TEDGlobal 2010
Stefano Mancuso: The roots of plant intelligence
斯特凡诺·曼库索: 植物智能的起源
Filmed:
Readability: 3.6
1,305,118 views
植物常表现出一些奇特的智能行为：与捕食者斗争、最大化获取食物的机会……但是，我们是否可以因此认为植物自身具有某种形式的智能？意大利的植物学家斯特凡诺·曼库索为此提供了有趣的证据。
Stefano Mancuso - Plant neurobiologist
Stefano Mancuso is a founder of the study of plant neurobiology, which explores signaling and communication at all levels of biological organization, from genetics to molecules, cells and ecological communities. Full bio
Stefano Mancuso is a founder of the study of plant neurobiology, which explores signaling and communication at all levels of biological organization, from genetics to molecules, cells and ecological communities. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:15
Sometimes I go browsing
0
0
3000
以前，在浏览
00:18
[through] a very old magazine.
1
3000
2000
一本很旧的杂志时，
00:20
I found this observation test
2
5000
3000
我发现了这个
00:23
about the story of the ark.
3
8000
3000
有关“诺亚方舟故事”的观察测验。
00:26
And the artist that drew this observation test
4
11000
3000
绘制这幅图片的作者
00:29
did some errors, had some mistakes --
5
14000
2000
设置了一些错误，
00:31
there are more or less 12 mistakes.
6
16000
2000
大概共有12个，
00:33
Some of them are very easy.
7
18000
2000
其中有一些很容易发现。
00:35
There is a funnel, an aerial part,
8
20000
3000
在方舟上，有一个烟囱，一段天线，
00:38
a lamp and clockwork key on the ark.
9
23000
2000
一盏灯和一把时钟装置钥匙。
00:40
Some of them are about the animals, the number.
10
25000
3000
其中的一些是有关动物数量的。
00:43
But there is a much more fundamental mistake
11
28000
3000
但是，这里有一个
00:46
in the overall story of the ark
12
31000
3000
关于诺也方舟故事更根本性、
00:49
that's not reported here.
13
34000
2000
却没有提出来的问题：
00:51
And this problem is: where are the plants?
14
36000
3000
植物在哪里？
00:54
So now we have God
15
39000
2000
现在，上帝
00:56
that is going to submerge Earth permanently
16
41000
3000
准备永远地淹没地球，
00:59
or at least for a very long period,
17
44000
3000
或者至少要淹没很长一段时间，
01:02
and no one is taking care of plants.
18
47000
3000
而却没有人照管植物。
01:05
Noah needed to take two of every kind of bird,
19
50000
2000
对每种鸟类、
01:07
of every kind of animal,
20
52000
2000
每种动物、
01:09
of every kind of creature that moves,
21
54000
2000
每种会动的生物，诺亚都要挽救两只，
01:11
but no mention about plants.
22
56000
3000
却直口不提植物。
01:14
Why?
23
59000
2000
为什么？
01:16
In another part of the same story,
24
61000
2000
这个故事的另一部分，
01:18
all the living creatures
25
63000
2000
所有活着的生物
01:20
are just the living creatures
26
65000
2000
都只是
01:22
that came out from the ark,
27
67000
2000
从方舟上下来的，
01:24
so birds, livestock and wild animals.
28
69000
3000
因此有鸟类、牲畜和野生动物。
01:27
Plants are not living creatures --
29
72000
2000
没有植物。
01:29
this is the point.
30
74000
2000
这就是问题所在。
01:31
That is a point that is not
31
76000
2000
这一点从没有
01:33
coming out from the Bible,
32
78000
2000
在圣经中提及，
01:35
but it's something that
33
80000
2000
然而，植物
01:37
really accompanied humanity.
34
82000
3000
却自始至终伴随着人类的发展。
01:40
Let's have a look at this nice code
35
85000
3000
这个漂亮的密码
01:43
that is coming from a Renaissance book.
36
88000
3000
来自于文艺复兴时期时的一本书，
01:46
Here we have the description
37
91000
2000
是关于
01:48
of the order of nature.
38
93000
2000
自然等级的描述。
01:50
It's a nice description because it's starting from left --
39
95000
3000
这个描述很贴切，因为它从左侧开始——
01:53
you have the stones --
40
98000
2000
左侧是石头——
01:55
immediately after the stones, the plants
41
100000
2000
紧随其后的是
01:57
that are just able to live.
42
102000
3000
仅仅具有生命的植物。
02:00
We have the animals that are able to live and to sense,
43
105000
3000
之后，是既有生命又能感知的动物；
02:03
and on the top of the pyramid,
44
108000
2000
在金字塔的顶端，
02:05
there is the man.
45
110000
2000
是人。
02:07
This is not the common man.
46
112000
2000
这不是普通人，
02:09
The "Homo studiosus" -- the studying man.
47
114000
3000
而是“智人”——读书人。
02:12
This is quite comforting
48
117000
3000
这令
02:15
for people like me -- I'm a professor --
49
120000
3000
像我这样的人——我是一名教授——颇感欣慰，
02:18
this to be over there on the top of creation.
50
123000
3000
我们位于世界万物的顶端。
02:21
But it's something completely wrong.
51
126000
3000
但是，这完全错了。
02:24
You know very well about professors.
52
129000
3000
你确实对教授非常了解。
02:27
But it's also wrong about plants,
53
132000
3000
但对植物来说，你仍然错了。
02:30
because plants are not just able to live;
54
135000
2000
它们不仅具有生命，
02:32
they are able to sense.
55
137000
2000
它们也能够感知。
02:34
They are much more sophisticated
56
139000
2000
在感知方面，
02:36
in sensing than animals.
57
141000
2000
它们比动物更加高级。
02:38
Just to give you an example,
58
143000
2000
举个例子，
02:40
every single root apex
59
145000
2000
任何一个根端
02:42
is able to detect and to monitor
60
147000
3000
都能够
02:45
concurrently and continuously
61
150000
2000
同时且持续地
02:47
at least 15 different chemical
62
152000
2000
感知并检测至少15种不同的化学
02:49
and physical parameters.
63
154000
3000
和物理参数。
02:52
And they also are able to show and to exhibit
64
157000
3000
此外，它们也能表现出
02:55
such a wonderful and complex behavior
65
160000
3000
令人赞叹且复杂的行为；
02:58
that can be described just with the term of intelligence.
66
163000
3000
如此行为非“智能”不能描述。
03:01
Well, but this is something --
67
166000
3000
不过，这一点——
03:04
this underestimation of plants is something
68
169000
2000
对植物的低估——
03:06
that is always with us.
69
171000
3000
一直都伴随着我们。
03:09
Let's have a look at this short movie now.
70
174000
3000
现在，我们来看个短片。
03:12
We have David Attenborough.
71
177000
2000
此人是大卫·阿滕伯勒，
03:14
Now David Attenborough is really a plant lover;
72
179000
2000
一位真正的植物爱好者。
03:16
he did some of the most beautiful movies
73
181000
3000
他制作了一些
03:19
about plant behavior.
74
184000
2000
有关植物行为的最美的影片。
03:21
Now, when he speaks about plants,
75
186000
2000
现在，当他谈论到植物时，
03:23
everything is correct.
76
188000
2000
所有一切都没有问题。
03:25
When he speaks about animals,
77
190000
2000
当他谈到动物时，
03:27
[he] tends to remove the fact
78
192000
2000
却往往倾向于
03:29
that plants exist.
79
194000
2000
认为植物不复存在了。
03:31
The blue whale,
80
196000
2000
蓝鲸
03:33
the biggest creature that exists on the planet --
81
198000
2000
是地球上最大的生物。
03:35
that is wrong, completely wrong.
82
200000
3000
那是错误的，是完全错误的。
03:38
The blue whale, it's a dwarf
83
203000
3000
在巨大的加州红杉面前，
03:41
if compared with the real biggest creature
84
206000
2000
蓝鲸立刻变成了侏儒。
03:43
that exists on the planet --
85
208000
2000
加州红杉
03:45
that is, this wonderful,
86
210000
2000
才真正是
03:47
magnificent Sequoiadendron giganteum.
87
212000
4000
地球上最大的生物。
03:51
(Applause)
88
216000
2000
（掌声）
03:53
And this is a living organism
89
218000
3000
一棵活的加州红杉
03:56
that has a mass of at least 2,000 tons.
90
221000
3000
至少重达2,000吨。
03:59
Now, the story
91
224000
2000
事实上，
04:01
that plants are some low-level organisms
92
226000
3000
在很久很久以前，
04:04
has been formalized
93
229000
3000
植物是低等生物的观点
04:07
many times ago by Aristotle,
94
232000
3000
就已经出现在亚里士多德的
04:10
that in "De Anima" --
95
235000
2000
《论灵魂》中了。
04:12
that is a very influential book for the Western civilization --
96
237000
3000
《论灵魂》一书对西方文明有着深远的影响。
04:15
wrote that the plants are on the edge
97
240000
3000
在书中，亚里士多德认为植物
04:18
between living and not living.
98
243000
3000
介于生命与非生命状态之间。
04:21
They have just a kind of very low-level soul.
99
246000
3000
它们不过是非常低级的灵魂，
04:24
It's called the vegetative soul,
100
249000
3000
我们姑且称之为植物灵魂。
04:27
because they lack movement,
101
252000
3000
因为它们不动，
04:30
and so they don't need to sense.
102
255000
2000
因此它们也不需要感知。
04:32
Let's see.
103
257000
2000
可事实又如何呢？
04:34
Okay, some of the movements of the plants are very well-known.
104
259000
3000
不错，众所周知，一些植物是可以运动的。
04:37
This is a very fast movement.
105
262000
2000
这是非常快速的运动。
04:39
This is a Dionaea, a Venus fly trap
106
264000
3000
这是捕蝇草，一株正在
04:42
hunting snails --
107
267000
2000
捕食蜗牛的捕蝇草。
04:44
sorry for the snail.
108
269000
2000
对不起了，蜗牛老弟。
04:46
This has been something that has been refused for centuries,
109
271000
3000
虽然证据确凿，数个世纪以来，人们
04:49
despite the evidence.
110
274000
3000
一直拒绝承认这一事实。
04:52
No one can say that the plants were able to eat an animal,
111
277000
3000
没有人敢说植物可以吃动物，
04:55
because it was against the order of nature.
112
280000
3000
因为这有悖于自然等级（规律）。
04:58
But plants are also able
113
283000
2000
但植物还可以
05:00
to show a lot of movement.
114
285000
3000
表现出很多种运动。
05:03
Some of them are very well known, like the flowering.
115
288000
3000
其中一些是人所共知的，比如开花。
05:06
It's just a question to use some techniques
116
291000
3000
不过，这需要借助一些技术才能看到，
05:09
like the time lapse.
117
294000
2000
比如快速播放。
05:11
Some of them are much more sophisticated.
118
296000
3000
而另外一些则非常高级。
05:14
Look at this young bean
119
299000
2000
请看这棵新生的豆子，
05:16
that is moving to catch the light every time.
120
301000
3000
它时刻移动着去追寻阳光。
05:19
And it's really so graceful;
121
304000
2000
它如此优雅，
05:21
it's like a dancing angel.
122
306000
3000
宛若一位翩翩起舞的天使。
05:24
They are also able to play --
123
309000
3000
它们也玩耍，
05:27
they are really playing.
124
312000
2000
它们真的会玩耍。
05:29
These are young sunflowers,
125
314000
3000
这些是向日葵幼苗，
05:32
and what they are doing
126
317000
2000
它们的行为
05:34
cannot be described
127
319000
2000
除非“玩耍”
05:36
with any other terms than playing.
128
321000
2000
不能形容。
05:38
They are training themselves,
129
323000
2000
像许多年幼的动物一样，
05:40
as many young animals do,
130
325000
2000
这些向日葵也要不断的训练自己，
05:42
to the adult life
131
327000
2000
直到成年；
05:44
where they will be called to track the sun
132
329000
3000
那时，它们要日日追随太阳
05:47
all the day.
133
332000
2000
的方向。
05:49
They are able to respond to gravity, of course,
134
334000
3000
当然，它们也对地球引力做出回应。
05:52
so the shoots are growing
135
337000
2000
所有幼苗
05:54
against the vector of gravity
136
339000
2000
朝着反地球引力方向向上生长，
05:56
and the roots toward the vector of gravity.
137
341000
3000
而根系则朝着引力方向向下延伸。
05:59
But they are also able to sleep.
138
344000
3000
植物也会睡觉。
06:02
This is one, Mimosa pudica.
139
347000
2000
这是种含羞草。
06:04
So during the night,
140
349000
2000
夜里，
06:06
they curl the leaves
141
351000
2000
它们卷起叶片，
06:08
and reduce the movement,
142
353000
2000
减少运动；
06:10
and during the day, you have the opening of the leaves --
143
355000
2000
天亮后，它们就舒展叶片——
06:12
there is much more movement.
144
357000
2000
还有很多很多植物运动的例子。
06:14
This is interesting
145
359000
2000
这非常有趣，
06:16
because this sleeping machinery,
146
361000
2000
因为这种睡眠机制
06:18
it's perfectly conserved.
147
363000
2000
被完美地保存了下来，
06:20
It's the same in plants, in insects
148
365000
2000
在植物、昆虫
06:22
and in animals.
149
367000
2000
和动物中，毫无差别。
06:24
And so if you need to study this sleeping problem,
150
369000
3000
如果你需要研究睡眠问题，
06:27
it's easy to study on plants, for example,
151
372000
3000
研究植物
06:30
than in animals
152
375000
2000
比研究动物要更容易；
06:32
and it's much more easy even ethically.
153
377000
3000
甚至从伦理角度来看，也更可行。
06:35
It's a kind of vegetarian
154
380000
3000
这是植物
06:38
experimentation.
155
383000
2000
实验。
06:40
Plants are even able to communicate --
156
385000
3000
植物也能够彼此交流，
06:43
they are extraordinary communicators.
157
388000
2000
它们是非常出色的交流者。
06:45
They communicate with other plants.
158
390000
2000
它们和其他植物交流，
06:47
They are able to distinguish kin and non-kin.
159
392000
3000
并能够辨识出亲子植物与非亲子植物。
06:50
They communicate
160
395000
2000
它们与
06:52
with plants of other species
161
397000
2000
植物交流，也与其他物种交流。
06:54
and they communicate with animals
162
399000
2000
比如，在传粉期间，
06:56
by producing chemical volatiles,
163
401000
3000
通过产生挥发性化合物，
06:59
for example, during the pollination.
164
404000
2000
它们与动物进行交流。
07:01
Now with the pollination, it's a very serious issue for plants,
165
406000
3000
传粉对植物来说是个非常严肃的问题，
07:04
because they move the pollen from one flower to the other,
166
409000
3000
因为它们要将花粉从一朵花传到另一朵花上，
07:07
yet they cannot move from one flower to the other.
167
412000
2000
而它们自己却无法从一朵花移动到另一朵花。
07:09
So they need a vector --
168
414000
2000
因此，它们需要一个媒介，
07:11
and this vector,
169
416000
2000
而这个媒介
07:13
it's normally an animal.
170
418000
2000
通常是动物。
07:15
Many insects
171
420000
2000
许多昆虫
07:17
have been used by plants as vectors
172
422000
3000
是植物
07:20
for the transport of the pollination,
173
425000
2000
传粉的媒介，
07:22
but not just insects; even birds, reptiles,
174
427000
3000
但传粉媒介又不限于昆虫；甚至鸟、爬行动物
07:25
and mammals like bats rats
175
430000
3000
以及哺乳动物，如老鼠和兔子，
07:28
are normally used for the transportation of the pollen.
176
433000
3000
都可以帮植物传播花粉。
07:31
This is a serious business.
177
436000
2000
这是一项严肃的“生意”。
07:33
We have the plants that are giving to the animals
178
438000
3000
有些植物为动物提供
07:36
a kind of sweet substance --
179
441000
3000
一种甘甜的物质——
07:39
very energizing --
180
444000
2000
富含高能量——
07:41
having in change this transportation of the pollen.
181
446000
3000
作为其传份的报偿。
07:44
But some plants are manipulating animals,
182
449000
3000
然而，有些植物则欺骗动物，
07:47
like in the case of orchids
183
452000
2000
比如，有些兰花，
07:49
that promise sex and nectar
184
454000
2000
佯装可以（与传粉昆虫）发生性关系并提供花蜜，
07:51
and give in change nothing
185
456000
2000
而帮其传粉的昆虫
07:53
for the transportation of the pollen.
186
458000
3000
最终得不到任何好处。
07:56
Now, there is a big problem
187
461000
3000
现在，
07:59
behind all this behavior that we have seen.
188
464000
3000
在所有我们看到的这些行为背后，隐藏着一个重大的问题。
08:02
How is it possible to do this without a brain?
189
467000
3000
没有大脑，如何能够实现这一切？
08:05
We need to wait until 1880,
190
470000
3000
直到1880年，
08:08
when this big man,
191
473000
2000
伟大的
08:10
Charles Darwin,
192
475000
2000
查尔斯·达尔文
08:12
publishes a wonderful, astonishing book
193
477000
3000
发表了一部叹为观止、震惊世人的著作，
08:15
that starts a revolution.
194
480000
3000
从此开启了一场革命。
08:18
The title is "The Power of Movement in Plants."
195
483000
3000
书的名字叫《植物运动的力量》。
08:21
No one was allowed to speak about movement in plants
196
486000
2000
在查尔斯·达尔文之前，没有人敢谈论
08:23
before Charles Darwin.
197
488000
2000
植物的运动。
08:25
In his book,
198
490000
2000
本书
08:27
assisted by his son, Francis --
199
492000
2000
是在他儿子弗朗西斯的协助下完成的。
08:29
who was the first professor of plant physiology in the world, in Cambridge --
200
494000
3000
弗朗西斯是世界上第一位植物生理学教授，曾任职于剑桥大学。
08:32
they took into consideration every single movement
201
497000
3000
在书中，他们用了500页，考虑了
08:35
for 500 pages.
202
500000
2000
植物的每一个运动。
08:37
And in the last paragraph of the book,
203
502000
3000
本书的最后一段，
08:40
it's a kind of stylistic mark,
204
505000
2000
应该算是文体标记。
08:42
because normally Charles Darwin stored,
205
507000
3000
因为，通常来说，查尔斯·达尔文都是
08:45
in the last paragraph of a book,
206
510000
2000
在一本书的最后一段写下
08:47
the most important message.
207
512000
2000
最重要的信息。
08:49
He wrote that,
208
514000
2000
他写道，
08:51
"It's hardly an exaggeration
209
516000
2000
“说
08:53
to say that the tip of the radical
210
518000
3000
根尖相当于
08:56
acts like the brain
211
521000
2000
低等动物的大脑
08:58
of one of the lower animals."
212
523000
2000
并不夸张”。
09:00
This is not a metaphor.
213
525000
2000
这并非比喻。
09:02
He wrote some very interesting letters to one of his friends
214
527000
3000
他曾写过一些非常有趣的信笺给他的朋友
09:05
who was J.D. Hooker, or at that time, president of the Royal Society,
215
530000
4000
J.D.胡克讨论植物大脑的问题。
09:09
so the maximum scientific authority in Britain
216
534000
3000
那时，胡可是皇家学院的主席，
09:12
speaking about the brain in the plants.
217
537000
3000
也就是英国科学的最高权威。
09:15
Now, this is a root apex
218
540000
2000
现在，这是
09:17
growing against a slope.
219
542000
2000
倚斜坡生长的根端。
09:19
So you can recognize this kind of movement,
220
544000
3000
容易看出，这种运动
09:22
the same movement that worms, snakes
221
547000
3000
与蠕虫、蛇
09:25
and every animal
222
550000
2000
和所有其他
09:27
that are moving on the ground without legs
223
552000
3000
没有脚、在地上蠕动的动物相比
09:30
is able to display.
224
555000
2000
没有差别。
09:32
And it's not an easy movement
225
557000
2000
这种运动并不容易，
09:34
because, to have this kind of movement,
226
559000
3000
因为这
09:37
you need to move different regions of the root
227
562000
3000
要求根的不同区域都要运动，
09:40
and to synchronize these different regions
228
565000
2000
并且在没有大脑控制的情况下，
09:42
without having a brain.
229
567000
2000
完成这些区域的协同运动。
09:44
So we studied the root apex
230
569000
3000
因此，我们研究了根端，
09:47
and we found that there is a specific region
231
572000
2000
并发现了一个特殊区域，
09:49
that is here, depicted in blue --
232
574000
3000
即蓝色标记的部分——
09:52
that is called the "transition zone."
233
577000
2000
我们姑且称之为过渡区。
09:54
And this region, it's a very small region --
234
579000
3000
这个区域非常之小，
09:57
it's less than one millimeter.
235
582000
3000
长度不足1毫米。
10:00
And in this small region
236
585000
2000
但它却是
10:02
you have the highest consumption
237
587000
2000
植物中耗氧最高
10:04
of oxygen in the plants
238
589000
2000
的区域。
10:06
and more important,
239
591000
2000
更重要的是，
10:08
you have these kinds of signals here.
240
593000
2000
各种信号都产生于此。
10:10
The signals that you are seeing here are action potential,
241
595000
3000
你所见的这些信号是动作电势，
10:13
are the same signals
242
598000
2000
这与
10:15
that the neurons of my brain, of our brain,
243
600000
3000
我大脑、我们大脑中的神经元
10:18
use to exchange information.
244
603000
3000
用来进行信息交换的信号相同。
10:21
Now we know that a root apex
245
606000
3000
现在我们知道，一个根端
10:24
has just a few hundred cells
246
609000
2000
只有几百个
10:26
that show this kind of feature,
247
611000
2000
具有此种特征的细胞，
10:28
but we know how big
248
613000
2000
但我们更知道，
10:30
the root apparatus of a small plant, like a plant of rye.
249
615000
3000
一小株植物，比如一棵黑麦，
10:33
We have almost
250
618000
2000
有多么庞大数量的根端——
10:35
14 million roots.
251
620000
2000
差不多14,000,000个根。
10:37
We have 11 and a half million
252
622000
3000
因此，共有11,500,000个
10:40
root apex
253
625000
2000
根端，
10:42
and a total length of 600 or more kilometers
254
627000
3000
其总长度达到甚至超过600公里，
10:45
and a very high surface area.
255
630000
2000
同时具有巨大的表面积。
10:47
Now let's imagine
256
632000
2000
我们假想
10:49
that each single root apex
257
634000
2000
每一个根端
10:51
is working in network with all the others.
258
636000
3000
都与所有其他的根端在网络中一起工作。
10:54
Here were have on the left, the Internet
259
639000
3000
这里，左侧是英特网，
10:57
and on the right, the root apparatus.
260
642000
3000
右侧是根组织。
11:00
They work in the same way.
261
645000
2000
它们有着相同的工作方式。
11:02
They are a network
262
647000
2000
它们都是由
11:04
of small computing machines,
263
649000
2000
小的计算机构成的网络，
11:06
working in networks.
264
651000
2000
并在网络中工作。
11:08
And why are they so similar?
265
653000
2000
为什么它们会如此相似？
11:10
Because they evolved
266
655000
2000
因为它们有着
11:12
for the same reason:
267
657000
2000
相同的进化原因：
11:14
to survive predation.
268
659000
3000
在捕食中生存下来。
11:17
They work in the same way.
269
662000
2000
它们的工作方式一致。
11:19
So you can remove 90 percent of the root apparatus
270
664000
3000
因此，你可以去除90%的根组织，
11:22
and the plants [continue] to work.
271
667000
2000
而植物依旧可以存活；
11:24
You can remove 90 percent of the Internet
272
669000
3000
你也可以出去90%的因特网，
11:27
and it is [continuing] to work.
273
672000
3000
它也仍然能够工作。
11:30
So, a suggestion
274
675000
2000
由此，
11:32
for the people working with networks:
275
677000
3000
对于和网络打交道的人，这里有一个建议：
11:35
plants are able
276
680000
3000
植物可以
11:38
to give you good suggestions
277
683000
2000
对如何实现网络进化
11:40
about how to evolve networks.
278
685000
3000
提供不错的建议。
11:43
And another possibility
279
688000
3000
另外一个可能性
11:46
is a technological possibility.
280
691000
3000
是技术方面的。
11:49
Let's imagine
281
694000
2000
我们假想，
11:51
that we can build robots
282
696000
2000
有一天，我们可以
11:53
and robots that are inspired by plants.
283
698000
3000
受植物的启发而制造出机器人。
11:56
Until now,
284
701000
2000
到目前为止，
11:58
the man was inspired
285
703000
3000
人们制造机器人
12:01
just by man or the animals
286
706000
2000
的灵感仅仅来自与人
12:03
in producing a robot.
287
708000
2000
或动物。
12:05
We have the animaloid --
288
710000
3000
我们有动物机器人——
12:08
and the normal robots inspired by animals,
289
713000
2000
受动物启发而制造的机器人，
12:10
insectoid, so on.
290
715000
2000
昆虫机器人，等等。
12:12
We have the androids
291
717000
2000
我们也有受人启发
12:14
that are inspired by man.
292
719000
3000
而制造的人形机器人。
12:17
But why have we not any plantoid?
293
722000
3000
但是，为什么没有植物机器人？
12:20
Well, if you want to fly,
294
725000
2000
是的，如果你想飞，
12:22
it's good that you look at birds --
295
727000
2000
你应该观察鸟类，
12:24
to be inspired by birds.
296
729000
2000
受鸟类的启发。
12:26
But if you want to explore soils,
297
731000
3000
但如果你想探察土壤，
12:29
or if you want to colonize
298
734000
3000
或在一个
12:32
new territory,
299
737000
2000
新的地区定居，
12:34
to best thing that you can do is to be inspired by plants
300
739000
3000
那你最好是跟植物学习，
12:37
that are masters in doing this.
301
742000
3000
因为植物深谙此道。
12:40
We have another possibility
302
745000
2000
在我们实验室，另外一个可能性
12:42
we are working [on] in our lab,
303
747000
2000
是制造
12:44
[which] is to build hybrids.
304
749000
2000
“杂交体”。
12:46
It's much more easy to build hybrids.
305
751000
3000
制造杂交体比制造机器人更容易得多。
12:49
Hybrid means it's something
306
754000
2000
杂交体是指
12:51
that's half living and half machine.
307
756000
3000
一半具有生命，而另一半是机器。
12:54
It's much more easy to work with plants
308
759000
2000
与动物相比，用植物做实验
12:56
than with animals.
309
761000
2000
容易得多。
12:58
They have computing power,
310
763000
2000
植物有计算力，
13:00
they have electrical signals.
311
765000
2000
也有电子信号，
13:02
The connection with the machine is much more easy,
312
767000
3000
因此，植物与机器的连结更加容易，
13:05
much more even ethically possible.
313
770000
4000
甚至在伦理上也更可行。
13:10
And these are three possibilities
314
775000
2000
目前，我们
13:12
that we are working on
315
777000
3000
制造
13:15
to build hybrids,
316
780000
2000
杂交体的三种可能包括：
13:17
driven by algae
317
782000
2000
用藻类，
13:19
or by the leaves at the end,
318
784000
3000
用叶片
13:22
by the most, most powerful parts of the plants,
319
787000
2000
以及用植物最强大的部分——
13:24
by the roots.
320
789000
2000
根系。
13:26
Well, thank you for your attention.
321
791000
2000
谢谢大家！
13:28
And before I finish,
322
793000
3000
在结束演讲前，
13:31
I would like to reassure that no snails were harmed
323
796000
3000
我想再次申明，并没有蜗牛因
13:34
in making this presentation.
324
799000
2000
此次演讲而受到伤害。
13:36
Thank you.
325
801000
2000
谢谢！
13:38
(Applause)
326
803000
5000
（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Stefano Mancuso - Plant neurobiologistStefano Mancuso is a founder of the study of plant neurobiology, which explores signaling and communication at all levels of biological organization, from genetics to molecules, cells and ecological communities.
Why you should listen
Does the Boston fern you're dutifully misting each morning appreciate your care? Or can the spreading oak in your local park take umbrage at the kids climbing its knotted branches? Not likely, says Italian researcher Stefano Mancuso, but that doesn't mean that these same living organisms aren't capable of incredibly sophisticated and dynamic forms of awareness and communication.
From his laboratory near Florence, Mancuso and his team explore how plants communicate, or "signal," with each other, using a complex internal analysis system to find nutrients, spread their species and even defend themselves against predators. Their research continues to transform our view of plants from simple organisms to complex ecological structures and communities that can gather, process and -- most incredibly -- share important information.
Stefano Mancuso | Speaker | TED.com