TEDGlobal 2011
Lee Cronin: Making matter come alive
李.克罗宁：让物质具有生命
Filmed:
Readability: 3.8
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。
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. Full bio
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 15 minutes or so
0
0
3000
我在接下来的15分钟准备做的
00:18
is tell you about an idea
1
3000
2000
就是告诉你们一个
00:20
of how we're going to make matter come alive.
2
5000
3000
关于人们如何让物质具有生命的理念
00:23
Now this may seem a bit ambitious,
3
8000
2000
这理念听起来可能有些野心勃勃
00:25
but when you look at yourself, you look at your hands,
4
10000
2000
可是当你看着自己，看着自己的双手
00:27
you realize that you're alive.
5
12000
2000
你意识到你是活着的
00:29
So this is a start.
6
14000
2000
这便是我们理念的开始
00:31
Now this quest started four billion years ago on planet Earth.
7
16000
3000
对这种理念的探寻始于四十亿年前的地球上
00:34
There's been four billion years
8
19000
2000
在过去的四十亿年中
00:36
of organic, biological life.
9
21000
2000
生命是有机的，生物上的概念
00:38
And as an inorganic chemist,
10
23000
2000
作为一名无机化学家
00:40
my friends and colleagues make this distinction
11
25000
2000
我的朋友和同事在
00:42
between the organic, living world
12
27000
3000
有机的，有生命的世界
00:45
and the inorganic, dead world.
13
30000
2000
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
14
32000
3000
我接下来要做的就是播种一些思想
00:50
about how we can transform inorganic, dead matter
15
35000
4000
关于我们如何能将无机的、没有生命的物质
00:54
into living matter, into inorganic biology.
16
39000
3000
转化为有生命的物质、转化为无机生物学。
00:57
Before we do that,
17
42000
2000
所以在我们开始之前，
00:59
I want to kind of put biology in its place.
18
44000
3000
我想要摆正一下生物学的位置。
01:02
And I'm absolutely enthralled by biology.
19
47000
2000
我完全为生物学而着迷。
01:04
I love to do synthetic biology.
20
49000
2000
我喜欢合成生物学。
01:06
I love things that are alive.
21
51000
2000
我爱有生命的东西。
01:08
I love manipulating the infrastructure of biology.
22
53000
2000
我喜欢研究生物学的基础领域。
01:10
But within that infrastructure,
23
55000
2000
但是在基础领域里，
01:12
we have to remember
24
57000
2000
我们必须记得，
01:14
that the driving force of biology
25
59000
2000
生物学的驱动力
01:16
is really coming from evolution.
26
61000
2000
事实上来自于进化。
01:18
And evolution,
27
63000
2000
而进化，
01:20
although it was established well over 100 years ago by Charles Darwin
28
65000
3000
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 number of other people,
29
68000
2000
和许多其他的科学家所建立和完善
01:25
evolution still is a little bit intangible.
30
70000
3000
进化论依然有一点点抽象。
01:28
And when I talk about Darwinian evolution,
31
73000
2000
当我谈到达尔文的进化论时，
01:30
I mean one thing and one thing only,
32
75000
2000
我仅仅指的是一个论点，
01:32
and that is survival of the fittest.
33
77000
2000
即适者生存。
01:34
And so forget about evolution
34
79000
2000
所以不要用
01:36
in a kind of metaphysical way.
35
81000
2000
形而上学的方法来研究进化论。
01:38
Think about evolution
36
83000
2000
当想到进化时，
01:40
in terms of offspring competing,
37
85000
2000
要从子孙后代彼此竞争，
01:42
and some winning.
38
87000
2000
同时产生一些赢家的角度来考虑。
01:44
So bearing that in mind,
39
89000
2000
这一点我牢记心中
01:46
as a chemist, I wanted to ask myself
40
91000
2000
作为一个化学家的我，不禁扪心自问，
01:48
the question frustrated by biology:
41
93000
2000
这个被生物学忽视掉的问题：
01:50
What is the minimal unit of matter
42
95000
3000
什么是最小的
01:53
that can undergo Darwinian evolution?
43
98000
3000
且能适应达尔文进化论的物质单元？
01:56
And this seems quite a profound question.
44
101000
2000
这是个看起来有些深奥的问题。
01:58
And as a chemist,
45
103000
2000
作为一个化学家，
02:00
we're not used to profound questions every day.
46
105000
2000
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,
47
107000
2000
所以当我考虑它的时候，
02:04
then suddenly I realized
48
109000
2000
我忽然意识到，
02:06
that biology gave us the answer.
49
111000
2000
生物学给了我们答案。
02:08
And in fact, the smallest unit of matter
50
113000
2000
事实上，最小的
02:10
that can evolve independently
51
115000
2000
可以独立进化的物质单元，
02:12
is, in fact, a single cell --
52
117000
2000
是一个单细胞——
02:14
a bacteria.
53
119000
2000
细菌。
02:16
So this raises three really important questions:
54
121000
3000
这既引出了三个十分重要的问题。
02:19
What is life?
55
124000
2000
生命是什么？
02:21
Is biology special?
56
126000
2000
生物是独一无二的吗？
02:23
Biologists seem to think so.
57
128000
2000
生物学家当然这样认为。
02:25
Is matter evolvable?
58
130000
2000
物质是可以进化的吗？
02:27
Now if we answer those questions in reverse order,
59
132000
3000
现在如果我们以倒序来回答这些问题，
02:30
the third question -- is matter evolvable? --
60
135000
2000
第三个问题——生命是可以演化的吗？
02:32
if we can answer that,
61
137000
2000
如果我们能回答这个问题，
02:34
then we're going to know how special biology is,
62
139000
2000
我们便可以知道生物学究竟有多特殊，
02:36
and maybe, just maybe,
63
141000
2000
同时可能，仅仅是可能，
02:38
we'll have some idea of what life really is.
64
143000
3000
我们能够一窥生命的本质。
02:41
So here's some inorganic life.
65
146000
2000
这里有一些无机生命。
02:43
This is a dead crystal,
66
148000
2000
这是一个没有生命的晶体。
02:45
and I'm going to do something to it,
67
150000
2000
我准备在它身上加工一下，
02:47
and it's going to become alive.
68
152000
2000
它就会变得具有生命。
02:49
And you can see,
69
154000
2000
你可以看到
02:51
it's kind of pollinating, germinating, growing.
70
156000
3000
这个过程有点像授粉、发芽和成长。
02:54
This is an inorganic tube.
71
159000
2000
这是一个无机晶体管。
02:56
And all these crystals here under the microscope
72
161000
2000
这些放在显微镜下的晶体，
02:58
were dead a few minutes ago, and they look alive.
73
163000
2000
都在几分钟前死掉了，但他们看起来依旧鲜活。
03:00
Of course, they're not alive.
74
165000
2000
当然，他们并非真的活着
03:02
It's a chemistry experiment where I've made a crystal garden.
75
167000
3000
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,
76
170000
3000
但是当我看到这里，我完全被迷住了，
03:08
because it seemed lifelike.
77
173000
2000
因为他们看起来栩栩如生。
03:10
And as I pause for a few seconds, have a look at the screen.
78
175000
3000
暂停一下我们看看屏幕
03:15
You can see there's architecture growing, filling the void.
79
180000
3000
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.
80
183000
2000
但它没有生命。
03:20
So I was positive that,
81
185000
2000
所以我十分乐观，
03:22
if somehow we can make things mimic life,
82
187000
2000
如果我们可以以某种方式模拟生命，
03:24
let's go one step further.
83
189000
2000
我们未尝不能再往前走一步。
03:26
Let's see if we can actually make life.
84
191000
2000
让我们看看，能不能真的制造生命。
03:28
But there's a problem,
85
193000
2000
但是依然存在一个问题，
03:30
because up until maybe a decade ago,
86
195000
2000
因为大概在十年前
03:32
we were told that life was impossible
87
197000
2000
我们得知生命是不可能形成的
03:34
and that we were the most incredible miracle in the universe.
88
199000
3000
并且我们是宇宙中最难以置信的奇迹
03:37
In fact, we were the only people
89
202000
2000
事实上，我们是浩瀚宇宙中的
03:39
in the universe.
90
204000
2000
唯一生物
03:41
Now, that's a bit boring.
91
206000
2000
这有点无趣了
03:43
So as a chemist,
92
208000
2000
作为一个化学家
03:45
I wanted to say, "Hang on. What is going on here?
93
210000
2000
我想说，“等等，怎么回事？
03:47
Is life that improbable?"
94
212000
2000
生命真的是无法形成的吗？”
03:49
And this is really the question.
95
214000
3000
这正是问题所在
03:52
I think that perhaps the emergence of the first cells
96
217000
3000
我想也许第一个细胞的形成
03:55
was as probable as the emergence of the stars.
97
220000
3000
正如第一颗行星的出现一样
03:58
And in fact, let's take that one step further.
98
223000
3000
事实上，让我们更进一步的思考
04:01
Let's say
99
226000
2000
比如说
04:03
that if the physics of fusion
100
228000
2000
如果聚变物理学
04:05
is encoded into the universe,
101
230000
2000
蕴含在宇宙的编码之中
04:07
maybe the physics of life is as well.
102
232000
2000
也许生命的物理学也是如此
04:09
And so the problem with chemists --
103
234000
2000
所以化学家的任务
04:11
and this is a massive advantage as well --
104
236000
2000
同时也是一种巨大的优势
04:13
is we like to focus on our elements.
105
238000
2000
便是我们要将重点放在化学元素上
04:15
In biology, carbon takes center stage.
106
240000
3000
在生物学领域，碳是中心
04:18
And in a universe where carbon exists
107
243000
2000
并且在碳
04:20
and organic biology,
108
245000
2000
和有机生物存在的宇宙中
04:22
then we have all this wonderful diversity of life.
109
247000
3000
我们能看到这美妙的生命多样性。
04:25
In fact, we have such amazing lifeforms that we can manipulate.
110
250000
4000
事实上，我们能够掌控如此奇妙的生命形式。
04:29
We're awfully careful in the lab
111
254000
2000
实验室里，我们极其小心的
04:31
to try and avoid various biohazards.
112
256000
2000
去尝试和避免各种各样的生物危害。
04:33
Well what about matter?
113
258000
2000
那物质方面呢？
04:35
If we can make matter alive, would we have a matterhazard?
114
260000
3000
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 question.
115
263000
2000
所以，请认真思考一下，这个严肃的问题。
04:40
If your pen could replicate,
116
265000
3000
如果你的笔能够自我复制
04:43
that would be a bit of a problem.
117
268000
2000
那确实会产生一些问题
04:45
So we have to think differently
118
270000
2000
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 come alive.
119
272000
2000
如果我们想要赋予物质生命
04:49
And we also have to be aware of the issues.
120
274000
2000
我们必须对可能产生的问题谨慎看待
04:51
But before we can make life,
121
276000
2000
但是在我们能够制造生命以前
04:53
let's think for a second
122
278000
2000
让我们先想一想
04:55
what life really is characterized by.
123
280000
2000
生命的特质为何
04:57
And forgive the complicated diagram.
124
282000
2000
原谅我不得不给你们看这些复杂的图表
04:59
This is just a collection of pathways in the cell.
125
284000
3000
这只是一张细胞内代谢路径的总图
05:02
And the cell is obviously for us
126
287000
2000
并且细胞对于我们而言
05:04
a fascinating thing.
127
289000
2000
很明显是令人着迷的东西
05:06
Synthetic biologists are manipulating it.
128
291000
3000
合成化学家正对细胞进行操作。
05:09
Chemists are trying to study the molecules to look at disease.
129
294000
3000
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 going on at the same time.
130
297000
2000
并且在你体内正同时进行着这些代谢路径。
05:14
You have regulation;
131
299000
2000
你的身体可以进行调控
05:16
information is transcribed;
132
301000
2000
转录信息
05:18
catalysts are made; stuff is happening.
133
303000
2000
制造催化剂、并产生各种机能。
05:20
But what does a cell do?
134
305000
2000
但是细胞能做什么？
05:22
Well it divides, it competes,
135
307000
2000
它会分裂、彼此竞争、
05:24
it survives.
136
309000
2000
最后存活下来。
05:26
And I think that is where we have to start
137
311000
2000
我认为这是我们
05:28
in terms of thinking about
138
313000
2000
创造生命的想法的
05:30
building from our ideas in life.
139
315000
2000
起点
05:32
But what else is life characterized by?
140
317000
2000
但是生命的特质还有哪些？
05:34
Well, I like think of it
141
319000
2000
我喜欢将它想象成
05:36
as a flame in a bottle.
142
321000
2000
在瓶子里的一束火焰。
05:38
And so what we have here
143
323000
2000
我们在图中看到的是
05:40
is a description of single cells
144
325000
2000
对单细胞
05:42
replicating, metabolizing,
145
327000
2000
的复制、代谢
05:44
burning through chemistries.
146
329000
2000
和通过化学反应燃烧的过程的描绘。
05:46
And so we have to understand
147
331000
2000
因此我们必须理解
05:48
that if we're going to make artificial life or understand the origin of life,
148
333000
3000
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 it somehow.
149
336000
2000
我们必须通过某种方式提供能量。
05:53
So before we can really start to make life,
150
338000
3000
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 from.
151
341000
2000
我们必须认真想一想它来自何方。
05:58
And Darwin himself mused in a letter to a colleague
152
343000
2000
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 emerged
153
345000
2000
他认为生命可能从
06:02
in some warm little pond somewhere --
154
347000
3000
一些小而温暖的池塘或其他地方演化而来
06:05
maybe not in Scotland, maybe in Africa,
155
350000
2000
可能在苏格兰，可能在非洲
06:07
maybe somewhere else.
156
352000
2000
也可能在其他地方。
06:09
But the real honest answer is, we just don't know,
157
354000
3000
但是最坦诚的答案是，我们无从得知。
06:12
because there is a problem with the origin.
158
357000
3000
因为生命的起源依旧是个问题。
06:15
Imagine way back, four and a half billion years ago,
159
360000
3000
想象一下我们回到四十五亿年前，
06:18
there is a vast chemical soup of stuff.
160
363000
2000
只有一些化学物质的溶液。
06:20
And from this stuff we came.
161
365000
2000
人类从中诞生。
06:22
So when you think about the improbable nature
162
367000
3000
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 few minutes,
163
370000
2000
有些不大可能的话，
06:27
just remember,
164
372000
2000
请记住
06:29
we came from stuff on planet Earth.
165
374000
2000
我们从地球上的物质中诞生。
06:31
And we went through a variety of worlds.
166
376000
3000
我们经历了多种多样的世界。
06:34
The RNA people would talk about the RNA world.
167
379000
3000
RNA研究者谈论着RNA世界
06:37
We somehow got to proteins and DNA.
168
382000
2000
我们却不知怎么成为了蛋白质和DNA。
06:39
We then got to the last ancestor.
169
384000
2000
接着出现了生命的始祖。
06:41
Evolution kicked in -- and that's the cool bit.
170
386000
3000
进化开始了——这是关键。
06:44
And here we are.
171
389000
2000
然后人类出现。
06:46
But there's a roadblock that you can't get past.
172
391000
3000
但是依然存在着一个你无法逾越的障碍。
06:49
You can decode the genome, you can look back,
173
394000
3000
你可以解码基因组，你可以回溯往昔，
06:52
you can link us all together by a mitochondrial DNA,
174
397000
3000
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 than the last ancestor,
175
400000
3000
但是你无法追溯到第一个生命始祖以前，
06:58
the last visible cell
176
403000
2000
这是
07:00
that we could sequence or think back in history.
177
405000
3000
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.
178
408000
3000
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:
179
411000
2000
我们有两个选择：
07:08
intelligent design, direct and indirect --
180
413000
2000
直接或间接的智能设计论——
07:10
so God,
181
415000
2000
要么是上帝
07:12
or my friend.
182
417000
3000
要么是我的朋友，
07:15
Now talking about E.T. putting us there, or some other life,
183
420000
3000
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 further on.
184
423000
3000
这就将问题更推进一步。
07:21
I'm not a politician, I'm a scientist.
185
426000
3000
我不是政治家，我是一名科学家。
07:24
The other thing we need to think about
186
429000
2000
我们可以思考的另外一件事，
07:26
is the emergence of chemical complexity.
187
431000
2000
是化学复杂度的出现。
07:28
This seems most likely.
188
433000
2000
这似乎是最有可能的情形。
07:30
So we have some kind of primordial soup.
189
435000
2000
因此地球上出现了某种原始汤
07:32
And this one happens to be
190
437000
2000
并且它碰巧是
07:34
a good source of all 20 amino acids.
191
439000
2000
所有20种氨基酸的最好的来源。
07:36
And somehow
192
441000
2000
并且通过某种方式，
07:38
these amino acids are combined,
193
443000
2000
这些氨基酸彼此结合
07:40
and life begins.
194
445000
2000
随后生命出现。
07:42
But life begins, what does that mean?
195
447000
2000
但是生命的出现意味着什么？
07:44
What is life? What is this stuff of life?
196
449000
3000
什么是生命？形成生命的物质是什么？
07:47
So in the 1950s,
197
452000
2000
50年代，
07:49
Miller-Urey did their fantastic chemical Frankenstein experiment,
198
454000
5000
Miller和Urey进行了一项奇特的化学怪人试验，
07:54
where they did the equivalent in the chemical world.
199
459000
2000
在试验中他们制造出一种相同的化学环境。
07:56
They took the basic ingredients, put them in a single jar
200
461000
3000
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 them
201
464000
2000
随后将其点燃
08:01
and put a lot of voltage through.
202
466000
2000
并且通过了大量的电压。
08:03
And they had a look at what was in the soup,
203
468000
2000
他们观察溶液中出现了什么，
08:05
and they found amino acids,
204
470000
3000
于是他们发现了氨基酸。
08:08
but nothing came out, there was no cell.
205
473000
2000
但是没有其他东西出现，并没有细胞。
08:10
So the whole area's been stuck for a while,
206
475000
3000
因此整项研究停滞了一段时间。
08:13
and it got reignited in the '80s
207
478000
3000
直到80年代才重新开始，
08:16
when analytical technologies and computer technologies were coming on.
208
481000
3000
正是分析技术和计算机科技正在发展的时期。
08:19
In my own laboratory,
209
484000
2000
在我自己的实验室里，
08:21
the way we're trying to create inorganic life
210
486000
3000
我们创造物及生物的方式
08:24
is by using many different reaction formats.
211
489000
2000
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 --
212
491000
2000
因此我们正在做的是进行反应——
08:28
not in one flask, but in tens of flasks,
213
493000
2000
不是在一个烧瓶中，而是在数十个烧瓶中，
08:30
and connect them together,
214
495000
2000
并且让他们彼此相连，
08:32
as you can see with this flow system, all these pipes.
215
497000
2000
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, we can do it lithographically,
216
499000
3000
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,
217
502000
2000
也可以用3D打印机来制作，
08:39
we can do it in droplets for colleagues.
218
504000
2000
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 chemistry
219
506000
3000
而最关键的便是让一系列的化学反应
08:44
just bubbling away.
220
509000
2000
自然发生。
08:46
But that's probably going to end in failure,
221
511000
4000
但这也很可能以失败告终。
08:50
so we need to be a bit more focused.
222
515000
2000
所也我们需要更加努力。
08:52
And the answer, of course, lies with mice.
223
517000
2000
至于答案，当然，就在老鼠身上。
08:54
This is how I remember what I need as a chemist.
224
519000
3000
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."
225
522000
2000
我说，“我想制造分子。”
08:59
But I need a metabolism, I need some energy.
226
524000
3000
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, and I need a container.
227
527000
3000
我需要一些信息，我需要一个容器。
09:05
Because if I want evolution,
228
530000
2000
因为如果我想要进化，
09:07
I need containers to compete.
229
532000
2000
我需要这些容器间彼此进行竞争。
09:09
So if you have a container,
230
534000
2000
如果你拥有一个容器，
09:11
it's like getting in your car.
231
536000
2000
就像你坐在你的车里。
09:13
"This is my car,
232
538000
2000
说，“这是我的车”，
09:15
and I'm going to drive around and show off my car."
233
540000
2000
“我想开着它转一转，并好好炫耀一番。”
09:17
And I imagine you have a similar thing
234
542000
2000
我会想在细胞生物学上
09:19
in cellular biology
235
544000
2000
生命出现时
09:21
with the emergence of life.
236
546000
2000
你也会是这样的
09:23
So these things together give us evolution, perhaps.
237
548000
3000
所以也许这些事情共同使进化发生。
09:26
And the way to test it in the laboratory
238
551000
2000
并且检测它的方法便是在实验室里，
09:28
is to make it minimal.
239
553000
2000
使其最小化。
09:30
So what we're going to try and do
240
555000
2000
所以我们接下来要尝试
09:32
is come up with an inorganic Lego kit of molecules.
241
557000
3000
捣鼓出一个无机的乐高分子积木
09:35
And so forgive the molecules on the screen,
242
560000
2000
请谅解这些屏幕上的分子，
09:37
but these are a very simple kit.
243
562000
2000
但是它们只是一种很简单的积木。
09:39
There's only maybe three or four different types of building blocks present.
244
564000
2000
现在可能只有三到四种不同的积木。
09:41
And we can aggregate them together
245
566000
2000
我们可以将他们组合在一起
09:43
and make literally thousands and thousands
246
568000
2000
并真实地制造出上千种
09:45
of really big nano-molecular molecules
247
570000
3000
相当大的纳米分子
09:48
the same size of DNA and proteins,
248
573000
2000
大小相当于DNA及蛋白质，
09:50
but there's no carbon in sight.
249
575000
2000
但是其里面不含碳元素。
09:52
Carbon is banned.
250
577000
2000
碳并不是什么好东西。
09:54
And so with this Lego kit,
251
579000
2000
所以至于这个乐高积木，
09:56
we have the diversity required
252
581000
2000
我们需要它的复杂多样
09:58
for complex information storage
253
583000
3000
来储存复杂的信息
10:01
without DNA.
254
586000
2000
而不需要DNA的参与。
10:03
But we need to make some containers.
255
588000
2000
但是我们仍需要制作一些容器。
10:05
And just a few months ago in my lab,
256
590000
2000
就在几个月前，在我的实验室，
10:07
we were able to take these very same molecules and make cells with them.
257
592000
3000
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 a cell being made.
258
595000
3000
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 inside and do some chemistry in this cell.
259
598000
3000
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 you
260
601000
2000
我想要展示给你的是
10:18
is we can set up molecules
261
603000
2000
我们能够建立分子
10:20
in membranes, in real cells,
262
605000
2000
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 Darwinism,
263
607000
4000
它能够建立一种适用达尔文主义的分子，
10:26
a molecular survival of the fittest.
264
611000
2000
一种适者生存的分子。
10:28
And this movie here
265
613000
2000
这部影片
10:30
shows this competition between molecules.
266
615000
2000
展示了分子间的竞争
10:32
Molecules are competing for stuff.
267
617000
2000
分子间为了物质而竞争
10:34
They're all made of the same stuff,
268
619000
2000
他们都由同一种物质组成，
10:36
but they want their shape to win.
269
621000
2000
但他们希望以自己的形态取胜。
10:38
They want their shape to persist.
270
623000
2000
他们想让自己的形态存活下来。
10:40
And that is the key.
271
625000
2000
那便是关键所在。
10:42
If we can somehow encourage these molecules
272
627000
2000
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 and compete,
273
629000
3000
彼此连通、而后形成正确的形态并彼此竞争，
10:47
they will start to form cells
274
632000
2000
他们便会开始形成
10:49
that will replicate and compete.
275
634000
2000
可以自我复制和竞争的细胞。
10:51
If we manage to do that,
276
636000
2000
如果我们真的能够做到，
10:53
forget the molecular detail.
277
638000
3000
先别理会分子的细节。
10:56
Let's zoom out to what that could mean.
278
641000
2000
让我们把回过头来看看那意味着什么。
10:58
So we have this special theory of evolution
279
643000
2000
我们已经了解这种狭义进化论
11:00
that applies only to organic biology, to us.
280
645000
3000
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 into the material world,
281
648000
3000
如果我们能够使进化进入物质世界，
11:06
then I propose we should have a general theory of evolution.
282
651000
3000
我建议我们应得到一种广义进化论。
11:09
And that's really worth thinking about.
283
654000
3000
这确实值得认真思考。
11:12
Does evolution control
284
657000
2000
进化会控制
11:14
the sophistication of matter in the universe?
285
659000
3000
宇宙中物质的复杂多样性吗？
11:17
Is there some driving force through evolution
286
662000
3000
在进化的过程中是否存在某种推动力
11:20
that allows matter to compete?
287
665000
2000
让物质能够彼此竞争？
11:22
So that means we could then start
288
667000
2000
因此那意味着我们能够开始
11:24
to develop different platforms
289
669000
3000
开发出不同的平台
11:27
for exploring this evolution.
290
672000
2000
来探索这种进化。
11:29
So you imagine,
291
674000
2000
所以你可以想象以下，
11:31
if we're able to create a self-sustaining artificial life form,
292
676000
3000
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 of life --
293
679000
3000
这不仅能够告诉我们生命的起源——
11:37
that it's possible that the universe doesn't need carbon to be alive;
294
682000
3000
宇宙可能不需要碳便能存活
11:40
it can use anything --
295
685000
2000
宇宙可以由任何元素形成
11:42
we can then take [it] one step further and develop new technologies,
296
687000
3000
我们可以更进一步的开发新的技术，
11:45
because we can then use software control
297
690000
2000
因为我们能够用软件控制
11:47
for evolution to code in.
298
692000
2000
将进化译成编码。
11:49
So imagine we make a little cell.
299
694000
2000
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,
300
696000
2000
我们希望将它放在自然环境中，
11:53
and we want it to be powered by the Sun.
301
698000
2000
我们想让它由太阳来供给能量。
11:55
What we do is we evolve it in a box with a light on.
302
700000
3000
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 anymore. We find what works.
303
703000
3000
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 from biology.
304
706000
2000
我们应该从生物学中获取灵感。
12:03
Biology doesn't care about the design
305
708000
2000
设计在生物学中并不重要，
12:05
unless it works.
306
710000
2000
除非它实用
12:07
So this will reorganize
307
712000
2000
所以这将重新建构
12:09
the way we design things.
308
714000
2000
我们设计事物的方式。
12:11
But not only just that,
309
716000
2000
但是不仅如此，
12:13
we will start to think about
310
718000
2000
我们会开始思考
12:15
how we can start to develop a symbiotic relationship with biology.
311
720000
3000
我们要怎样在生物学中发展出一种共生关系。
12:18
Wouldn't it be great
312
723000
2000
这不是很棒吗？
12:20
if you could take these artificial biological cells
313
725000
2000
如果你能确实得到这些人工制造的生物细胞
12:22
and fuse them with biological ones
314
727000
2000
并将他们同生物细胞相融合
12:24
to correct problems that we couldn't really deal with?
315
729000
3000
从而修正那些我们未能真正解决的问题。
12:27
The real issue in cellular biology
316
732000
2000
细胞生物学的真正问题
12:29
is we are never going to understand everything,
317
734000
3000
在于我们从来没有试图理解过任何事情，
12:32
because it's a multidimensional problem put there by evolution.
318
737000
3000
因为它是一个由进化产生的多维度问题。
12:35
Evolution cannot be cut apart.
319
740000
3000
进化不能被分割开来。
12:38
You need to somehow find the fitness function.
320
743000
3000
你需要通过某种方式找到最合适的机能。
12:41
And the profound realization for me
321
746000
2000
并且于我而言，最深层的体会
12:43
is that, if this works,
322
748000
2000
在于，如果这能成功的话，
12:45
the concept of the selfish gene gets kicked up a level,
323
750000
3000
自利基因的概念会成为众矢之的
12:48
and we really start talking about selfish matter.
324
753000
3000
因为这些是真正的自私基因
12:51
And what does that mean in a universe
325
756000
2000
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 form of stuff?
326
758000
3000
那意味着什么？
12:56
You're sitting on chairs.
327
761000
2000
你坐在椅子上。
12:58
They're inanimate, they're not alive.
328
763000
2000
椅子是没有生命的，他们不是活着的。
13:00
But you are made of stuff, and you are using stuff,
329
765000
2000
但是你是由物质组成的，并且你正在使用物质，
13:02
and you enslave stuff.
330
767000
2000
同时你奴役着物质。
13:04
So using evolution
331
769000
2000
所以使用进化这个概念
13:06
in biology,
332
771000
2000
在生物学领域
13:08
and in inorganic biology,
333
773000
2000
和有机生物学领域
13:10
for me is quite appealing, quite exciting.
334
775000
2000
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 very close
335
777000
3000
同时我们彼此间变得十分紧密
13:15
to understanding the key steps
336
780000
2000
从而理解这些
13:17
that makes dead stuff come alive.
337
782000
3000
使无生命的物质具有生命的关键步骤。
13:20
And again, when you're thinking about how improbable this is,
338
785000
3000
再一次，当你觉得这不大可能的话
13:23
remember, five billion years ago,
339
788000
2000
别忘了，50亿年前，
13:25
we were not here, and there was no life.
340
790000
3000
地球上没有人类，没有生命。
13:28
So what will that tell us
341
793000
2000
所以这能告诉我们什么
13:30
about the origin of life and the meaning of life?
342
795000
3000
关于生命的起源和含义？
13:33
But perhaps, for me as a chemist,
343
798000
2000
也许对于我一个化学家来说，
13:35
I want to keep away from general terms;
344
800000
2000
我不想仅是笼统的思考；
13:37
I want to think about specifics.
345
802000
2000
而是具体的思考这一点。
13:39
So what does it mean about defining life?
346
804000
2000
给生命下个定义，这意味着什么？
13:41
We really struggle to do this.
347
806000
2000
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 biology,
348
808000
2000
我想，如果我们能够制造无机生物，
13:45
and we can make matter become evolvable,
349
810000
3000
并且我们能让物质变得可以进化。
13:48
that will in fact define life.
350
813000
2000
事实上我们已经能够定义生命。
13:50
I propose to you
351
815000
2000
我的目的是告诉你们
13:52
that matter that can evolve is alive,
352
817000
3000
能够进化的物质就是有生命的，
13:55
and this gives us the idea of making evolvable matter.
353
820000
3000
并且这给了我们制造可进化物质的灵感。
13:58
Thank you very much.
354
823000
2000
非常感谢。
14:00
(Applause)
355
825000
7000
（掌声）
14:07
Chris Anderson: Just a quick question on timeline.
356
832000
4000
Chris Anderson:还有一个很短的问题。
14:11
You believe you're going to be successful in this project?
357
836000
2000
你相信你能在这个项目上取得成功吗？
14:13
When?
358
838000
2000
什么时候？
14:15
Lee Cronin: So many people think
359
840000
2000
Lee Cronin:很多人认为
14:17
that life took millions of years to kick in.
360
842000
2000
生命用了数百万年的时间起作用。
14:19
We're proposing to do it in just a few hours,
361
844000
3000
而我们的方法只要配置好
14:22
once we've set up
362
847000
2000
化学成分
14:24
the right chemistry.
363
849000
2000
几个小时就成
14:26
CA: And when do you think that will happen?
364
851000
2000
CA：你认为那什么时候会发生？
14:28
LC: Hopefully within the next two years.
365
853000
3000
LC：希望在接下来的两年内。
14:31
CA: That would be a big story.
366
856000
2000
CA：那一定是件大事。
14:33
(Laughter)
367
858000
2000
（笑声）
14:35
In your own mind, what do you believe the chances are
368
860000
2000
在你看来，你相信这件事情发生的概率是多少
14:37
that walking around on some other planet
369
862000
2000
当你走在其他的星球上
14:39
is non-carbon-based life,
370
864000
2000
发现并没有碳基生命
14:41
walking or oozing or something?
371
866000
2000
在行走或流动着？
14:43
LC: I think it's 100 percent.
372
868000
2000
LC：我认为是百分百可能。
14:45
Because the thing is, we are so chauvinistic to biology,
373
870000
3000
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.
374
873000
2000
如果你去掉碳元素，会其他的事情发生。
14:50
So the other thing
375
875000
2000
所以那些其他的事情
14:52
that if we were able to create life that's not based on carbon,
376
877000
2000
如果我们能够创造非碳基生命，
14:54
maybe we can tell NASA what really to look for.
377
879000
3000
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 stuff.
378
882000
3000
不要去找碳元素，去找一下可进化的物质。
15:00
CA: Lee Cronin, good luck. (LC: Thank you very much.)
379
885000
2000
CA：Lee Cronin,祝你好运。（LC：非常感谢。）
15:02
(Applause)
380
887000
2000
（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lee Cronin - ChemistA 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
Lee Cronin | Speaker | TED.com