
10:21
Research carried out by my group --
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我的团队做的研究——
10:23
so as I mentioned,
I'm a nuclear physicist,
I'm a nuclear physicist,
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我之前说过，我是个核物理学家，
10:26
but I've realized I've got these tools
of using quantum mechanics
of using quantum mechanics
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但我也意识到，我已在原子核领域应用了量子力学，
10:29
in atomic nuclei, and so can apply
those tools in other areas as well.
those tools in other areas as well.
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那么我也可以把它也应用到其他领域。
10:35
One question we asked
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我们提出的一个问题是
10:37
is whether quantum tunneling
plays a role in mutations in DNA.
plays a role in mutations in DNA.
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量子隧穿在DNA变异中是否也发挥着作用。
10:41
Again, this is not a new idea;
it goes all the way back to the early 60s.
it goes all the way back to the early 60s.
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这仍然不是个新概念；它任然要追溯到60年代早期。
10:45
The two strands of DNA,
the double-helix structure,
the double-helix structure,
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DNA分子链，即双螺旋结构，
10:48
are held together by rungs;
it's like a twisted ladder.
it's like a twisted ladder.
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是由像阶梯一样的东西连接在一起的；像是个扭曲的梯子一样。
10:51
And those rungs of the ladder
are hydrogen bonds --
are hydrogen bonds --
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而这些梯子上的阶梯就是氢键——
10:54
protons, that act as the glue
between the two strands.
between the two strands.
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质子，其作用是将两束分子链黏合在一起。
10:58
So if you zoom in, what they're doing
is holding these large molecules --
is holding these large molecules --
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那么放大来看，你就会发现它们将这些大分子——
11:03
nucleotides -- together.
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核苷酸——聚合在一起。
11:06
Zoom in a bit more.
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再放大一点看：
11:07
So, this a computer simulation.
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这是个电脑模拟。
11:09
The two white balls
in the middle are protons,
in the middle are protons,
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中间的两个白色的球是质子，
11:13
and you can see that
it's a double hydrogen bond.
it's a double hydrogen bond.
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你们看得到这是双氢键。
11:15
One prefers to sit on one side;
the other, on the other side
the other, on the other side
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其中一个喜欢待在这端；另一个，则待在双链的另一端，
11:19
of the two strands of the vertical lines
going down, which you can't see.
going down, which you can't see.
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这是纵向走向的，你们看不到。
11:24
It can happen that
these two protons can hop over.
these two protons can hop over.
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这两个质子也有可能跳到另一端。
11:27
Watch the two white balls.
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看着两个白球。
11:29
They can jump over to the other side.
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它们可以跳到另外一端。
11:32
If the two strands of DNA then separate,
leading to the process of replication,
leading to the process of replication,
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如果DNA双链分开了，引发复制过程，
11:37
and the two protons
are in the wrong positions,
are in the wrong positions,
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而恰好这两个质子的位置错了，
11:41
this can lead to a mutation.
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那么就会导致变异。
11:43
This has been known for half a century.
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这个现象已为人所知半个世纪了。
11:45
The question is: How likely
are they to do that,
are they to do that,
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但问题来了：它们发生错误的概率是多大，
11:47
and if they do, how do they do it?
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如果它们出错了，又是怎么出错的呢？
11:49
Do they jump across,
like the ball going over the wall?
like the ball going over the wall?
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它们就这样跳到另一端，就好像那个球越过那堵墙那样吗？
11:52
Or can they quantum-tunnel across,
even if they don't have enough energy?
even if they don't have enough energy?
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还是它们在没有足够能量的情况下，也能实现量子隧穿那样的穿越呢？
11:57
Early indications suggest that
quantum tunneling can play a role here.
quantum tunneling can play a role here.
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早期研究提出量子隧穿可能在这发挥了作用。
12:01
We still don't know yet
how important it is;
how important it is;
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我们还不知道其重要性有多大；
12:03
this is still an open question.
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目前还没有确切答案。
12:06
It's speculative,
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现在只有推测，
12:07
but it's one of those questions
that is so important
that is so important
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但如果说量子力学会影响变异的话，
12:10
that if quantum mechanics
plays a role in mutations,
plays a role in mutations,
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这就是个非常重要的问题之一了，
12:12
surely this must have big implications,
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对于理解某些类型的变异，
12:14
to understand certain types of mutations,
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甚至是可能导致细胞癌变的变异，
12:17
possibly even those that lead
to turning a cell cancerous.
to turning a cell cancerous.
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这当然这有着非常重大的意义。
12:22
Another example of quantum mechanics
in biology is quantum coherence,
in biology is quantum coherence,
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生物学中另一个量子力学的例子是，
12:28
in one of the most
important processes in biology,
important processes in biology,
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生物学中最重要的一个过程之一，
12:30
photosynthesis: plants
and bacteria taking sunlight,
and bacteria taking sunlight,
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光合作用里的量子相干性：植物和细菌吸收了光照，
12:34
and using that energy to create biomass.
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并利用其中的能量来制造生物质。
12:38
Quantum coherence is the idea
of quantum entities multitasking.
of quantum entities multitasking.
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量子相关性指的是量子实体同时执行多任务的现象。
12:42
It's the quantum skier.
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这是个量子滑雪者。
12:44
It's an object that behaves like a wave,
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这个物体表现得像波一样，
12:47
so that it doesn't just move
in one direction or the other,
in one direction or the other,
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所以它的移动不是单一方向的，
12:50
but can follow multiple pathways
at the same time.
at the same time.
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而是同时能够走不同的路线。
12:54
Some years ago,
the world of science was shocked
the world of science was shocked
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几年前，一篇论文的发布震惊了科学界，
12:58
when a paper was published
showing experimental evidence
showing experimental evidence
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它提出实验证明量子相干性
13:02
that quantum coherence
takes place inside bacteria,
takes place inside bacteria,
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存在于细菌中，
13:06
carrying out photosynthesis.
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执行着光合作用。
13:07
The idea is that the photon,
the particle of light, the sunlight,
the particle of light, the sunlight,
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这个观点说的是，光子，即光粒子，阳光，
13:10
the quantum of light
captured by a chlorophyll molecule,
captured by a chlorophyll molecule,
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光量子被叶绿素捕捉到后，
13:14
is then delivered to what's called
the reaction center,
the reaction center,
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被传递到叫做反应中心的地方，
13:16
where it can be turned into
chemical energy.
chemical energy.
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在这里它被转化成化学能量。
13:18
And in getting there,
it doesn't just follow one route;
it doesn't just follow one route;
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而到达反应中心的路线不止一个；
13:21
it follows multiple pathways at once,
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光量子会同时走多个路线，
13:23
to optimize the most efficient way
of reaching the reaction center
of reaching the reaction center
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最后找出最高效的路线达到反应中心，
13:28
without dissipating as waste heat.
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从而不会消耗成余热。
13:31
Quantum coherence taking place
inside a living cell.
inside a living cell.
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量子相干性效应也存在于活细胞里。
13:34
A remarkable idea,
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这是个卓越的观点，
13:36
and yet evidence is growing almost weekly,
with new papers coming out,
with new papers coming out,
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而目前每周也都有新证据、新论文发表来证明这个观点，
13:42
confirming that this
does indeed take place.
does indeed take place.
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证明这个现象的确存在。
13:45
My third and final example
is the most beautiful, wonderful idea.
is the most beautiful, wonderful idea.
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我的第三个也是最后一个例子，是个非常美丽奇妙的观点。
13:50
It's also still very speculative,
but I have to share it with you.
but I have to share it with you.
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同样也极具推测性，但我要和你们分享一下。
13:54
The European robin
migrates from Scandinavia
migrates from Scandinavia
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欧洲斯堪的纳维亚的知更鸟
13:59
down to the Mediterranean, every autumn,
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每个秋天都会迁徙到地中海，
14:01
and like a lot of other
marine animals and even insects,
marine animals and even insects,
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就和许多其它海洋动物甚至是昆虫一样，
14:05
they navigate by sensing
the Earth's magnetic field.
the Earth's magnetic field.
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它们都靠感应地球磁场来感知方向。
14:10
Now, the Earth's magnetic field
is very, very weak;
is very, very weak;
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地球磁场非常的弱；
14:13
it's 100 times weaker
than a fridge magnet,
than a fridge magnet,
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它比我们的冰箱贴还弱100倍，
14:15
and yet it affects the chemistry --
somehow -- within a living organism.
somehow -- within a living organism.
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然而它却影响着生物体中的化学反应。
14:21
That's not in doubt --
a German couple of ornithologists,
a German couple of ornithologists,
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毋庸置疑——德国的鸟类学家夫妇
14:25
Wolfgang and Roswitha Wiltschko,
in the 1970s, confirmed that indeed,
in the 1970s, confirmed that indeed,
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Wolfgang和Roswitha Wiltschko在20世纪70年代确认，
14:30
the robin does find its way by somehow
sensing the Earth's magnetic field,
sensing the Earth's magnetic field,
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知更鸟的确通过感应地球磁场来探路，
14:34
to give it directional information --
a built-in compass.
a built-in compass.
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从中获取方向信息——这是一种内置的指南针。
14:37
The puzzle, the mystery was:
How does it do it?
How does it do it?
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令人不解的谜团是：它们是怎么做到的？
14:40
Well, the only theory in town --
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嗯，我们现在只有一个理论--
14:43
we don't know if it's the correct theory,
but the only theory in town --
but the only theory in town --
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我们不确定这个理论是否正确，但目前只有这么一个理论--
14:46
is that it does it via something
called quantum entanglement.
called quantum entanglement.
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就是，它们是通过一个叫做量子纠缠的效应来实现导航的。
14:50
Inside the robin's retina --
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在知更鸟的视网膜里--
14:52
I kid you not -- inside the robin's retina
is a protein called cryptochrome,
is a protein called cryptochrome,
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我可不是开玩笑啊--在知更鸟的视网膜上有一个蛋白质
14:57
which is light-sensitive.
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叫做隐花色素，它对光很敏感。
14:58
Within cryptochrome, a pair of electrons
are quantum-entangled.
are quantum-entangled.
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在印花色素里，有一对相互纠缠的电子。
15:02
Now, quantum entanglement
is when two particles are far apart,
is when two particles are far apart,
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量子纠缠意味着两个粒子相距甚远，
15:05
and yet somehow remain
in contact with each other.
in contact with each other.
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却又能彼此保持联系。
15:08
Even Einstein hated this idea;
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连爱因斯坦都讨厌这个观点；
15:10
he called it "spooky action
at a distance."
at a distance."
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他把它叫做“鬼魅般的超距作用。”
15:12
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
15:14
So if Einstein doesn't like it,
then we can all be uncomfortable with it.
then we can all be uncomfortable with it.
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那么如果爱因斯坦不喜欢这个观点，那么我们就有理由也不喜欢。
15:17
Two quantum-entangled electrons
within a single molecule
within a single molecule
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单细胞当中的两个有着量子纠缠关系的电子
15:20
dance a delicate dance
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跳着非常微妙的舞蹈，
15:22
that is very sensitive
to the direction the bird flies
to the direction the bird flies
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并对鸟类在地球磁场里
15:24
in the Earth's magnetic field.
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飞翔的方向很敏感。
15:26
We don't know if it's
the correct explanation,
the correct explanation,
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我不知道这么说对不对，
15:29
but wow, wouldn't it be exciting
if quantum mechanics helps birds navigate?
if quantum mechanics helps birds navigate?
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但是哇哦，如果量子力学能帮助鸟类感知方向，这不是很激动人心的事吗？
15:35
Quantum biology is still in it infancy.
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量子生物学还处在婴儿时期。
15:37
It's still speculative.
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还处在推测阶段。
15:41
But I believe it's built on solid science.
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不过我相信它是建立在严谨科学之上的。
15:45
I also think that
in the coming decade or so,
in the coming decade or so,
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我也认为在接下来十年左右，
15:49
we're going to start to see
that actually, it pervades life --
that actually, it pervades life --
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我们会看到，其实它在生活中无处不在——
15:54
that life has evolved tricks
that utilize the quantum world.
that utilize the quantum world.
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生活已经演变出了许多利用量子世界的技能。
16:00
Watch this space.
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请关注这个领域。
16:01
Thank you.
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谢谢。
16:02
(Applause)
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（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jim Al-Khalili - Quantum physicistPhysicist Jim Al-Khalili and co-author Johnjoe McFadden, a biologist, explore the far edges of quantum biology in their book "Life on the Edge."
Why you should listen
A professor of physics at the University of Surrey, Jim Al-Khalili doubles as a science communicator and broadcaster. He’s the co-author with Johnjoe McFadden of Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology. The book explores this emerging -- and still largely speculative -- area of science suggesting that quantum mechanics may play a role in biology. If so, it may help us understand what drives genetic mutations that lead to cancer, or how robins fly from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean.
More profile about the speakerJim Al-Khalili | Speaker | TED.com