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Jill Farrant: How we can make crops survive without water
吉尔·法兰特: 如何让植物在无水状态下存活
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随着世界人口的增长和愈加明显的环境改变我们必须用更少的土地养育更多的人。分子生物学家吉尔·法兰特通过研究一种稀有的现象“复苏植物”希望对此有所帮助。复苏植物就是具有超强抵抗干旱能力似乎可以死而复生的植物。它们会带来将来在更加燥热干旱的土地上种植粮食的希望么？
Jill Farrant - Professor of molecular and cell biology
Jill Farrant is leading the development of drought-tolerant crops to nourish populations in arid climates. Full bio
Jill Farrant is leading the development of drought-tolerant crops to nourish populations in arid climates. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I believe that the secret to producing
extremely drought-tolerant crops,
extremely drought-tolerant crops,
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我认为培育十分耐旱的农作物
00:17
which should go some way
to providing food security in the world,
to providing food security in the world,
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某种程度上可以保障世界粮食安全
00:20
lies in resurrection plants,
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而其中的秘诀在于这张
00:23
pictured here, in an extremely
droughted state.
droughted state.
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拍摄于一个非常干旱的州的
图片中的复苏植物。
图片中的复苏植物。
00:26
You might think
that these plants look dead,
that these plants look dead,
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你也许认为这些植物看起来已经死了
00:29
but they're not.
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但其实它们没死。
00:30
Give them water,
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如果给它们水
00:31
and they will resurrect, green up,
start growing, in 12 to 48 hours.
start growing, in 12 to 48 hours.
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它们将会在12-48小时后
复活，变绿，开始生长。
复活，变绿，开始生长。
00:38
Now, why would I suggest
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现在，为什么我提议
00:39
that producing drought-tolerant crops
will go towards providing food security?
will go towards providing food security?
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培育耐旱的农作物
可以保障粮食安全呢？
可以保障粮食安全呢？
00:45
Well, the current world population
is around 7 billion.
is around 7 billion.
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当今世界人口大约为70亿
00:48
And it's estimated that by 2050,
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预计到2050年，
00:51
we'll be between 9 and 10 billion people,
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人口将增长至90-100亿，
00:54
with the bulk of this growth
happening in Africa.
happening in Africa.
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这其中大部分的人口增长在非洲。
00:57
The food and agricultural
organizations of the world
organizations of the world
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世界粮农组织
01:00
have suggested that we need
a 70 percent increase
a 70 percent increase
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建议我们在现有基础上
需要将农业产量
需要将农业产量
01:03
in current agricultural practice
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提高70%
01:05
to meet that demand.
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来满足那时的需求。
01:07
Given that plants
are at the base of the food chain,
are at the base of the food chain,
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因为植物是食物链的基础，
01:10
most of that's going
to have to come from plants.
to have to come from plants.
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所以增加的产量大部分需要来自植物。
01:13
That percentage of 70 percent
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但是70%的增量
01:16
does not take into consideration
the potential effects of climate change.
the potential effects of climate change.
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并没有考虑
气候变化所带来的潜在影响。
气候变化所带来的潜在影响。
01:20
This is taken from a study by Dai
published in 2011,
published in 2011,
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这是戴在2011年
发表的研究报告，
发表的研究报告，
01:25
where he took into consideration
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里面他考虑了
01:27
all the potential effects
of climate change
of climate change
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气候变化带来的所有可能的影响
01:29
and expressed them --
amongst other things --
amongst other things --
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然后把它们展现出来
其中就有
其中就有
01:31
increased aridity due to lack of rain
or infrequent rain.
or infrequent rain.
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由降水缺乏或频率低
所导致的干旱区域增加。
所导致的干旱区域增加。
01:36
The areas in red shown here,
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展示在这里的红色区域
01:38
are areas that until recently
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是到目前为止
01:40
have been very successfully
used for agriculture,
used for agriculture,
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农业非常发达
01:43
but cannot anymore
because of lack of rainfall.
because of lack of rainfall.
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但因为缺少降水
将来不能耕种的地区。
将来不能耕种的地区。
01:46
This is the situation
that's predicted to happen in 2050.
that's predicted to happen in 2050.
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这是预计将在
2050年发生的状况。
2050年发生的状况。
01:50
Much of Africa,
in fact, much of the world,
in fact, much of the world,
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非洲的大部分地区
实际上，全球的大部分地区
实际上，全球的大部分地区
01:53
is going to be in trouble.
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将会陷入困境。
01:54
We're going to have to think of some
very smart ways of producing food.
very smart ways of producing food.
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我们将不得不想出一些
非常巧妙的方法来生产食物。
非常巧妙的方法来生产食物。
01:58
And preferably among them,
some drought-tolerant crops.
some drought-tolerant crops.
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在其中比较合适的方法是
培育一些耐旱的作物
培育一些耐旱的作物
02:01
The other thing
to remember about Africa is
to remember about Africa is
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关于非洲，
我们需要记住的另一件事是
我们需要记住的另一件事是
02:04
that most of their agriculture is rainfed.
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他们的大部分农业主要靠雨水灌溉。
02:08
Now, making drought-tolerant crops
is not the easiest thing in the world.
is not the easiest thing in the world.
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现在，培育抗旱作物并非易事。
02:11
And the reason for this is water.
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其中的原因在于水。
02:14
Water is essential to life on this planet.
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在这个星球上，
水是对于生命是必不可少的。
水是对于生命是必不可少的。
02:17
All living, actively
metabolizing organisms,
metabolizing organisms,
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所有活着的、代谢旺盛的有机体，
02:21
from microbes to you and I,
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从微生物到你我，
02:23
are comprised predominately of water.
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主要由水构成。
02:25
All life reactions happen in water.
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所有维持生命所需的反应发生在水中。
02:28
And loss of a small amount
of water results in death.
of water results in death.
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即使丧失少量的水也会导致死亡。
02:31
You and I are 65 percent water --
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人体65%由水构成
02:33
we lose one percent of that, we die.
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如果我们其中
丧失1%的水，我们就会死。
丧失1%的水，我们就会死。
02:35
But we can make behavioral
changes to avoid that.
changes to avoid that.
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但是我们可以通过行为的改变
来避免那种情况发生。
来避免那种情况发生。
02:39
Plants can't.
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植物却不能。
02:41
They're stuck in the ground.
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它们生长在地上。
02:43
And so in the first instance they have
a little bit more water than us,
a little bit more water than us,
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所以首先他们比我们含水量更多
02:46
about 95 percent water,
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大概95%是水分
02:47
and they can lose
a little bit more than us,
a little bit more than us,
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它们也可以比我们多失去一些水
02:49
like 10 to about 70 percent,
depending on the species,
depending on the species,
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不同物种可以短时间内
损失10%到70%
损失10%到70%
02:54
but for short periods only.
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的水分。
02:56
Most of them will either try
to resist or avoid water loss.
to resist or avoid water loss.
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大多数物种都会
抵制或尽量避免失水。
抵制或尽量避免失水。
03:00
So extreme examples of resistors
can be found in succulents.
can be found in succulents.
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举一个抗失水者的极端例子：肉质植物
03:04
They tend to be small, very attractive,
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它们一般很小很漂亮
03:07
but they hold onto their water
at such great cost
at such great cost
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但是它们为了保持水分不得不
03:10
that they grow extremely slowly.
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生长的十分缓慢。
03:13
Examples of avoidance of water loss
are found in trees and shrubs.
are found in trees and shrubs.
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避免失水的主要例子都是乔灌木
03:18
They send down very deep roots,
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它们的根须深入地下
03:19
mine subterranean water supplies
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直至地下水资源
03:21
and just keep flushing
it through them at all times,
it through them at all times,
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不停地吸取大量的地下水
03:23
keeping themselves hydrated.
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来保持水分。
03:25
The one on the right is called a baobab.
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右边的植物叫做猴面包树。
03:27
It's also called the upside-down tree,
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它也被人成为倒置的树
03:29
simply because the proportion
of roots to shoots is so great
of roots to shoots is so great
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因为根部与地上部分
的比例实在是太夸张
的比例实在是太夸张
03:33
that it looks like the tree
has been planted upside down.
has been planted upside down.
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以至于这棵树像是倒置的一样。
03:36
And of course the roots are required
for hydration of that plant.
for hydration of that plant.
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当然了为了保持水分
这样的根部是必须的。
这样的根部是必须的。
03:40
And probably the most common strategy
of avoidance is found in annuals.
of avoidance is found in annuals.
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也许一年生植物是
最常使用避免失水策略的植物了
最常使用避免失水策略的植物了
03:45
Annuals make up the bulk
of our plant food supplies.
of our plant food supplies.
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一年生植物在我的国家的西海岸
03:49
Up the west coast of my country,
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是我们主要种植的食物来源
03:50
for much of the year
you don't see much vegetation growth.
you don't see much vegetation growth.
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一年中的绝大部分时间
我们看不到这些蔬菜的生长
我们看不到这些蔬菜的生长
03:54
But come the spring rains, you get this:
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但当春天雨季来临，你可以看到
03:57
flowering of the desert.
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沙漠之中花开遍地。
03:59
The strategy in annuals,
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一年生植物的策略
04:00
is to grow only in the rainy season.
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就是只在雨季生长。
04:03
At the end of that season
they produce a seed,
they produce a seed,
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在雨季结束的时候
它们产生种子
它们产生种子
04:06
which is dry, eight to 10 percent water,
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种子很干燥，
只含有8%到10%的水
只含有8%到10%的水
04:09
but very much alive.
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但却生机勃勃。
04:10
And anything that is
that dry and still alive,
that dry and still alive,
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这样在干燥环境下仍保持活性的性质
04:13
we call desiccation-tolerant.
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叫做干燥耐受。
04:15
In the desiccated state,
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在干燥的国家
04:17
what seeds can do
is lie in extremes of environment
is lie in extremes of environment
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种子在如此极端环境下
04:19
for prolonged periods of time.
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可以存活很长的一段时间。
04:21
The next time the rainy season comes,
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下次雨季来临时
04:23
they germinate and grow,
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它们马上发芽生长
04:25
and the whole cycle just starts again.
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如此循环往复。
04:28
It's widely believed that the evolution
of desiccation-tolerant seeds
of desiccation-tolerant seeds
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普遍认为正是进化出
这样干燥耐受的种子
这样干燥耐受的种子
04:32
allowed the colonization and the radiation
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才让开花植物和被子植物
04:34
of flowering plants,
or angiosperms, onto land.
or angiosperms, onto land.
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在陆地上的定植和传播成为可能。
04:38
But back to annuals
as our major form of food supplies.
as our major form of food supplies.
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作为主要食物来源的一年生植物
04:42
Wheat, rice and maize form 95 percent
of our plant food supplies.
of our plant food supplies.
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比如构成我们食物来源95%
的小麦，水稻和玉米
的小麦，水稻和玉米
04:48
And it's been a great strategy
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看起来也是一个很好的策略
04:50
because in a short space of time
you can produce a lot of seed.
you can produce a lot of seed.
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因为短时间内就可以生产大量的种子
04:53
Seeds are energy-rich
so there's a lot of food calories,
so there's a lot of food calories,
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种子富含可以被人体吸收的能量
04:55
you can store it in times of plenty
for times of famine,
for times of famine,
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所以你可以在食物充足的时候
为饥荒做准备。
为饥荒做准备。
05:00
but there's a downside.
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但是也有不足之处。
05:02
The vegetative tissues,
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这些植物的营养组织
05:03
the roots and leaves of annuals,
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根部和叶片
05:06
do not have much
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并没有什么
05:07
by way of inherent resistance,
avoidance or tolerance characteristics.
avoidance or tolerance characteristics.
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抵抗干燥，避免干燥
或者耐受干燥的特性
或者耐受干燥的特性
05:11
They just don't need them.
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因为它们根本不需要。
05:12
They grow in the rainy season
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它们本来就生长在雨季
05:14
and they've got a seed
to help them survive the rest of the year.
to help them survive the rest of the year.
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而且已经生产了
可以度过余下时间的种子
可以度过余下时间的种子
05:17
And so despite concerted
efforts in agriculture
efforts in agriculture
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而且无论农业专家如何努力
05:20
to make crops with improved properties
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提升农作物的
05:23
of resistance, avoidance and tolerance --
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抵抗、避免和耐受干旱的能力
05:25
particularly resistance and avoidance
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尤其是抵抗和避免干旱的能力
05:27
because we've had good models
to understand how those work --
to understand how those work --
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尽管我们已经有了
很好的模型来了解植物的运作模式
很好的模型来了解植物的运作模式
05:30
we still get images like this.
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我们仍然只得到了这样的结果。
05:32
Maize crop in Africa,
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非洲的玉米作物
05:33
two weeks without rain
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经历两周不下雨之后
05:35
and it's dead.
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就死了。
05:37
There is a solution:
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现在有一个方案
05:39
resurrection plants.
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就是复苏植物。
05:41
These plants can lose 95 percent
of their cellular water,
of their cellular water,
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这些植物可以失去95%的细胞水分
05:45
remain in a dry, dead-like state
for months to years,
for months to years,
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进入干燥的假死状态
长达数月之久
长达数月之久
05:49
and give them water,
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只要给它们水
05:50
they green up and start growing again.
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它们马上就可以变绿开始生长。
05:53
Like seeds, these are
desiccation-tolerant.
desiccation-tolerant.
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像种子一样它们拥有干燥耐受性
05:56
Like seeds, these can withstand extremes
of environmental conditions.
of environmental conditions.
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可以忍受极端的环境。
06:01
And this is a really rare phenomenon.
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这是非常罕见的现象。
06:03
There are only 135 flowering
plant species that can do this.
plant species that can do this.
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全世界只有135种
开花植物可以做到。
开花植物可以做到。
06:08
I'm going to show you a video
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我将给各位放一段
06:09
of the resurrection process
of these three species
of these three species
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三种复苏植物复苏过程
06:12
in that order.
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的视频。
06:13
And at the bottom,
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在视频下方
06:14
there's a time axis
so you can see how quickly it happens.
so you can see how quickly it happens.
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有一个时间轴
各位可以看到一切发生得多么迅速。
各位可以看到一切发生得多么迅速。
06:56
(Applause)
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（掌声）
07:02
Pretty amazing, huh?
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很神奇 是吧？
07:03
So I've spent the last 21 years
trying to understand how they do this.
trying to understand how they do this.
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所以我用了21年时间
研究它们是如何做到的
研究它们是如何做到的
07:08
How do these plants dry without dying?
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这些植物如何做到干而不死？
07:11
And I work on a variety
of different resurrection plants,
of different resurrection plants,
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因为很多原因我研究了
图中不同的复苏植物
图中不同的复苏植物
07:13
shown here in the hydrated and dry states,
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在干燥和有水环境下
07:16
for a number of reasons.
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的状态
07:17
One of them is that each
of these plants serves as a model
of these plants serves as a model
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其中一个原因是
每一种复苏植物
每一种复苏植物
07:20
for a crop that I'd like
to make drought-tolerant.
to make drought-tolerant.
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都可以作为一种
农作物的耐旱版本的模板
农作物的耐旱版本的模板
07:23
So on the extreme top left,
for example, is a grass,
for example, is a grass,
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比如左上角这种草
07:26
it's called Eragrostis nindensis,
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叫做画眉虫草
07:28
it's got a close relative
called Eragrostis tef --
called Eragrostis tef --
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它是苔麸的近亲
07:30
a lot of you might know it as "teff" --
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也就是很多人熟知的
埃塞俄比亚画眉草
埃塞俄比亚画眉草
07:32
it's a staple food in Ethiopia,
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那是埃塞俄比亚的主要作物
07:34
it's gluten-free,
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它不含谷蛋白
07:35
and it's something we would like
to make drought-tolerant.
to make drought-tolerant.
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我们想开发耐旱版本的
埃塞俄比亚画眉草。
埃塞俄比亚画眉草。
07:38
The other reason for looking
at a number of plants,
at a number of plants,
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另一个我们研究其它各种各样的植物
07:41
is that, at least initially,
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的原因是，
07:42
I wanted to find out:
do they do the same thing?
do they do the same thing?
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至少我们希望从本质上了解
它们在做同样的事情么？
它们在做同样的事情么？
07:44
Do they all use the same mechanisms
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它们可以做到失水而不死
07:46
to be able to lose
all that water and not die?
all that water and not die?
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的内在机制是相同的么？
07:49
So I undertook what we call
a systems biology approach
a systems biology approach
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所以我采用系统生物学方法
07:52
in order to get
a comprehensive understanding
a comprehensive understanding
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希望对植物的耐旱性
07:54
of desiccation tolerance,
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有一个全面的了解
07:56
in which we look at everything
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系统生物学方法就是
07:57
from the molecular to the whole plant,
ecophysiological level.
ecophysiological level.
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从分子层面
到整体植株生理生态层面的整体研究
到整体植株生理生态层面的整体研究
08:00
For example we look at things like
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比如我们通过解剖
08:02
changes in the plant anatomy
as they dried out
as they dried out
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观察干枯的植物的变化
08:04
and their ultrastructure.
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和它们的亚显微结构
08:05
We look at the transcriptome,
which is just a term for a technology
which is just a term for a technology
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我们观察转录组如何应对干旱
转录组是一个技术术语
转录组是一个技术术语
08:09
in which we look at the genes
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意思是我们观察基因开关
08:10
that are switched on or off,
in response to drying.
in response to drying.
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在应对干旱时是开启还是关闭。
08:12
Most genes will code for proteins,
so we look at the proteome.
so we look at the proteome.
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大部分基因会制造蛋白质
所以我们研究蛋白质组。
所以我们研究蛋白质组。
08:16
What are the proteins made
in response to drying?
in response to drying?
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干旱来临时植物会制造什么蛋白质？
08:19
Some proteins would code for enzymes
which make metabolites,
which make metabolites,
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一些蛋白质会制造
让植物新陈代谢的酶
让植物新陈代谢的酶
08:23
so we look at the metabolome.
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所以我们研究代谢组。
08:25
Now, this is important
because plants are stuck in the ground.
because plants are stuck in the ground.
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这很重要
因为植物都是固定在土地之上的
因为植物都是固定在土地之上的
08:28
They use what I call
a highly tuned chemical arsenal
a highly tuned chemical arsenal
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它们利用所谓的高度协调的化工厂
08:32
to protect themselves from all
the stresses of their environment.
the stresses of their environment.
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保护它们不受外界环境的压力。
08:35
So it's important that we look
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所以研究这些
08:37
at the chemical changes
involved in drying.
involved in drying.
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因为干燥引起的
化学变化也非常重要。
化学变化也非常重要。
08:40
And at the last study
that we do at the molecular level,
that we do at the molecular level,
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最后我们在分子层面的研究中
08:43
we look at the lipidome --
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我们研究了脂质体
08:44
the lipid changes in response to drying.
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脂质是如何变化的以应对干旱的。
08:46
And that's also important
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这也很重要
08:47
because all biological membranes
are made of lipids.
are made of lipids.
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因为所有的生物膜都是脂质的。
08:50
They're held as membranes
because they're in water.
because they're in water.
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因为在水中所以它们保持膜状
08:53
Take away the water,
those membranes fall apart.
those membranes fall apart.
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脱离水后这些膜就会破碎。
08:56
Lipids also act as signals
to turn on genes.
to turn on genes.
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脂质同样是开启基因的信号
09:00
Then we use physiological
and biochemical studies
and biochemical studies
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我们运用生理和生化研究方法
09:02
to try and understand
the function of the putative protectants
the function of the putative protectants
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去试验和了解我们已经在
09:06
that we've actually discovered
in our other studies.
in our other studies.
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其他研究中发现的假定保护机制。
09:09
And then use all of that
to try and understand
to try and understand
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通过这些所有的研究来尝试理解
09:11
how the plant copes
with its natural environment.
with its natural environment.
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植物如何适应它周围的自然环境。
09:15
I've always had the philosophy that
I needed a comprehensive understanding
I needed a comprehensive understanding
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我的科学哲学是
我需要对耐旱性的机制
我需要对耐旱性的机制
09:19
of the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance
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有全面的理解才可以给出
09:22
in order to make a meaningful suggestion
for a biotic application.
for a biotic application.
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对于生物应用的有意义的建议。
09:27
I'm sure some of you are thinking,
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我确信有一些人在想
09:28
"By biotic application,
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“她所说的生物应用
09:29
does she mean she's going to make
genetically modified crops?"
genetically modified crops?"
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是不是意味着转基因作物呢？”
09:34
And the answer to that question is:
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这个问题的答案是：
09:35
depends on your definition
of genetic modification.
of genetic modification.
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取决于如何定义转基因。
09:39
All of the crops that we eat today,
wheat, rice and maize,
wheat, rice and maize,
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所有我们今天食用的作物
小麦，水稻和玉米
小麦，水稻和玉米
09:42
are highly genetically modified
from their ancestors,
from their ancestors,
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与祖先植株相比都是高度转基因的，
09:45
but we don't consider them GM
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我们不认为它们是转基因作物
09:47
because they're being produced
by conventional breeding.
by conventional breeding.
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是因为它们一直
是用传统方式培育的。
是用传统方式培育的。
09:50
If you mean, am I going to put
resurrection plant genes into crops,
resurrection plant genes into crops,
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如果你问我是不是打算把
复苏植物的基因植入作物中
复苏植物的基因植入作物中
09:54
your answer is yes.
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我的回答是是的。
09:56
In the essence of time,
we have tried that approach.
we have tried that approach.
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时间紧迫
我们已经尝试了这些手段
我们已经尝试了这些手段
09:59
More appropriately,
some of my collaborators at UCT,
some of my collaborators at UCT,
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准确地说
我的一些在UCT的同事
我的一些在UCT的同事
10:02
Jennifer Thomson, Suhail Rafudeen,
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珍妮弗·汤姆森，萨尔·拉夫德恩
10:04
have spearheaded that approach
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已经先行进行了实验
10:05
and I'm going to show you some data soon.
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一会我将展示部分资料。
10:09
But we're about to embark
upon an extremely ambitious approach,
upon an extremely ambitious approach,
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但是我们将要开展的
是一项极具野心的工作
是一项极具野心的工作
10:13
in which we aim to turn on
whole suites of genes
whole suites of genes
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我们的目标是启动
已经存在于每棵植株中的
已经存在于每棵植株中的
10:16
that are already present in every crop.
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整套基因
10:19
They're just never turned on
under extreme drought conditions.
under extreme drought conditions.
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它们只是还没有
在极端干旱的环境下被激活
在极端干旱的环境下被激活
10:22
I leave it up to you to decide
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我希望各位可以自行判断
10:24
whether those should be called GM or not.
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这种方式是否属于转基因。
10:27
I'm going to now just give you
some of the data from that first approach.
some of the data from that first approach.
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我将展示第一阶段实验的部分资料
10:31
And in order to do that
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在展示之前
10:32
I have to explain a little bit
about how genes work.
about how genes work.
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我需要解释一下
基因工作的原理。
基因工作的原理。
10:35
So you probably all know
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也许大家都知道
10:36
that genes are made
of double-stranded DNA.
of double-stranded DNA.
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基因是DNA的双链结构。
10:38
It's wound very tightly into chromosomes
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它通过紧密的缠绕形成染色体
10:40
that are present in every cell
of your body or in a plant's body.
of your body or in a plant's body.
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存在于每个人体或者植物的细胞之中
10:44
If you unwind that DNA, you get genes.
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如果把DNA解缠
你就会得到基因
你就会得到基因
10:47
And each gene has a promoter,
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每一个基因有一个启动子
10:50
which is just an on-off switch,
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即是一个开关
10:52
the gene coding region,
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基因转录区
10:54
and then a terminator,
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和终止子
10:55
which indicates that this is the end
of this gene, the next gene will start.
of this gene, the next gene will start.
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这意味着这一部分基因转录结束
下一个基因将要开始转录
下一个基因将要开始转录
10:59
Now, promoters are not
simple on-off switches.
simple on-off switches.
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启动子不是简单的开关
11:02
They normally require
a lot of fine-tuning,
a lot of fine-tuning,
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它们往往需要大量微调
11:05
lots of things to be present and correct
before that gene is switched on.
before that gene is switched on.
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在基因开关打开之前
要进行很多的瞄准和修正过程
要进行很多的瞄准和修正过程
11:10
So what's typically done
in biotech studies
in biotech studies
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所以基本上我们生物技术研究中
11:13
is that we use an inducible promoter,
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使用诱导型启动子
11:15
we know how to switch it on.
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来研究如何打开启动子开关
11:16
We couple that to genes of interest
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我们把它植入我们感兴趣的基因
11:18
and put that into a plant
and see how the plant responds.
and see how the plant responds.
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然后把基因植入植株
研究植株的反应。
研究植株的反应。
11:22
In the study that I'm going
to talk to you about,
to talk to you about,
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在我接下来展示的研究中
11:24
my collaborators used
a drought-induced promoter,
a drought-induced promoter,
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我的同事使用了在复苏植物中发现的
11:27
which we discovered
in a resurrection plant.
in a resurrection plant.
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干旱诱导蛋白启动子。
11:29
The nice thing about this promoter
is that we do nothing.
is that we do nothing.
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这个启动子的优势在于不用外界手段
11:32
The plant itself senses drought.
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植物会自发感受干旱
11:35
And we've used it to drive antioxidant
genes from resurrection plants.
genes from resurrection plants.
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我们使用启动子驱动
复苏植物的抗氧化剂基因
复苏植物的抗氧化剂基因
11:40
Why antioxidant genes?
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为什么是抗氧化剂基因？
11:42
Well, all stresses,
particularly drought stress,
particularly drought stress,
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所有的压力
尤其是干旱的压力
尤其是干旱的压力
11:45
results in the formation of free radicals,
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都会形成自由基
11:48
or reactive oxygen species,
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也就是活性氧。
11:50
which are highly damaging
and can cause crop death.
and can cause crop death.
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活性氧极具破坏力
会直接导致植物死亡。
会直接导致植物死亡。
11:53
What antioxidants do is stop that damage.
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抗氧化剂可以阻止这种破坏。
11:57
So here's some data from a maize strain
that's very popularly used in Africa.
that's very popularly used in Africa.
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这是非洲常用的玉米品种
12:01
To the left of the arrow
are plants without the genes,
are plants without the genes,
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箭头左边的是没有这种基因的
12:04
to the right --
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右边的
12:05
plants with the antioxidant genes.
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是含有抗氧化基因的植株。
12:07
After three weeks without watering,
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三周没有浇水之后
12:09
the ones with the genes
do a hell of a lot better.
do a hell of a lot better.
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有抗氧化基因
的植株的状态要好得多。
的植株的状态要好得多。
12:13
Now to the final approach.
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在实验的最后
12:15
My research has shown
that there's considerable similarity
that there's considerable similarity
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因为我的研究已经说明
12:18
in the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance
in seeds and resurrection plants.
in seeds and resurrection plants.
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种子和复苏植物的耐旱性的机制
有很多相似之处
有很多相似之处
12:23
So I ask the question,
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我的问题是
12:24
are they using the same genes?
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他们是同一种基因么？
12:26
Or slightly differently phrased,
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还是略有不同地被修饰过？
12:28
are resurrection plants using genes
evolved in seed desiccation tolerance
evolved in seed desiccation tolerance
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复苏植物是在根部和叶部上
也含有
也含有
12:33
in their roots and leaves?
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这种耐旱基因么？
12:34
Have they retasked these seed genes
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在复苏植物中
12:36
in roots and leaves
of resurrection plants?
of resurrection plants?
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这些基因
又被根部和叶部重新使用了么？
又被根部和叶部重新使用了么？
12:39
And I answer that question,
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我可以回答这个问题
12:41
as a consequence of a lot
of research from my group
of research from my group
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通过我和我的同事的小组的工作
12:44
and recent collaborations from a group
of Henk Hilhorst in the Netherlands,
of Henk Hilhorst in the Netherlands,
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通过来自荷兰的亨克·希尔霍斯特
12:47
Mel Oliver in the United States
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来自美国的梅尔·奥利弗
12:49
and Julia Buitink in France.
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和来自法国的朱莉娅布克
的一系列工作
的一系列工作
12:51
The answer is yes,
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我们认为答案是：是的。
12:53
that there is a core set of genes
that are involved in both.
that are involved in both.
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它们都有一套完整的核心基因
12:56
And I'm going to illustrate this
very crudely for maize,
very crudely for maize,
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我会大概以玉米为例解释一下
12:59
where the chromosomes below the off switch
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在开关下面的染色体里面有
13:02
represent all the genes that are required
for desiccation tolerance.
for desiccation tolerance.
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耐旱性必要的全部基因
13:05
So as maize seeds dried out
at the end of their period of development,
at the end of their period of development,
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当玉米种子在它们发育的
最后一个阶段面临干燥环境时
最后一个阶段面临干燥环境时
13:09
they switch these genes on.
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开关就会打开。
13:12
Resurrection plants
switch on the same genes
switch on the same genes
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复苏植物遇到干旱环境是也会
13:15
when they dry out.
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打开同样的开关。
13:17
All modern crops, therefore,
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因此所有现代的植物
13:19
have these genes
in their roots and leaves,
in their roots and leaves,
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都在它们的根部和叶部
拥有这些基因
拥有这些基因
13:21
they just never switch them on.
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只不过它们从来没有打开过开关。
13:22
They only switch them on in seed tissues.
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它们只在作为种子时打开过开关。
13:25
So what we're trying to do right now
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我们现在尝试要做的
13:27
is to understand the environmental
and cellular signals
and cellular signals
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就是了解打开复苏植物基因开关的
13:29
that switch on these genes
in resurrection plants,
in resurrection plants,
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环境信号和细胞信号
13:33
to mimic the process in crops.
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并在作物中模仿类似的过程。
13:35
And just a final thought.
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最后我想说
13:37
What we're trying to do very rapidly
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我们只是在用飞快的速度重复
13:39
is to repeat what nature did
in the evolution of resurrection plants
in the evolution of resurrection plants
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复苏植物在过去100万年到400万年
13:43
some 10 to 40 million years ago.
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的大自然中进行的进化。
13:46
My plants and I thank you
for your attention.
for your attention.
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我和我的植物感谢您的关注。
13:48
(Applause)
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（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jill Farrant - Professor of molecular and cell biologyJill Farrant is leading the development of drought-tolerant crops to nourish populations in arid climates.
Why you should listen
A professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa, Jill Farrant researches the remarkable (and little known) world of resurrection plants. These are plants that can survive extreme drought, “resurrecting” when moistened or irrigated. If we can better understand their natural preservation mechanisms and their key protectants, she suggests, it could help us develop more drought-tolerant crops to feed populations in increasingly dry and arid climates around the world. Her research may also have medical applications.
Farrant was the African/Arab States recipient of the 2012 L'Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science, one of only five scientists worldwide who were selected by an international jury as "researchers who will have a major impact on society and help light the way to the future." In 2009, she was awarded an A-rating by the National Research Foundation (the first female researcher at UCT ever to receive such a rating) as well as being made a member of the UCT College of Fellows.
Jill Farrant | Speaker | TED.com