TED2014
Ed Yong: Zombie roaches and other parasite tales
Ed Yong: 一段由自殺蟋蟀、殭屍蟑螂和其他寄生體交織而成的故事
Filmed:
Readability: 4.9
1,829,488 views
人類十分注重我們自己的自由意志和自主性，但......我們忽略了遭到背後操縱的可能性。科普作家 Ed Yong 在這場迷人、幽默卻又令人不安的演講中提到，寄生體將操縱藝術提升到一個令人難以置信的完美境界。那麼，寄生體也在暗中控制我們的一切嗎？大概吧！
Ed Yong - Science writer
Ed Yong blogs with a mission: to ignite excitement for science in everyone, regardless of their education or background. Full bio
Ed Yong blogs with a mission: to ignite excitement for science in everyone, regardless of their education or background. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
A herd of wildebeests, a shoal of fish,
0
645
2551
一群牛羚, 一群魚, 和一群飛鳥
00:15
a flock of birds.
1
3196
1629
00:16
Many animals gather in large groups
2
4825
2068
很多動物都喜歡集結成群
00:18
that are among the most wonderful spectacles
3
6893
1986
這是自然界中最美妙的一件事
00:20
in the natural world.
4
8879
1718
00:22
But why do these groups form?
5
10597
2724
但是為什麼要成群結隊呢?
00:25
The common answers include things like
6
13321
1637
最常見的說法是
00:26
seeking safety in numbers or hunting in packs
7
14958
2966
為了安全或方便狩獵,
又或者交配與繁殖,
又或者交配與繁殖,
00:29
or gathering to mate or breed,
8
17924
2496
00:32
and all of these explanations,
9
20420
1668
以上的這些解釋,
00:34
while often true,
10
22088
1237
通常都是正確的,
00:35
make a huge assumption about animal behavior,
11
23325
3043
這些都是人類對於
動物們在行為上的假設
動物們在行為上的假設
00:38
that the animals are in control of their own actions,
12
26368
3177
這些動物們可以控制牠們的行為
00:41
that they are in charge of their bodies.
13
29545
2251
並對自己的身體負責
00:43
And that is often not the case.
14
31796
3427
但是通常卻不是這麼一回事
00:47
This is Artemia, a brine shrimp.
15
35223
2924
這是豐年蝦 (鹵蟲), 一種鹽水蝦
00:50
You probably know it better as a sea monkey.
16
38147
2764
又常被稱之為 ”海猴子“
00:52
It's small, and it typically lives alone,
17
40911
1995
牠非常的小, 通常習慣獨居
00:54
but it can gather in these large red swarms
18
42906
3077
但是牠也可以集結成
像這一大片的紅色群體
像這一大片的紅色群體
00:57
that span for meters,
19
45983
2247
大到足以用公尺(米)為單位來計算
01:00
and these form because of a parasite.
20
48230
3090
這些豐年蝦之所以聚集,是因為寄生蟲
01:03
These shrimp are infected with a tapeworm.
21
51320
2686
這些蝦子都被 “絛蟲” 給感染了
01:06
A tapeworm is effectively a long, living gut
22
54006
2251
絛蟲 (寄生蟲) 實際上就像是
一條既長又活生生的腸子
一條既長又活生生的腸子
01:08
with genitals at one end and
a hooked mouth at the other.
a hooked mouth at the other.
23
56257
2888
一端是生殖器, 另一端是帶鉤的口腔
01:11
As a freelance journalist, I sympathize.
24
59145
2535
身為一個自由的撰稿人, 我很同情牠
01:13
(Laughter)
25
61680
2155
(群眾笑聲)
01:15
The tapeworm drains nutrients from Artemia's body,
26
63835
2908
絛蟲吸附在豐年蝦的身上
並吸取牠的養分,
並吸取牠的養分,
01:18
but it also does other things.
27
66743
2077
不止這樣, 絛蟲還做了另外一件事
01:20
It castrates them,
28
68820
1620
絛蟲閹割了這些豐年蝦
01:22
it changes their color from transparent to bright red,
29
70440
4718
絛蟲把這些豐年蝦從本身的
透明色轉變成了亮紅色,
透明色轉變成了亮紅色,
01:27
it makes them live longer,
30
75158
1516
絛蟲讓這些豐年蝦活得更久,
01:28
and as biologist Nicolas Rode has found,
31
76674
2357
生物學家尼可拉斯.羅得發現
01:31
it makes them swim in groups.
32
79031
3359
寄生的絛蟲讓這些
原本獨居的蝦集結在一起
原本獨居的蝦集結在一起
01:34
Why? Because the tapeworm,
like many other parasites,
like many other parasites,
33
82390
3452
為什麼呢? 因為這些絛蟲
就像是其他的寄生物種一樣,
就像是其他的寄生物種一樣,
01:37
has a complicated life cycle
34
85842
1581
有著複雜的生活形態
01:39
involving many different hosts.
35
87423
2264
擁有很多不同的宿主
01:41
The shrimp are just one step on its journey.
36
89687
2404
寄生在這些蝦身上只是
這些絛蟲旅程的第一步
這些絛蟲旅程的第一步
01:44
Its ultimate destination is this,
37
92091
2612
牠們的最終目的是這個,
01:46
the greater flamingo.
38
94703
1947
大紅鶴
01:48
Only in a flamingo can the tapeworm reproduce,
39
96650
3025
只有在紅鶴身上, 這些絛蟲才得以繁衍
01:51
so to get there, it manipulates its shrimp hosts
40
99675
3289
所以為了要達到目的,
絛蟲只能先行操縱蝦子宿主
絛蟲只能先行操縱蝦子宿主
01:54
into forming these conspicuous colored swarms
41
102964
3091
進而形成這些顯眼的紅色蝦群
01:58
that are easier for a flamingo to spot
42
106055
2717
這樣才能更輕易地吸引紅鶴的注意
02:00
and to devour,
43
108772
1559
並獵捕吞食,
02:02
and that is the secret of the Artemia swarm.
44
110331
2932
而這就是豐年蝦群集的秘密.
02:05
They aren't sociable through their own volition,
45
113263
2163
豐年蝦並不是依
自身意志組成的群居動物
自身意志組成的群居動物
02:07
but because they are being controlled.
46
115426
2076
而是因為豐年蝦被控制了
02:09
It's not safety in numbers.
47
117502
1694
群體生活看似無法提供安全感
02:11
It's actually the exact opposite.
48
119196
1859
實際上卻剛好相反
02:13
The tapeworm hijacks their brains and their bodies,
49
121055
3041
絛蟲入侵了這些
豐年蝦的大腦與身體,
豐年蝦的大腦與身體,
02:16
turning them into vehicles
50
124096
1396
並把這些豐年蝦當作
02:17
for getting itself into a flamingo.
51
125492
3967
進入紅鶴體內的一項交通工具
02:21
And here is another example
52
129459
1430
這裡還有另外一個
02:22
of a parasitic manipulation.
53
130889
2526
寄生蟲操縱宿主的案例
02:25
This is a suicidal cricket.
54
133415
2976
這是一隻具自殺傾向的蟋蟀
02:28
This cricket swallowed the
larvae of a Gordian worm,
larvae of a Gordian worm,
55
136391
3304
這隻蟋蟀吞食了鐵線蟲的幼蟲,
02:31
or horsehair worm.
56
139695
1893
鐵線蟲又名馬鬃蟲
02:33
The worm grew to adult size within it,
57
141588
2156
蟲子會在蟋蟀身體裡長到成蟲,
02:35
but it needs to get into water in order to mate,
58
143744
3038
但是牠(鐵線蟲)必須在水裡交配,
02:38
and it does that by releasing proteins
59
146782
2218
當鐵線蟲需要交配時
就會分泌特殊蛋白質
就會分泌特殊蛋白質
02:41
that addle the cricket's brain,
60
149000
2188
腐蝕蟋蟀的大腦,
02:43
causing it to behave erratically.
61
151188
2164
造成蟋蟀行為失常.
02:45
When the cricket nears a body of water,
62
153352
1955
當蟋蟀靠近水邊的時候,
02:47
such as this swimming pool,
63
155307
1619
例如這個游泳池邊,
02:48
it jumps in and drowns,
64
156926
2257
牠就會跳入水裡並淹死自己,
02:51
and the worm wriggles out
65
159183
1725
這時鐵線蟲就會
02:52
of its suicidal corpse.
66
160908
3856
從死屍裡蠕動而出.
02:56
Crickets are really roomy. Who knew?
67
164764
3603
蟋蟀體內很寬敞. 但是誰知道呢?
03:00
The tapeworm and the Gordian worm are not alone.
68
168367
3215
絛蟲和鐵線蟲並不孤單
03:03
They are part of an entire cavalcade
69
171582
1720
牠們是控制大腦的
寄生蟲軍團的一份子
03:05
of mind-controlling parasites,
70
173302
2077
03:07
of fungi, viruses, and worms and insects and more
71
175379
3949
像是真菌, 病毒, 蠕蟲, 昆蟲等等
03:11
that all specialize in subverting and overriding
72
179328
2573
這些都是擅長攪亂及重寫
03:13
the wills of their hosts.
73
181901
2209
宿主們本身意願的寄生體
03:16
Now, I first learned about this way of life
74
184110
1737
當我約20年前第一次
03:17
through David Attenborough's "Trials of Life"
75
185847
2493
從大衛·阿滕伯勒的書 《生命的征途》上
03:20
about 20 years ago,
76
188340
1722
學習到這種生物形態
03:22
and then later through a wonderful book called
77
190062
1702
再從另一本非常好的書
03:23
"Parasite Rex" by my friend Carl Zimmer.
78
191764
2674
由我朋友卡爾·齊默
撰寫的《霸王寄生蟲》上見到
撰寫的《霸王寄生蟲》上見到
03:26
And I've been writing about
these creatures ever since.
these creatures ever since.
79
194438
2143
之後我就以這些生物
為主題不停地寫作至今
為主題不停地寫作至今
03:28
Few topics in biology enthrall me more.
80
196581
2811
還有一些生物學的主題令我更加著迷
03:31
It's like the parasites have subverted my own brain.
81
199392
3706
這感覺就像是這些
寄生蟲已經竄改了我的大腦
寄生蟲已經竄改了我的大腦
03:35
Because after all, they are always compelling
82
203098
2611
因為畢竟, 牠們是如此地引人注目
03:37
and they are delightfully macabre.
83
205709
1288
卻又同時令人感到毛骨悚然
03:38
When you write about parasites,
84
206997
1392
當你在寫關於寄生蟲的文章時,
03:40
your lexicon swells with phrases like
85
208389
2084
你的詞彙量張嘴就是 "活活吞噬"
03:42
"devoured alive" and "bursts out of its body."
86
210473
3046
閉口就是 “衝出身體”。
03:45
(Laughter)
87
213519
1237
(群眾笑聲)
03:46
But there's more to it than that.
88
214756
1540
不僅如此
03:48
I'm a writer, and fellow writers in the audience
89
216296
2102
我是個作家, 觀眾席裡有些人也是作家
03:50
will know that we love stories.
90
218398
2709
作家都知道每個人都喜歡故事
03:53
Parasites invite us to resist the allure
91
221107
2393
寄生蟲讓我們拒絕撰寫那些
03:55
of obvious stories.
92
223500
1850
淺顯易見的故事情節的誘惑
03:57
Their world is one of plot twists
93
225350
2310
牠們生存的世界是劇情的轉折點之一
03:59
and unexpected explanations.
94
227660
3607
也是無法預測的解釋
04:03
Why, for example,
95
231267
1496
為什麼? 例如,
04:04
does this caterpillar
96
232763
2178
這隻毛毛蟲
04:06
start violently thrashing about
97
234941
1974
當其他昆蟲靠近牠
04:08
when another insect gets close to it
98
236915
1668
和那些白色蟲繭的時候
04:10
and those white cocoons that it seems
99
238583
2257
毛毛蟲是在開始激烈反抗嗎？
04:12
to be standing guard over?
100
240840
1438
毛毛蟲貌似在站崗護衛這些繭
04:14
Is it maybe protecting its siblings?
101
242278
3096
難道毛毛蟲在保護牠的兄弟姐妹嗎?
04:17
No.
102
245374
1449
不是的
04:18
This caterpillar was attacked
103
246823
1457
這隻毛毛蟲是被寄生蜂給攻擊
04:20
by a parasitic wasp which laid eggs inside it.
104
248280
3219
並被體內產卵
04:23
The eggs hatched and the young wasps
105
251499
1434
寄生蜂的蛋將孵化在
毛毛蟲的體內,
毛毛蟲的體內,
04:24
devoured the caterpillar alive
106
252933
1314
而這隻寄生蜂幼蟲
在衝破毛毛蟲的身體之前
在衝破毛毛蟲的身體之前
04:26
before bursting out of its body.
107
254247
1671
將毛毛蟲從內部活活吞食
04:27
See what I mean?
108
255918
2275
你們了解我的意思了嗎?
04:30
Now, the caterpillar didn't die.
109
258193
2838
然而, 這隻毛毛蟲還在苟延殘喘
04:33
Some of the wasps seemed to stay behind
110
261031
2585
有些寄生蜂卻背後
04:35
and controlled it into defending their siblings
111
263616
3337
控制著這只毛毛蟲
保護自己的兄弟姐妹
04:38
which are metamorphosing
112
266953
1634
直到牠們在繭內破繭成蟲
04:40
into adults within those cocoons.
113
268587
2020
04:42
This caterpillar is a head-banging
zombie bodyguard
zombie bodyguard
114
270607
3539
這隻毛毛蟲只是一隻
搖頭晃腦的殭屍保鏢
搖頭晃腦的殭屍保鏢
04:46
defending the offspring
115
274146
1301
保護著那些殺死自己的
04:47
of the creature that killed it.
116
275447
2222
生物的後代(寄生蜂的後代)
04:49
(Applause)
117
277669
3866
(群眾掌聲)
04:53
We have a lot to get through.
I only have 13 minutes. (Laughter)
I only have 13 minutes. (Laughter)
118
281535
4295
我們還有很多要說,
而我只有13分鐘 (群眾笑聲)
而我只有13分鐘 (群眾笑聲)
04:57
Now, some of you are probably just
119
285830
1811
現在, 你們有些人可能
04:59
desperately clawing for some solace
120
287641
2218
只是拼命地尋求一些慰藉
05:01
in the idea that these things are oddities
121
289859
2260
說這些都只是自然界裡的怪事,
05:04
of the natural world, that they are outliers,
122
292119
1931
這些發生的事情都是離群值,
05:06
and that point of view is understandable,
123
294050
1820
這些論點都是可被理解的,
05:07
because by their nature, parasites are quite small
124
295870
2378
因為牠們的天性, 寄生體是很小的
05:10
and they spend a lot of their time
125
298248
1340
牠們花費很多的時間
05:11
inside the bodies of other things.
126
299588
2954
在別的物種身上
05:14
They're easy to overlook,
127
302542
1771
牠們很容易被小看,
05:16
but that doesn't mean that they aren't important.
128
304313
2585
但是這不代表牠們不重要
05:18
A few years back, a man called Kevin Lafferty
129
306898
2205
幾年前, 有個名叫凱文·拉弗蒂的人
05:21
took a group of scientists
into three Californian estuaries
into three Californian estuaries
130
309103
3369
帶了一群科學家去了加州的三個河口
05:24
and they pretty much weighed and dissected
131
312472
1748
他們幾乎將能找到的所有東西
05:26
and recorded everything they could find,
132
314220
1995
通通稱重, 解剖, 及記錄了下來,
05:28
and what they found
133
316215
1228
他們發現
05:29
were parasites in extreme abundance.
134
317443
3216
寄生物種非常豐富多元
05:32
Especially common were trematodes,
135
320659
2044
尤其是吸蟲類最為常見,
05:34
tiny worms that specialize in castrating their hosts
136
322703
2650
牠們(吸蟲)是專門閹割宿主的微小蠕蟲
05:37
like this unfortunate snail.
137
325353
2546
好比這隻不幸的蝸牛
05:39
Now, a single trematode is tiny, microscopic,
138
327899
2889
現在, 單一隻吸蟲是十分微小的,
僅能依靠顯微鏡觀測
僅能依靠顯微鏡觀測
05:42
but collectively they weighed as much
139
330788
1799
但是全體加起來的重量就和
05:44
as all the fish in the estuaries
140
332587
2186
河口裡所有的魚一樣重
05:46
and three to nine times more than all the birds.
141
334773
3707
或者是所有鳥類總重的三到九倍之多
05:50
And remember the Gordian worm that I showed you,
142
338480
1994
還記得我剛才給你們看的鐵線蟲
05:52
the cricket thing?
143
340474
1388
和那隻蟋蟀嗎?
05:53
One Japanese scientist called Takuya Sato
144
341862
2553
有個名叫佐藤拓也的日本科學家
05:56
found that in one stream,
145
344415
1696
在一段河流裡發現
05:58
these things drive so many crickets
146
346111
1971
這些寄生蟲控制著很多的蟋蟀
06:00
and grasshoppers into the water
147
348082
1299
和蚱蜢跳入水中
06:01
that the drowned insects
148
349381
1309
進而淹死這些昆蟲
06:02
make up some 60 percent of the diet of local trout.
149
350690
4304
而這些昆蟲占了當地鱒魚60%的食物來源
06:06
Manipulation is not an oddity.
150
354994
2934
這些操控並不是奇怪的事
06:09
It is a critical and common part
151
357928
2120
這是發生在我們週遭, 很複雜
06:12
of the world around us,
152
360048
1891
卻又平常的世界的一部份
06:13
and scientists have now found
153
361939
1521
科學家目前發現了
06:15
hundreds of examples of such manipulators,
154
363460
2482
數百種這類型的案例,
06:17
and more excitingly, they're starting to understand
155
365942
2437
更令人振奮的是, 科學家們開始了解
06:20
exactly how these creatures control their hosts.
156
368379
4058
這些寄生體到底是
怎麼控制牠們宿主的
怎麼控制牠們宿主的
06:24
And this is one of my favorite examples.
157
372437
2524
這是我最喜歡的案例之一
06:26
This is Ampulex compressa,
158
374961
2457
這是安瓿牛鞭
06:29
the emerald cockroach wasp,
159
377418
2224
也叫扁頭泥蜂
06:31
and it is a truth universally acknowledged
160
379642
2294
還有件眾所皆知的事
06:33
that an emerald cockroach wasp in possession
161
381936
1643
就是這些扁頭泥蜂
06:35
of some fertilized eggs
162
383579
1796
會自己的卵
06:37
must be in want of a cockroach.
163
385375
2466
產在蟑螂的身上
06:39
When she finds one,
164
387841
1200
當牠(扁頭泥蜂)找到一隻(蟑螂)時
06:41
she stabs it with a stinger
165
389041
2211
牠(扁頭泥蜂)用牠的刺來叮螫蟑螂
06:43
that is also a sense organ.
166
391252
1449
而刺同時也是牠的感覺器官
06:44
This discovery came out three weeks ago.
167
392701
2671
這些都是三個禮拜前的新發現
06:47
She stabs it with a stinger that is a sense organ
168
395372
2305
牠(扁頭泥蜂)的刺, 也就是牠的感覺器官
06:49
equipped with small sensory bumps
169
397677
1794
有著細小的感官突起物
06:51
that allow her to feel the distinctive texture
170
399471
2555
這些突起物可以讓牠感受到
06:54
of a roach's brain.
171
402026
2107
蟑螂大腦組織的特殊質地
06:56
So like a person blindly rooting about in a bag,
172
404133
3041
就像是一個人盲目的
在一個袋子裡尋找,
在一個袋子裡尋找,
06:59
she finds the brain, and she injects it with venom
173
407174
2477
當扁頭泥蜂找到大腦時, 會將毒液注進
07:01
into two very specific clusters of neurons.
174
409651
4201
兩種特定的神經元叢
07:05
Israeli scientists Frederic Libersat and Ram Gal
175
413852
3083
以色列的科學家,
弗雷德里克.李伯賽及拉姆.加爾
弗雷德里克.李伯賽及拉姆.加爾
07:08
found that the venom is a
very specific chemical weapon.
very specific chemical weapon.
176
416935
3725
發現這些毒液是一種特定的化學武器
07:12
It doesn't kill the roach, nor does it sedate it.
177
420660
2544
這種毒液並不會殺死蟑螂,
也不會對蟑螂產生鎮靜效果
也不會對蟑螂產生鎮靜效果
07:15
The roach could walk away
178
423204
2127
蟑螂還是可以離開
07:17
or fly or run if it chose to,
179
425331
3025
或是飛走, 如果蟑螂可以決定的話
07:20
but it doesn't choose to,
180
428356
1875
但是其實蟑螂並不能真正做這個決定,
07:22
because the venom nixes its motivation to walk,
181
430231
3380
因為這些毒液阻斷了蟑螂的行動意願
07:25
and only that.
182
433611
1114
而也就只是這樣
07:26
The wasp basically un-checks
the escape-from-danger box
the escape-from-danger box
183
434725
3706
基本上這些蜂類讓蟑螂
喪失了逃生本能,
07:30
in the roach's operating system,
184
438431
1840
讓扁頭泥蜂帶著無助的受害者(蟑螂)
07:32
allowing her to lead her helpless victim
185
440271
3233
07:35
back to her lair by its antennae
186
443504
2111
藉由觸角回到巢穴內
07:37
like a person walking a dog.
187
445615
2639
就像是人在遛著狗一樣
07:40
And once there, she lays an egg on it,
188
448254
1677
再重複一次, 牠將蛋產在蟑螂上,
07:41
egg hatches, devoured alive, bursts out of body,
189
449931
2276
蛋孵化, 幼蟲將蟑螂活活吞食,
再從牠身體裡破出,
再從牠身體裡破出,
07:44
yadda yadda yadda, you know the drill.
190
452207
2189
如此之類的, 你們已經知道過程了
07:46
(Laughter) (Applause)
191
454396
3230
(群眾笑聲, 掌聲)
07:49
Now I would argue that, once stung,
192
457626
2880
現在我認為, 一次叮螫後
07:52
the cockroach isn't a roach anymore.
193
460506
2005
蟑螂不再是一隻蟑螂
07:54
It's more of an extension of the wasp,
194
462511
2350
而是泥蜂的延伸體,
07:56
just like the cricket was an
extension of the Gordian worm.
extension of the Gordian worm.
195
464861
2843
就像是蟋蟀是鐵線蟲的延伸體一樣
07:59
These hosts won't get to survive or reproduce.
196
467719
2800
這些宿主失去了生存及生育的權利
08:02
They have as much control over their own fates
197
470519
1799
牠們對於自身命運的掌控
08:04
as my car.
198
472318
1784
如同我順利掌控我的車一樣.
08:06
Once the parasites get in,
199
474102
1500
一旦寄生體侵入時,
08:07
the hosts don't get a say.
200
475602
2565
宿主便失去了發言權
08:10
Now humans, of course,
201
478167
1314
當然, 現在的人類
08:11
are no stranger to manipulation.
202
479481
2032
對操控並不陌生
08:13
We take drugs to shift the chemistries of our brains
203
481513
2360
我們吸毒來改變大腦的化學物質
08:15
and to change our moods,
204
483873
1131
和改變我們的情緒,
08:17
and what are arguments or advertising or big ideas
205
485004
4020
我們如果沒有打算
要影響別人的意志
要影響別人的意志
08:21
if not an attempt to influence someone else's mind?
206
489024
3703
那所謂的論點、廣告
又或者是偉大的構想又是什麼
又或者是偉大的構想又是什麼
08:24
But our attempts at doing this
207
492727
1527
但是我們所做的這些嘗試
08:26
are crude and blundering compared
208
494254
1778
和寄生蟲這種精密又特異的生物比較
08:28
to the fine-grained specificity of the parasites.
209
496032
3095
顯得十分粗糙、亂來
08:31
Don Draper only wishes he was as elegant
210
499127
2392
好比唐.德雷珀只希望他和
08:33
and precise as the emerald cockroach wasp.
211
501519
4960
扁頭泥蜂一樣這麼的高貴和準確
08:38
Now, I think this is part of what makes parasites
212
506479
3740
我認為這是寄生體之所以
08:42
so sinister and so compelling.
213
510219
2786
如此邪惡又卻引人注目的部分原因
08:45
We place such a premium on our free will
214
513005
2622
我們相當注重我們的自由意志
08:47
and our independence
215
515627
1261
和我們的自主權
08:48
that the prospect of losing those qualities
216
516888
1581
當我們失去這些特質後
08:50
to forces unseen
217
518469
1278
將會有看不見的力量
08:51
informs many of our deepest societal fears.
218
519747
3168
將我們最深的社會恐懼呈現出來
08:54
Orwellian dystopias and shadowy cabals
219
522915
2453
奧威爾的 “反烏托邦”和 “影子陰謀”
08:57
and mind-controlling supervillains --
220
525368
1854
還有控制大腦的超級惡棍們
08:59
these are tropes that fill our darkest fiction,
221
527222
3028
都彷彿是暗黑小說中會出現的比喻,
09:02
but in nature, they happen all the time.
222
530250
4798
但是卻無時無刻地
真實發生在自然界中
真實發生在自然界中
09:07
Which leads me to an obvious
223
535048
2632
這將我帶到一個明顯
09:09
and disquieting question:
224
537680
2300
又令人不安的問題上:
09:11
Are there dark, sinister parasites
225
539980
1723
是否有一些陰險的寄生蟲
09:13
that are influencing our behavior
226
541703
1956
在我們毫不知情的情況下
09:15
without us knowing about it,
227
543659
1575
影響著我們的日常行為——
09:17
besides the NSA?
228
545234
2819
除了國家安全局(NSA)?
09:20
If there are any —
229
548053
1307
如果有的話--
09:21
(Laughter) (Applause)
230
549360
3966
(群眾笑聲, 掌聲)
09:25
I've got a red dot on my forehead now, don't I?
231
553326
2322
我現在額頭上是不是多了個紅點? (被當成了靶)
09:27
(Laughter)
232
555648
2527
(群眾笑聲)
09:30
If there are any, this is a good candidate for them.
233
558175
2954
如果有的話, 這樣會是牠們很好的候選人
09:33
This is Toxoplasma gondii, or Toxo, for short,
234
561129
3278
這是弓型蟲又稱弓漿蟲, 簡稱為弓蟲
09:36
because the terrifying creature
235
564407
1589
這麼叫牠
09:37
always deserves a cute nickname.
236
565996
2210
是因為令人害怕的物種
通常都有可愛的暱稱
通常都有可愛的暱稱
09:40
Toxo infects mammals,
237
568206
2282
弓蟲會感染哺乳類動物,
09:42
a wide variety of mammals,
238
570488
1478
各個品種的哺乳動物,
09:43
but it can only sexually reproduce in a cat.
239
571966
3081
但是牠(弓蟲)卻只能在
貓的身體裡進行有性繁殖
貓的身體裡進行有性繁殖
09:47
And scientists like Joanne Webster have shown that
240
575047
2761
科學家像是喬安妮.韋伯斯特證明了
09:49
if Toxo gets into a rat or a mouse,
241
577808
2193
一旦弓蟲進入鼠類當中,
09:52
it turns the rodent into a cat-seeking missile.
242
580001
3472
將會把這些被感染的鼠類
化作尋找貓咪的導彈
化作尋找貓咪的導彈
09:55
If the infected rat smells the delightful odor
243
583473
3076
如果被感染的鼠類聞到了
09:58
of cat piss,
244
586549
1224
貓咪尿液這樣吸引人的味道
09:59
it runs towards the source of the smell
245
587773
2720
牠(鼠類)就會反常的奔往這味道的方向
10:02
rather than the more sensible direction of away.
246
590493
3919
而不是一如往常地逃離
10:06
The cat eats the rat. Toxo gets to have sex.
247
594412
2535
當這些貓吃了這些鼠類,
弓蟲就得以完成交配
弓蟲就得以完成交配
10:08
It's a classic tale of Eat, Prey, Love.
248
596947
2872
這就像是經典的故事模式：吃, 祈禱, 和愛
10:11
(Laughter) (Applause)
249
599819
4668
(群眾笑聲, 掌聲)
10:19
You're very charitable, generous people.
250
607512
3202
你們是非常寬容又慷慨的人
10:22
Hi, Elizabeth, I loved your talk.
251
610714
2585
嗨, 伊麗莎白, 我喜歡你的演說
10:25
How does the parasite control its host
252
613299
3368
寄生蟲是用什麼方法
10:28
in this way?
253
616667
1204
控制著牠的宿主們?
10:29
We don't really know.
254
617871
1326
我們其實不是很知道原因
10:31
We know that Toxo releases an enzyme
255
619197
1688
我們知道弓蟲會釋放某種酶
10:32
that makes dopamine, a substance involved
256
620885
1992
製造多巴胺, 一種活化
大腦獎賞機制及創造動力
大腦獎賞機制及創造動力
10:34
in reward and motivation.
257
622877
1813
的神經傳導物質
10:36
We know it targets certain parts of a rodent's brain,
258
624690
2431
我們知道牠(弓蟲)的目標是
囓齒動物大腦的特定部份,
囓齒動物大腦的特定部份,
10:39
including those involved in sexual arousal.
259
627121
2465
包括喚起性慾的部分
10:41
But how those puzzle pieces fit together
260
629586
2201
但是卻不清楚這些片段的認知
10:43
is not immediately clear.
261
631787
1844
能夠怎麼樣被拼在一起
10:45
What is clear is that this thing
262
633631
2296
但有樣認知是明確的,
10:47
is a single cell.
263
635927
1392
那就是, 這個不明物是單細胞
10:49
This has no nervous system.
264
637319
1370
沒有神經系統
10:50
It has no consciousness.
265
638689
1132
也沒有認知能力
10:51
It doesn't even have a body.
266
639821
1301
甚至連個身體都沒有
10:53
But it's manipulating a mammal?
267
641122
2624
但是牠卻可以操控一隻哺乳動物?
10:55
We are mammals.
268
643746
1426
我們就是哺乳類動物
10:57
We are more intelligent than a mere rat, to be sure,
269
645172
2434
想當然爾, 我們是比一隻
單純的老鼠有智慧的多,
單純的老鼠有智慧的多,
10:59
but our brains have the same basic structure,
270
647606
2524
但是我們的大腦有著一樣的基本結構,
11:02
the same types of cells,
271
650130
1393
一樣的細胞,
11:03
the same chemicals running through them,
272
651523
1588
一樣的化學物質在裡頭遊走,
11:05
and the same parasites.
273
653111
2319
和一樣的寄生體
11:07
Estimates vary a lot, but some figures suggest
274
655430
2348
統計上估計的變異程度十分顯著,
但有些數據顯示
但有些數據顯示
11:09
that one in three people around the world
275
657778
2360
全世界每三個人之中
11:12
have Toxo in their brains.
276
660138
1713
就有一個人的大腦裡寄生著弓蟲
11:13
Now typically, this doesn't lead to any overt illness.
277
661851
3488
通常，這並不產生任何明顯的疾病
11:17
The parasite holds up in a dormant state
278
665339
1878
這些寄生體處於
11:19
for a long period of time.
279
667217
2183
長期休眠狀態
11:21
But there's some evidence that those people
280
669400
2039
但有證據顯示那些作為寄生載體的人
11:23
who are carriers score slightly differently
281
671439
3034
在性格問卷上的分數呈現
11:26
on personality questionnaires than other people,
282
674473
2729
和其他人相比會稍加不同
11:29
that they have a slightly
higher risk of car accidents,
higher risk of car accidents,
283
677202
2484
他們車禍發生的風險會稍高
11:31
and there's some evidence
that people with schizophrenia
that people with schizophrenia
284
679686
2603
此外, 也有證據顯示精神分裂症的患者
11:34
are more likely to be infected.
285
682289
2546
較容易被寄生體感染
11:36
Now, I think this evidence is still inconclusive,
286
684835
2183
我認為這部分的證據目前尚未定論
11:39
and even among Toxo researchers,
287
687018
1911
即使是弓形蟲的研究人員
11:40
opinion is divided as to whether the parasite
288
688929
2440
他們對於弓形蟲是否真正影響人類行為
11:43
is truly influencing our behavior.
289
691369
2385
的意見也彼此分歧
11:45
But given the widespread
nature of such manipulations,
nature of such manipulations,
290
693754
2659
但由於自然界中充斥著各種操縱模式
11:48
it would be completely implausible
291
696413
1845
人類成為生物中唯一
11:50
for humans to be the only species
292
698258
1649
不會受到相似模式感染的這個論點
11:51
that weren't similarly affected.
293
699907
2946
是完全難以置信的
11:54
And I think that this capacity to constantly
294
702853
4393
我認為這種思維模式不斷地
11:59
subvert our way of thinking about the world
295
707246
2867
顛覆我們對於整個世界的認知
12:02
makes parasites amazing.
296
710113
1547
讓寄生體的存在變得更加驚人
12:03
They're constantly inviting us to
look at the natural world sideways,
look at the natural world sideways,
297
711660
3209
牠們持續地邀請我們
一同看看自然界的橫盤交錯
一同看看自然界的橫盤交錯
12:06
and to ask if the behaviors we're seeing,
298
714869
2171
並讓我們反思觀測得來的行為模式
12:09
whether they're simple and obvious
299
717040
1487
無論是淺顯的、
12:10
or baffling and puzzling,
300
718527
1533
莫名其妙的或是令人匪夷所思的
12:12
are not the results of individuals
301
720060
2086
都不是個體行為
12:14
acting through their own accord
302
722146
1853
自願下所產生的
12:15
but because they are being bent
303
723999
1809
而是因為他們被迫
12:17
to the control of something else.
304
725808
2670
服從其他生物的控制
12:20
And while that idea may be disquieting,
305
728478
2040
雖然這個想法可能讓人感到不安
12:22
and while parasites' habits may be very grisly,
306
730518
2923
寄生體的生活模式可能非常可怕
12:25
I think that ability to surprise us
307
733441
1792
但我認為就是這個能力讓我們感到驚訝
12:27
makes them as wonderful and as charismatic
308
735233
3175
讓牠們彷彿熊貓、蝴蝶或海豚這類的生物
12:30
as any panda or butterfly or dolphin.
309
738408
3364
一樣充滿精采與魅力
在《物種起源》一書的結尾
12:33
At the end of "On the Origin of Species,"
310
741772
2219
12:35
Charles Darwin writes about the grandeur of life,
311
743991
2989
達爾文寫到生命的偉大
12:38
and of endless forms most beautiful
312
746980
2653
永無止盡的形式的美麗
12:41
and most wonderful,
313
749633
1432
也是最美好的,
12:43
and I like to think he could easily have been talking
314
751065
2579
我認為他可以很輕鬆的說
12:45
about a tapeworm that makes shrimp sociable
315
753644
3180
絛蟲增加了蝦子社交的技巧
12:48
or a wasp that takes cockroaches for walks.
316
756824
3249
或是寄生蜂牽著蟑螂一同散步
12:52
But perhaps, that's just a parasite talking.
317
760073
3149
但又或許, 這只是寄生蟲在演說
12:55
Thank you.
318
763222
1731
謝謝
12:56
(Applause)
319
764953
4000
(群眾掌聲)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ed Yong - Science writerEd Yong blogs with a mission: to ignite excitement for science in everyone, regardless of their education or background.
Why you should listen
Whether he's exploring a possible resurrection for extinct mouth-birthing amphibians or skewering media misunderstandings of hyped hormones like oxytocin, Ed Yong has a gift for illuminating the beauty (or controversy) in difficult and complex topics.
The award-winning blog Not Exactly Rocket Science (hosted by National Geographic) is the epicenter of Yong’s formidable web and social media presence. In its posts, he tackles the hottest and most bizarre topics in science journalism. As he says, “The only one that matters to me, as far as my blog is concerned, is that something interests me. That is, excites or inspires or amuses me.” When not blogging, he also finds time to contribute to Nature, Wired, Scientific American and many other web and print outlets.
He is also the author of the book I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life.
Ed Yong | Speaker | TED.com