Lee Cronin: Making matter come alive

翻译人员: heather Zhao 校对人员: Chunxiang Qian

What I'm going to try and do in the next 15 minutes or so

我在接下来的15分钟准备做的

is tell you about an idea

就是告诉你们一个

of how we're going to make matter come alive.

关于人们如何让物质具有生命的理念

Now this may seem a bit ambitious,

这理念听起来可能有些野心勃勃

but when you look at yourself, you look at your hands,

可是当你看着自己，看着自己的双手

you realize that you're alive.

你意识到你是活着的

So this is a start.

这便是我们理念的开始

Now this quest started four billion years ago on planet Earth.

对这种理念的探寻始于四十亿年前的地球上

There's been four billion years

在过去的四十亿年中

of organic, biological life.

生命是有机的，生物上的概念

And as an inorganic chemist,

作为一名无机化学家

my friends and colleagues make this distinction

我的朋友和同事在

between the organic, living world

有机的，有生命的世界

and the inorganic, dead world.

和无机的，死得世界间做出了区分。

And what I'm going to try and do is plant some ideas

我接下来要做的就是播种一些思想

about how we can transform inorganic, dead matter

关于我们如何能将无机的、没有生命的物质

into living matter, into inorganic biology.

转化为有生命的物质、转化为无机生物学。

Before we do that,

所以在我们开始之前，

I want to kind of put biology in its place.

我想要摆正一下生物学的位置。

And I'm absolutely enthralled by biology.

我完全为生物学而着迷。

I love to do synthetic biology.

我喜欢合成生物学。

I love things that are alive.

我爱有生命的东西。

I love manipulating the infrastructure of biology.

我喜欢研究生物学的基础领域。

But within that infrastructure,

但是在基础领域里，

we have to remember

我们必须记得，

that the driving force of biology

生物学的驱动力

is really coming from evolution.

事实上来自于进化。

And evolution,

而进化，

although it was established well over 100 years ago by Charles Darwin

尽管它的理论在一百年以前就被查尔斯.达尔文

and a vast number of other people,

和许多其他的科学家所建立和完善

evolution still is a little bit intangible.

进化论依然有一点点抽象。

And when I talk about Darwinian evolution,

当我谈到达尔文的进化论时，

I mean one thing and one thing only,

我仅仅指的是一个论点，

and that is survival of the fittest.

即适者生存。

And so forget about evolution

所以不要用

in a kind of metaphysical way.

形而上学的方法来研究进化论。

Think about evolution

当想到进化时，

in terms of offspring competing,

要从子孙后代彼此竞争，

and some winning.

同时产生一些赢家的角度来考虑。

So bearing that in mind,

这一点我牢记心中

as a chemist, I wanted to ask myself

作为一个化学家的我，不禁扪心自问，

the question frustrated by biology:

这个被生物学忽视掉的问题：

What is the minimal unit of matter

什么是最小的

that can undergo Darwinian evolution?

且能适应达尔文进化论的物质单元？

And this seems quite a profound question.

这是个看起来有些深奥的问题。

And as a chemist,

作为一个化学家，

we're not used to profound questions every day.

我们并不是每天都思考这样深奥的问题。

So when I thought about it,

所以当我考虑它的时候，

then suddenly I realized

我忽然意识到，

that biology gave us the answer.

生物学给了我们答案。

And in fact, the smallest unit of matter

事实上，最小的

that can evolve independently

可以独立进化的物质单元，

is, in fact, a single cell --

是一个单细胞——

a bacteria.

细菌。

So this raises three really important questions:

这既引出了三个十分重要的问题。

What is life?

生命是什么？

Is biology special?

生物是独一无二的吗？

Biologists seem to think so.

生物学家当然这样认为。

Is matter evolvable?

物质是可以进化的吗？

Now if we answer those questions in reverse order,

现在如果我们以倒序来回答这些问题，

the third question -- is matter evolvable? --

第三个问题——生命是可以演化的吗？

if we can answer that,

如果我们能回答这个问题，

then we're going to know how special biology is,

我们便可以知道生物学究竟有多特殊，

and maybe, just maybe,

同时可能，仅仅是可能，

we'll have some idea of what life really is.

我们能够一窥生命的本质。

So here's some inorganic life.

这里有一些无机生命。

This is a dead crystal,

这是一个没有生命的晶体。

and I'm going to do something to it,

我准备在它身上加工一下，

and it's going to become alive.

它就会变得具有生命。

And you can see,

你可以看到

it's kind of pollinating, germinating, growing.

这个过程有点像授粉、发芽和成长。

This is an inorganic tube.

这是一个无机晶体管。

And all these crystals here under the microscope

这些放在显微镜下的晶体，

were dead a few minutes ago, and they look alive.

都在几分钟前死掉了，但他们看起来依旧鲜活。

Of course, they're not alive.

当然，他们并非真的活着

It's a chemistry experiment where I've made a crystal garden.

这个化学实验里我制造一个晶体花园

But when I saw this, I was really fascinated,

但是当我看到这里，我完全被迷住了，

because it seemed lifelike.

因为他们看起来栩栩如生。

And as I pause for a few seconds, have a look at the screen.

暂停一下我们看看屏幕

You can see there's architecture growing, filling the void.

你们可以看到它的架构正在成长，逐渐将空白处填满。

And this is dead.

但它没有生命。

So I was positive that,

所以我十分乐观，

if somehow we can make things mimic life,

如果我们可以以某种方式模拟生命，

let's go one step further.

我们未尝不能再往前走一步。

Let's see if we can actually make life.

让我们看看，能不能真的制造生命。

But there's a problem,

但是依然存在一个问题，

because up until maybe a decade ago,

因为大概在十年前

we were told that life was impossible

我们得知生命是不可能形成的

and that we were the most incredible miracle in the universe.

并且我们是宇宙中最难以置信的奇迹

In fact, we were the only people

事实上，我们是浩瀚宇宙中的

in the universe.

唯一生物

Now, that's a bit boring.

这有点无趣了

So as a chemist,

作为一个化学家

I wanted to say, "Hang on. What is going on here?

我想说，“等等，怎么回事？

Is life that improbable?"

生命真的是无法形成的吗？”

And this is really the question.

这正是问题所在

I think that perhaps the emergence of the first cells

我想也许第一个细胞的形成

was as probable as the emergence of the stars.

正如第一颗行星的出现一样

And in fact, let's take that one step further.

事实上，让我们更进一步的思考

Let's say

比如说

that if the physics of fusion

如果聚变物理学

is encoded into the universe,

蕴含在宇宙的编码之中

maybe the physics of life is as well.

也许生命的物理学也是如此

And so the problem with chemists --

所以化学家的任务

and this is a massive advantage as well --

同时也是一种巨大的优势

is we like to focus on our elements.

便是我们要将重点放在化学元素上

In biology, carbon takes center stage.

在生物学领域，碳是中心

And in a universe where carbon exists

并且在碳

and organic biology,

和有机生物存在的宇宙中

then we have all this wonderful diversity of life.

我们能看到这美妙的生命多样性。

In fact, we have such amazing lifeforms that we can manipulate.

事实上，我们能够掌控如此奇妙的生命形式。

We're awfully careful in the lab

实验室里，我们极其小心的

to try and avoid various biohazards.

去尝试和避免各种各样的生物危害。

Well what about matter?

那物质方面呢？

If we can make matter alive, would we have a matterhazard?

如果我们能够赋予物质生命，我们会不会面临物质危害？

So think, this is a serious question.

所以，请认真思考一下，这个严肃的问题。

If your pen could replicate,

如果你的笔能够自我复制

that would be a bit of a problem.

那确实会产生一些问题

So we have to think differently

所以我们必须从不同的角度进行思考

if we're going to make stuff come alive.

如果我们想要赋予物质生命

And we also have to be aware of the issues.

我们必须对可能产生的问题谨慎看待

But before we can make life,

但是在我们能够制造生命以前

let's think for a second

让我们先想一想

what life really is characterized by.

生命的特质为何

And forgive the complicated diagram.

原谅我不得不给你们看这些复杂的图表

This is just a collection of pathways in the cell.

这只是一张细胞内代谢路径的总图

And the cell is obviously for us

并且细胞对于我们而言

a fascinating thing.

很明显是令人着迷的东西

Synthetic biologists are manipulating it.

合成化学家正对细胞进行操作。

Chemists are trying to study the molecules to look at disease.

化学家正试图通过研究分子来探究疾病。

And you have all these pathways going on at the same time.

并且在你体内正同时进行着这些代谢路径。

You have regulation;

你的身体可以进行调控

information is transcribed;

转录信息

catalysts are made; stuff is happening.

制造催化剂、并产生各种机能。

But what does a cell do?

但是细胞能做什么？

Well it divides, it competes,

它会分裂、彼此竞争、

it survives.

最后存活下来。

And I think that is where we have to start

我认为这是我们

in terms of thinking about

创造生命的想法的

building from our ideas in life.

起点

But what else is life characterized by?

但是生命的特质还有哪些？

Well, I like think of it

我喜欢将它想象成

as a flame in a bottle.

在瓶子里的一束火焰。

And so what we have here

我们在图中看到的是

is a description of single cells

对单细胞

replicating, metabolizing,

的复制、代谢

burning through chemistries.

和通过化学反应燃烧的过程的描绘。

And so we have to understand

因此我们必须理解

that if we're going to make artificial life or understand the origin of life,

如果我们想要人工制造生命或理解生命的起源

we need to power it somehow.

我们必须通过某种方式提供能量。

So before we can really start to make life,

所以在我们真正能够制造生命以前，

we have to really think about where it came from.

我们必须认真想一想它来自何方。

And Darwin himself mused in a letter to a colleague

达尔文本人曾在一封给他同时的信中谈道

that he thought that life probably emerged

他认为生命可能从

in some warm little pond somewhere --

一些小而温暖的池塘或其他地方演化而来

maybe not in Scotland, maybe in Africa,

可能在苏格兰，可能在非洲

maybe somewhere else.

也可能在其他地方。

But the real honest answer is, we just don't know,

但是最坦诚的答案是，我们无从得知。

because there is a problem with the origin.

因为生命的起源依旧是个问题。

Imagine way back, four and a half billion years ago,

想象一下我们回到四十五亿年前，

there is a vast chemical soup of stuff.

只有一些化学物质的溶液。

And from this stuff we came.

人类从中诞生。

So when you think about the improbable nature

如果你觉得接下来几分钟里我讲的内容

of what I'm going to tell you in the next few minutes,

有些不大可能的话，

just remember,

请记住

we came from stuff on planet Earth.

我们从地球上的物质中诞生。

And we went through a variety of worlds.

我们经历了多种多样的世界。

The RNA people would talk about the RNA world.

RNA研究者谈论着RNA世界

We somehow got to proteins and DNA.

我们却不知怎么成为了蛋白质和DNA。

We then got to the last ancestor.

接着出现了生命的始祖。

Evolution kicked in -- and that's the cool bit.

进化开始了——这是关键。

And here we are.

然后人类出现。

But there's a roadblock that you can't get past.

但是依然存在着一个你无法逾越的障碍。

You can decode the genome, you can look back,

你可以解码基因组，你可以回溯往昔，

you can link us all together by a mitochondrial DNA,

你可以将我们所有人借由一个线粒体DNA联系在一起，

but we can't get further than the last ancestor,

但是你无法追溯到第一个生命始祖以前，

the last visible cell

这是

that we could sequence or think back in history.

我们能基因测序和追溯历史的最后一个细胞。

So we don't know how we got here.

所以我们无从得知我们是怎么走到今天这一步的。

So there are two options:

我们有两个选择：

intelligent design, direct and indirect --

直接或间接的智能设计论——

so God,

要么是上帝

or my friend.

要么是我的朋友，

Now talking about E.T. putting us there, or some other life,

如果说是E.T.将我们，或其他的生命放在这里，

just pushes the problem further on.

这就将问题更推进一步。

I'm not a politician, I'm a scientist.

我不是政治家，我是一名科学家。

The other thing we need to think about

我们可以思考的另外一件事，

is the emergence of chemical complexity.

是化学复杂度的出现。

This seems most likely.

这似乎是最有可能的情形。

So we have some kind of primordial soup.

因此地球上出现了某种原始汤

And this one happens to be

并且它碰巧是

a good source of all 20 amino acids.

所有20种氨基酸的最好的来源。

And somehow

并且通过某种方式，

these amino acids are combined,

这些氨基酸彼此结合

and life begins.

随后生命出现。

But life begins, what does that mean?

但是生命的出现意味着什么？

What is life? What is this stuff of life?

什么是生命？形成生命的物质是什么？

So in the 1950s,

50年代，

Miller-Urey did their fantastic chemical Frankenstein experiment,

Miller和Urey进行了一项奇特的化学怪人试验，

where they did the equivalent in the chemical world.

在试验中他们制造出一种相同的化学环境。

They took the basic ingredients, put them in a single jar

他们提取了一些基本的元素，将他们放到一个烧瓶里

and ignited them

随后将其点燃

and put a lot of voltage through.

并且通过了大量的电压。

And they had a look at what was in the soup,

他们观察溶液中出现了什么，

and they found amino acids,

于是他们发现了氨基酸。

but nothing came out, there was no cell.

但是没有其他东西出现，并没有细胞。

So the whole area's been stuck for a while,

因此整项研究停滞了一段时间。

and it got reignited in the '80s

直到80年代才重新开始，

when analytical technologies and computer technologies were coming on.

正是分析技术和计算机科技正在发展的时期。

In my own laboratory,

在我自己的实验室里，

the way we're trying to create inorganic life

我们创造物及生物的方式

is by using many different reaction formats.

是通过使用许多不同的反应形式。

So what we're trying to do is do reactions --

因此我们正在做的是进行反应——

not in one flask, but in tens of flasks,

不是在一个烧瓶中，而是在数十个烧瓶中，

and connect them together,

并且让他们彼此相连，

as you can see with this flow system, all these pipes.

正如你看见的这些流动系统一样，他们全部由管道连接。

We can do it microfluidically, we can do it lithographically,

我们可以通过微流体或平板印刷技术进行，

we can do it in a 3D printer,

也可以用3D打印机来制作，

we can do it in droplets for colleagues.

同时我们可以让同事们在滴液中操作。

And the key thing is to have lots of complex chemistry

而最关键的便是让一系列的化学反应

just bubbling away.

自然发生。

But that's probably going to end in failure,

但这也很可能以失败告终。

so we need to be a bit more focused.

所也我们需要更加努力。

And the answer, of course, lies with mice.

至于答案，当然，就在老鼠身上。

This is how I remember what I need as a chemist.

这让我想起我作为一个化学家所需要的一切东西。

I say, "Well I want molecules."

我说，“我想制造分子。”

But I need a metabolism, I need some energy.

但是我需要一个新陈代谢系统，我需要一些能量。

I need some information, and I need a container.

我需要一些信息，我需要一个容器。

Because if I want evolution,

因为如果我想要进化，

I need containers to compete.

我需要这些容器间彼此进行竞争。

So if you have a container,

如果你拥有一个容器，

it's like getting in your car.

就像你坐在你的车里。

"This is my car,

说，“这是我的车”，

and I'm going to drive around and show off my car."

“我想开着它转一转，并好好炫耀一番。”

And I imagine you have a similar thing

我会想在细胞生物学上

in cellular biology

生命出现时

with the emergence of life.

你也会是这样的

So these things together give us evolution, perhaps.

所以也许这些事情共同使进化发生。

And the way to test it in the laboratory

并且检测它的方法便是在实验室里，

is to make it minimal.

使其最小化。

So what we're going to try and do

所以我们接下来要尝试

is come up with an inorganic Lego kit of molecules.

捣鼓出一个无机的乐高分子积木

And so forgive the molecules on the screen,

请谅解这些屏幕上的分子，

but these are a very simple kit.

但是它们只是一种很简单的积木。

There's only maybe three or four different types of building blocks present.

现在可能只有三到四种不同的积木。

And we can aggregate them together

我们可以将他们组合在一起

and make literally thousands and thousands

并真实地制造出上千种

of really big nano-molecular molecules

相当大的纳米分子

the same size of DNA and proteins,

大小相当于DNA及蛋白质，

but there's no carbon in sight.

但是其里面不含碳元素。

Carbon is banned.

碳并不是什么好东西。

And so with this Lego kit,

所以至于这个乐高积木，

we have the diversity required

我们需要它的复杂多样

for complex information storage

来储存复杂的信息

without DNA.

而不需要DNA的参与。

But we need to make some containers.

但是我们仍需要制作一些容器。

And just a few months ago in my lab,

就在几个月前，在我的实验室，

we were able to take these very same molecules and make cells with them.

我们可以以这些几乎相同的分子来制造细胞。

And you can see on the screen a cell being made.

并且你可以从屏幕上看到一个细胞正在被制作出来。

And we're now going to put some chemistry inside and do some chemistry in this cell.

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。

And all I wanted to show you

我想要展示给你的是

is we can set up molecules

我们能够建立分子

in membranes, in real cells,

并置于细胞膜上，在真正的细胞里，

and then it sets up a kind of molecular Darwinism,

它能够建立一种适用达尔文主义的分子，

a molecular survival of the fittest.

一种适者生存的分子。

And this movie here

这部影片

shows this competition between molecules.

展示了分子间的竞争

Molecules are competing for stuff.

分子间为了物质而竞争

They're all made of the same stuff,

他们都由同一种物质组成，

but they want their shape to win.

但他们希望以自己的形态取胜。

They want their shape to persist.

他们想让自己的形态存活下来。

And that is the key.

那便是关键所在。

If we can somehow encourage these molecules

如果我们能够以某种方式鼓励这些分子

to talk to each other and make the right shapes and compete,

彼此连通、而后形成正确的形态并彼此竞争，

they will start to form cells

他们便会开始形成

that will replicate and compete.

可以自我复制和竞争的细胞。

If we manage to do that,

如果我们真的能够做到，

forget the molecular detail.

先别理会分子的细节。

Let's zoom out to what that could mean.

让我们把回过头来看看那意味着什么。

So we have this special theory of evolution

我们已经了解这种狭义进化论

that applies only to organic biology, to us.

这种进化论只能被应用于有机生物学，我们身上

If we could get evolution into the material world,

如果我们能够使进化进入物质世界，

then I propose we should have a general theory of evolution.

我建议我们应得到一种广义进化论。

And that's really worth thinking about.

这确实值得认真思考。

Does evolution control

进化会控制

the sophistication of matter in the universe?

宇宙中物质的复杂多样性吗？

Is there some driving force through evolution

在进化的过程中是否存在某种推动力

that allows matter to compete?

让物质能够彼此竞争？

So that means we could then start

因此那意味着我们能够开始

to develop different platforms

开发出不同的平台

for exploring this evolution.

来探索这种进化。

So you imagine,

所以你可以想象以下，

if we're able to create a self-sustaining artificial life form,

如果我们能够创造一种能够独立生存的人工生命形式，

not only will this tell us about the origin of life --

这不仅能够告诉我们生命的起源——

that it's possible that the universe doesn't need carbon to be alive;

宇宙可能不需要碳便能存活

it can use anything --

宇宙可以由任何元素形成

we can then take [it] one step further and develop new technologies,

我们可以更进一步的开发新的技术，

because we can then use software control

因为我们能够用软件控制

for evolution to code in.

将进化译成编码。

So imagine we make a little cell.

所以想象一下我们制造了一个小小的细胞。

We want to put it out in the environment,

我们希望将它放在自然环境中，

and we want it to be powered by the Sun.

我们想让它由太阳来供给能量。

What we do is we evolve it in a box with a light on.

我们要做的是将它放在一个有光照的盒子里

And we don't use design anymore. We find what works.

我们不需要任何其他的设计，便可以知道发生了什么。

We should take our inspiration from biology.

我们应该从生物学中获取灵感。

Biology doesn't care about the design

设计在生物学中并不重要，

unless it works.

除非它实用

So this will reorganize

所以这将重新建构

the way we design things.

我们设计事物的方式。

But not only just that,

但是不仅如此，

we will start to think about

我们会开始思考

how we can start to develop a symbiotic relationship with biology.

我们要怎样在生物学中发展出一种共生关系。

Wouldn't it be great

这不是很棒吗？

if you could take these artificial biological cells

如果你能确实得到这些人工制造的生物细胞

and fuse them with biological ones

并将他们同生物细胞相融合

to correct problems that we couldn't really deal with?

从而修正那些我们未能真正解决的问题。

The real issue in cellular biology

细胞生物学的真正问题

is we are never going to understand everything,

在于我们从来没有试图理解过任何事情，

because it's a multidimensional problem put there by evolution.

因为它是一个由进化产生的多维度问题。

Evolution cannot be cut apart.

进化不能被分割开来。

You need to somehow find the fitness function.

你需要通过某种方式找到最合适的机能。

And the profound realization for me

并且于我而言，最深层的体会

is that, if this works,

在于，如果这能成功的话，

the concept of the selfish gene gets kicked up a level,

自利基因的概念会成为众矢之的

and we really start talking about selfish matter.

因为这些是真正的自私基因

And what does that mean in a universe

在一个我们人类为最高物质形态的宇宙中

where we are right now the highest form of stuff?

那意味着什么？

You're sitting on chairs.

你坐在椅子上。

They're inanimate, they're not alive.

椅子是没有生命的，他们不是活着的。

But you are made of stuff, and you are using stuff,

但是你是由物质组成的，并且你正在使用物质，

and you enslave stuff.

同时你奴役着物质。

So using evolution

所以使用进化这个概念

in biology,

在生物学领域

and in inorganic biology,

和有机生物学领域

for me is quite appealing, quite exciting.

对我来说是非常有说服力，非常令人激动的。

And we're really becoming very close

同时我们彼此间变得十分紧密

to understanding the key steps

从而理解这些

that makes dead stuff come alive.

使无生命的物质具有生命的关键步骤。

And again, when you're thinking about how improbable this is,

再一次，当你觉得这不大可能的话

remember, five billion years ago,

别忘了，50亿年前，

we were not here, and there was no life.

地球上没有人类，没有生命。

So what will that tell us

所以这能告诉我们什么

about the origin of life and the meaning of life?

关于生命的起源和含义？

But perhaps, for me as a chemist,

也许对于我一个化学家来说，

I want to keep away from general terms;

我不想仅是笼统的思考；

I want to think about specifics.

而是具体的思考这一点。

So what does it mean about defining life?

给生命下个定义，这意味着什么？

We really struggle to do this.

我们真的尽了最大的努力去做这件事。

And I think, if we can make inorganic biology,

我想，如果我们能够制造无机生物，

and we can make matter become evolvable,

并且我们能让物质变得可以进化。

that will in fact define life.

事实上我们已经能够定义生命。

I propose to you

我的目的是告诉你们

that matter that can evolve is alive,

能够进化的物质就是有生命的，

and this gives us the idea of making evolvable matter.

并且这给了我们制造可进化物质的灵感。

Thank you very much.

非常感谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）

Chris Anderson: Just a quick question on timeline.

Chris Anderson:还有一个很短的问题。

You believe you're going to be successful in this project?

你相信你能在这个项目上取得成功吗？

When?

什么时候？

Lee Cronin: So many people think

Lee Cronin:很多人认为

that life took millions of years to kick in.

生命用了数百万年的时间起作用。

We're proposing to do it in just a few hours,

而我们的方法只要配置好

once we've set up

化学成分

the right chemistry.

几个小时就成

CA: And when do you think that will happen?

CA：你认为那什么时候会发生？

LC: Hopefully within the next two years.

LC：希望在接下来的两年内。

CA: That would be a big story.

CA：那一定是件大事。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

In your own mind, what do you believe the chances are

在你看来，你相信这件事情发生的概率是多少

that walking around on some other planet

当你走在其他的星球上

is non-carbon-based life,

发现并没有碳基生命

walking or oozing or something?

在行走或流动着？

LC: I think it's 100 percent.

LC：我认为是百分百可能。

Because the thing is, we are so chauvinistic to biology,

因为关键的是，我们在生物学领域太过沙文主义，

if you take away carbon, there's other things that can happen.

如果你去掉碳元素，会其他的事情发生。

So the other thing

所以那些其他的事情

that if we were able to create life that's not based on carbon,

如果我们能够创造非碳基生命，

maybe we can tell NASA what really to look for.

也许我们能够告诉NASA到底要寻找什么。

Don't go and look for carbon, go and look for evolvable stuff.

不要去找碳元素，去找一下可进化的物质。

CA: Lee Cronin, good luck. (LC: Thank you very much.)

CA：Lee Cronin,祝你好运。（LC：非常感谢。）

(Applause)

（掌声）