How we're harnessing nature's hidden superpowers | Oded Shoseyov

翻译人员: Xiang Li 校对人员: Zhiting Chen

Two hundred years of modern science.

现代科学的发展，已经有两个世纪，

We have to admit

不得不承认，

that our performance is not great.

我们的进展并不怎么样。

The machines we build continue to suffer from mechanical failures.

我们造的机器，一直存在机械缺陷，

我们盖的房子，也经不住强烈地震。

The houses we build do not survive severe earthquakes.

But we shouldn't be so critical of our scientists for a simple reason:

但这也不能全怪我们的科学家，

they didn't have much time.

毕竟他们没有足够多的时间。

两百年的时间实在不算长，

Two hundred years is not a lot of time,

while nature had three billion years

尤其是当大自然用了30亿年的时间，

to perfect some of the most amazing materials,

才使一些我们所须的材料，

that we wish we had in our possession.

进化的完美无缺。

Remember, these materials carry a quality assurance

请注意，这些材料可是有

30亿年的质量保证的。

of three billion years.

Take, for example, sequoia trees.

比如，红杉树。

They carry hundreds of tons for hundreds of years

它们挺着重达百吨的树干，

几百年来屹立在严寒酷暑中，

in cold weather, in warm climates,

还要抵抗紫外线。

UV light.

Yet, if you look at the structure by high-resolution electron microscopy,

然而，如果拿高清显微镜观察它的结构，

想弄明白，它们到底是由什么构成的。

and you ask yourself, what is it made of,

surprisingly, it's made of sugar.

令人意外的是，它们的成分是糖。

Well, not exactly as we drink in our tea.

可不是我们喝茶时放的那种糖。

It's actually a nanofiber called nanocrystalline cellulose.

而是一种叫做纳米结晶纤维素的纳米纤维。

And this nanocrystalline cellulose is so strong, on a weight basis,

这种纳米结晶纤维素，十分强韧，

强韧度是同质量的铁的10倍。

it's about 10 times stronger than steel.

然而，它的成分是糖。

Yet it's made of sugar.

So scientists all over the world believe that nanocellulose

全世界的科学家都相信，

这种纳米纤维素，

is going to be one of the most important materials for the entire industry.

将会成为整个工业最重要的材料之一。

But here's the problem:

但问题是：假设 你想买半吨的纳米纤维素，

say you want to buy a half a ton of nanocellulose

to build a boat or an airplane.

用来造船或者造飞机。

Well, you can Google, you can eBay, you can even Alibaba.

你去Google，去eBay，甚至去淘宝，

You won't find it.

都不可能买得到。

Of course, you're going to find thousands of scientific papers --

当然，你会在成百上千的 伟大的科学论文里，

great papers, where scientists are going to say this is a great material,

看到科学家会说 这是一种伟大的材料，

我们可以用它来做很多事情。

there are lots of things we can do with it.

But no commercial source.

但是却没有商业购买渠道。

So we at the Hebrew University, together with our partners in Sweden,

因此，在希伯来大学， 我们与在瑞典的合作伙伴一起，

decided to focus on the development of an industrial-scale process

决定聚焦于将纳米纤维素的生产，

to produce this nanocellulose.

提升至工业规模。

可是，我们并不打算砍树。

And, of course, we didn't want to cut trees.

So we were looking for another source

因此我们在寻找一种

of raw material,

替代原材料，

and we found one -- in fact, the sludge of the paper industry.

并且我们找到了-- 工业造纸沉渣。

The reason: there is a lot of it.

原因呢：数量足够多。

光是欧洲，每年就可产生

Europe alone produces 11 million tons

of that material annually.

1千1百万吨的这种材料。

It's the equivalent of a mountain three kilometers high,

堆在橄榄球场上，

足有3000千米那么高。

sitting on a soccer field.

每年，我们都有这样一座‘山’。

And we produce this mountain every year.

So for everybody, it's an environmental problem,

对于其他人来说，这是环境污染，

但对我们来说，这是金矿。

and for us, it's a gold mine.

So now, we are actually producing, on an industrial scale in Israel,

所以目前，在以色列， 我们正在规模化生产这种纤维素。

很快，就会推进到瑞典。

nanocellulose, and very soon, in Sweden.

We can do a lot of things with the material.

我们可以用这种材料做很多事情。

For example,

例如，

we have shown that by adding only a small percent of nanocellulose

我们已经演示过，只要在棉纤维中，

加入少量纳米纤维素， 就像我穿的这件衬衫的棉，

into cotton fibers, the same as my shirt is made of,

it increases its strength dramatically.

纤维强度会极大的增加。

So this can be used for making amazing things,

所以，这可以用来制造很多 不可思议的东西。

like super-fabrics for industrial and medical applications.

比如，用于工业 和医疗用途的超级纤维。

不仅如此。

But this is not the only thing.

For example, self-standing, self-supporting structures,

比如，自立结构。

like the shelters that you can see now,

像你现在看到的这个折篷，

actually are now showcasing in the Venice Biennale for Architecture.

正在威尼斯双年展（建筑展）上展出。

因此，大自然从未停止过，

Nature actually didn't stop its wonders

对植物王国的探索。

in the plant kingdom.

再来看看昆虫。

Think about insects.

Cat fleas, for example,

比如说，跳蚤，

跳的比它们的身高高出百倍。

have the ability to jump about a hundred times their height.

That's amazing.

多不可思议。

It's the equivalent of a person

这就相当于，

standing in the middle of Liberty Island in New York,

一个人，站在纽约的自由岛中央，

纵身一跃，

and in a single jump,

going to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

就跳到了自由女神像头顶。

I'm sure everybody would like to do that.

我相信所有人都愿意试试。

So the question is:

那么问题是：

How do cat fleas do it?

跳蚤是怎么跳的那么高的？

It turns out, they make this wonderful material,

我们发现，它们体内 含有一种神奇的物质，

which is called resilin.

叫做 ‘节肢弹性蛋白’。

In simple words, resilin, which is a protein,

简单来说，‘节肢弹性蛋白’ ， 就是一种蛋白质，

是地球上弹性最大的橡胶。

is the most elastic rubber on Earth.

You can stretch it,

你可以拉扯它，

you can squish it,

可以挤压它，

and it doesn't lose almost any energy to the environment.

它几乎不会对周围环境释放任何能量，

When you release it -- snap!

当你松开它时——pia！

It brings back all the energy.

所有的能量就都回来了。

So I'm sure everybody would like to have that material.

我相信所有人都想拥有这种材料。

但问题是：

But here's the problem:

to catch cat fleas is difficult.

跳蚤可不那么好抓。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Why? Because they are jumpy.

为什么？因为它们总是‘跳脚’。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

But now, it's actually enough to catch one.

但是现在，抓到一个就够了。

Now we can extract its DNA

我们可以提取它的DNA，

and read how cat fleas make the resilin,

读取这种节肢弹性蛋白是如何形成的，

and clone it into a less-jumpy organism like a plant.

然后再把它克隆到一种 不那么‘跳脚’的，比如植物上，

So that's exactly what we did.

我们就是这么干的。

Now we have the ability to produce lots of resilin.

现在，我们能够生产很多这种蛋白。

Well, my team decided to do something really cool at the university.

接下来，我的团队打算 在大学里做一些真正炫酷的事情。

They decided to combine

他们打算，

把植物王国里最强韧的物质，

the strongest material produced by the plant kingdom

with the most elastic material produced by the insect kingdom --

和昆虫王国里弹性最大的弹性蛋白， 结合在一起。

nanocellulose with resilin.

纳米结晶纤维素和节肢弹性蛋白。

And the result is amazing.

结果不可思议。

This material, in fact, is tough, elastic and transparent.

这种材料，坚固、 有弹性，还是透明的。

So there are lots of things that can be done with this material.

所以这种材料可以应用在许多事情上。

例如，应用在新一代的运动鞋上，

For example, next-generation sport shoes,

so we can jump higher, run faster.

穿上它我们可以跳的更高， 跑的更快。

And even touch screens for computers and smartphones,

还可以应用在电脑和手机的触屏上，

that won't break.

它们再也不会碎了。

Well, the problem is, we continue to implant

还有个问题，

我们不停地往我们身体里注入合成物质，

synthetic implants in our body,

which we glue and screw into our body.

要么粘在身上，要么注射进身体里。

And I'm going to say that this is not a good idea.

我认为，这并不是个好主意。

Why? Because they fail.

为什么？因为它们会失效。

这些合成的材料会失效。

This synthetic material fails,

just like this plastic fork,

就像这个塑料叉子，

that is not strong enough for its performance.

并不结实。

But sometimes they are too strong,

但有时，它们又过于结实，

and therefore their mechanical properties do not really fit

这会导致它们的机械属性，

并不很适合周边组织。

their surrounding tissues.

But in fact, the reason is much more fundamental.

但事实上，原因要深入的多。

The reason is that in nature,

在自然界里，

there is no one there

我的脑袋，

that actually takes my head and screws it onto my neck,

并不是被什么人硬拧在我脖子上的，

or takes my skin and glues it onto my body.

我的皮肤，也不是粘在身体上的，

In nature, everything is self-assembled.

在大自然里， 一切都是自发组合起来的。

So every living cell,

所以每个活着的细胞，

whether coming from a plant, insect or human being,

无论是来自植物、昆虫，或者人类，

都带有微生物组件编码的DNA。

has a DNA that encodes for nanobio building blocks.

Many times they are proteins.

它们通常是蛋白质，

Other times, they are enzymes that make other materials,

或者是构成其它物质的酶，

like polysaccharides, fatty acids.

比如多糖、脂肪酸。

And the common feature about all these materials

所有这些物质的共同点是：

它们不需要外力。

is that they need no one.

They recognize each other and self-assemble

它们可以认出彼此，然后自发结合成

into structures -- scaffolds on which cells are proliferating

一个可供细胞在其上

生成组织的结构。

to give tissues.

它们构成了各种器官， 进而构成生命。

They develop into organs, and together bring life.

因此10年前，在希伯来大学，

So we at the Hebrew University, about 10 years ago, decided to focus

我们决定聚焦于，这个对人类来说 很可能是最重要的生物材料：

on probably the most important biomaterial for humans,

which is collagen.

胶原蛋白。

为什么是胶原蛋白？

Why collagen?

Because collagen accounts for about 25 percent of our dry weight.

因为构成我们身体的，25％是胶原蛋白。

除了水，我们的身体里就全是胶原蛋白。

We have nothing more than collagen, other than water, in our body.

So I always like to say,

所以我常说，

anyone who is in the replacement parts of human beings

任何人如果需要人体部件替代物的话，

would like to have collagen.

那么他们需要的是胶原蛋白。

Admittedly, before we started our project,

不得不承认，在我们的项目之前，

there were already more than 1,000 medical implants

市面上已经有 超过1000种医用填充物。

由胶原蛋白制成、

made of collagen.

You know, simple things like dermal fillers to reduce wrinkles,

简单的，比如皮肤填充剂， 用来除去皱纹，

augment lips,

丰唇，

复杂一点的，像是心脏瓣膜。

and other, more sophisticated medical implants, like heart valves.

So where is the problem?

那问题是什么呢？

问题是原材料来源。

Well, the problem is the source.

The source of all that collagen

所有这种胶原蛋白的来源，

is actually coming from dead bodies:

实际上是尸体。

dead pigs, dead cows

死猪、死牛，

and even human cadavers.

甚至是死人。

So safety is a big issue.

因此安全成为最大隐患。

But it's not the only one.

还不止，

Also, the quality.

质量也不能保证。

Now here, I have a personal interest.

这里有一个我的个人案例，

This is my father, Zvi, in our winery in Israel.

这是我的父亲，Zvi， 在我们以色列的酒厂里。

A heart valve, very similar to the one that I showed you before,

7年前，一个像我刚才给你们看的 那种心脏瓣膜，

seven years ago, was implanted in his body.

植入了他的体内。

Now, the scientific literature says that these heart valves start to fail

然而，科学研究指出，这种心脏瓣膜，

将在手术十年之后开始失效。

10 years after the operation.

No wonder:

并不奇怪：

they are made from old, used tissues,

它们是由老旧的、 二手的组织制成，

just like this wall made of bricks that is falling apart.

就像这面砖墙，会土崩瓦解。

Yeah, of course, I can take those bricks and build a new wall.

当然了，我可以 把这些砖捡起来重新砌墙，

But it's not going to be the same.

但结果并无差别。

So the US Food and Drug Administration

因此在2007年，

美国食品药品监督局发出通知，

made a notice already in 2007,

asking the companies to start to look for better alternatives.

要求各个公司开始寻找更好的替代产品。

So that's exactly what we did.

这也正是我们过去所做的。

We decided to clone all the five human genes responsible

我们决定，将人体内用来

生成I型胶原蛋白的全部5个基因

for making type I collagen in humans

into a transgenic tobacco plant.

克隆在转基因烟草植物上。

So now, the plant has the ability to make human collagen brand new,

因此现在，这种植物 能够长出人类的胶原蛋白，

全新的，无污染。

untouched.

This is amazing.

多么不可思议。

Actually, it's happening now.

实际上，这就是我们正在做的。

Today in Israel, we grow it in 25,000 square meters of greenhouses

目前在以色列，我们 在全国各地的25000平方米大的温室里

种植它们。

all over the country.

The farmers receive small plantlets of tobacco.

农民们收到的是这种烟草的幼苗，

It looks exactly like regular tobacco,

它们看起来和普通的烟草一样，

except that they have five human genes.

只是多了5个人类基因。

They're responsible for making type I collagen.

它们负责生成I型胶原蛋白。

We grow them for about 50 to 70 days,

它们的成熟期大概在50到70天左右，

we harvest the leaves,

之后我们收割叶子，

and then the leaves are transported by cooling trucks to the factory.

装上冷藏货车运到工厂里。

There, the process of extracting the collagen starts.

在这里，进行胶原蛋白的提取。

Now, if you ever made a pesto -- essentially, the same thing.

如果你做过意大利香蒜沙司， 这差不多是一回事儿。

（笑声）

(Laughter)

You crush the leaves, you get the juice that contains the collagen.

把叶子捣碎后，就会得到含有胶原蛋白的汁液。

We concentrate the protein,

我们将蛋白质浓缩，

transfer the protein to clean rooms for the final purification,

转移到干净的房间，以便最终提纯，

and the end result is a collagen identical to what we have in our body --

最后得到的，将会是 和我们人体内一样的胶原蛋白 --

untouched, brand new

全新的、无污染。

and from which we make different medical implants:

我们用它来生产不同的医疗填充物：

bone void fillers, for example,

比如，骨空隙填充剂，

可用在严重骨折或者脊柱融合中。

for severe bone fractures, spinal fusion.

甚至在最近，

And more recently, even,

we've been able to launch into the market here in Europe

我们面向欧洲市场，

推出了一种针对糖尿病人 脚趾溃烂的流动凝胶，

a flowable gel that is used for diabetic foot ulcers,

that is now approved for use in the clinic.

已经通过了临床使用的批准。

This is not science fiction.

这并不是科幻。

This is happening now.

这是真实的正在发生的事情。

We are using plants to make medical implants

我们正在用植物，生产医用填充物，

for replacement parts for human beings.

用来替换人体部件。

In fact, more recently, we've been able to make collagen fibers

事实上，最新的进展是，

我们能够制造出6倍坚固于跟腱的 胶原蛋白纤维。

which are six times stronger than the Achilles tendon.

That's amazing.

多不可思议。

与在爱尔兰的合作伙伴一起，

Together with our partners from Ireland,

我们进一步想到：

we thought about the next thing:

在这些纤维里加入节肢弹力蛋白。

adding resilin to those fibers.

By doing that,

这样，

we've been able to make a superfiber

我们制造出了超级纤维，

which is about 380 percent tougher,

强韧度提升了380％，

and 300 percent more elastic.

弹性提高了300％。

因此在未来，会出现奇怪的事情：

So oddly enough, in the future,

when a patient is transplanted with artificial tendons or ligaments

当病人接受了以此种材料制成的

人造跟腱或韧带移植后，

made from these fibers,

we'll have better performance after the surgery

会发现手术后反而比受伤前，

than we had before the injury.

身体机能更好。

So what's for the future?

所以未来会怎样呢？

In the future, we believe we'll be able to make

未来，我们相信，我们能够制作

many nanobio building blocks that nature provided for us --

更多大自然提供给我们的 纳米生物组件 --

collagen, nanocellulose, resilin and many more.

胶原蛋白、纳米纤维素、弹力蛋白等等，

And that will enable us to make better machines perform better,

因此会制造出更先进的机器 性能更好，

even the heart.

甚至是心脏。

Now, this heart is not going to be the same

这颗心脏，不同于我们从

捐献者那里得到的，

as we can get from a donor.

It will be better.

这颗会更好。

It actually will perform better

它会有更好的表现，

and will last longer.

并且更加持久。

My friend Zion Suliman once told me

我的朋友 Zion Suliman跟我讲过

a smart sentence.

一句很有智慧的话。

He said, "If you want a new idea,

他说，“如果你需要新的想法，

you should open an old book."

那么你应该去翻翻以前的书。”

And I'm going to say that the book was written.

我想说，这本书已经著成。

It was written over three billion years

这本书，由30亿年的进化史

of evolution.

著成。

And the text is the DNA of life.

内容是生命体的DNA。

All we have to do

我们所要做的，

is read this text,

是去读它，

去拥抱大自然对我们的馈赠，

embrace nature's gift to us

and start our progress from here.

在此展开我们的进程。

谢谢。

Thank you.

（掌声）

(Applause)