TED2018
Dan Gibson: How to build synthetic DNA and send it across the internet
丹 · 吉布森: 如何制造合成DNA，并通过互联网传送
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生物学家丹 · 吉布森的工作是编辑和编程DNA，就跟计算机程序员一样。但他的代码能够制造生命，赋予了科学家将数字信息转变为生物材料，如蛋白质和病毒的能力。现在他正在从事一个新的项目：“生物传送”，具有将药物通过互联网远程发送的能力。通过这个演讲，了解更多关于这项技术如何改变我们对疾病暴发的反应方式，以及使我们能够在家中下载个性化处方的可能。
Dan Gibson - Genome writer
Dan Gibson leads a new breed of bioengineers, called genome writers, who use DNA to design and build new products powering the next industrial revolution. Full bio
Dan Gibson leads a new breed of bioengineers, called genome writers, who use DNA to design and build new products powering the next industrial revolution. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
Alright, let me tell you
about building synthetic cells
about building synthetic cells
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我来给大家讲讲制造合成细胞
00:16
and printing life.
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和打印生命。
00:18
But first, let me tell you a quick story.
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首先，给你们讲个简短的故事。
00:21
On March 31, 2013,
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2013年3月31号，
00:23
my team and I received an email
from an international health organization,
from an international health organization,
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我和团队收到了一封来自
国际卫生组织的电邮，
国际卫生组织的电邮，
00:27
alerting us that two men died in China
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提醒我们说，有两个中国人
00:30
shortly after contracting
the H7N9 bird flu.
the H7N9 bird flu.
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在感染H7N9禽流感不久后死亡了。
00:34
There were fears of a global pandemic
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随着病毒开始迅速在中国传播，
00:36
as the virus started rapidly
moving across China.
moving across China.
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人们担心病毒会在全球扩散。
00:40
Although methods existed
to produce a flu vaccine
to produce a flu vaccine
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尽管有生产流感疫苗
00:42
and stop the disease from spreading,
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和阻止病毒传播的方法，
但至少也要需要花上
6个月的时间。
6个月的时间。
00:44
at best, it would not be available
for at least six months.
for at least six months.
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00:49
This is because a slow, antiquated
flu vaccine manufacturing process
flu vaccine manufacturing process
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因为只能选择一种60年前发明的，
00:54
developed over 70 years ago
was the only option.
was the only option.
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过时且缓慢的流感疫苗生产方法。
00:59
The virus would need to be isolated
from infected patients,
from infected patients,
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病毒需要从受感染的患者中分离出来，
01:02
packaged up and then sent to a facility
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打包然后运送到严密的设施中，
01:04
where scientists would inject
the virus into chicken eggs,
the virus into chicken eggs,
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在那儿，科学家将病毒注入鸡蛋，
01:08
and incubate those chicken eggs
for several weeks
for several weeks
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孵化上几个星期，
01:11
in order to prepare the virus
for the start of a multistep,
for the start of a multistep,
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从而为接下来需要
多个步骤，耗时数月的
多个步骤，耗时数月的
01:15
multimonth flu vaccine
manufacturing process.
manufacturing process.
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疫苗生产过程做好准备。
01:19
My team and I received this email
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我和团队之所以收到这个邮件
01:21
because we had just invented
a biological printer,
a biological printer,
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是因为我们刚刚发明出
一台生物打印机，
一台生物打印机，
01:25
which would allow
for the flu vaccine instructions
for the flu vaccine instructions
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这台打印机可以即时从互联网上
01:27
to be instantly downloaded
from the internet and printed.
from the internet and printed.
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下载流感疫苗指令并打印出来。
01:31
Drastically speeding up the way
in which flu vaccines are made,
in which flu vaccines are made,
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这极大加快了疫苗的生产过程，
01:34
and potentially saving thousands of lives.
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具有拯救成千上万人生命的潜力。
01:38
The biological printer leverages
our ability to read and write DNA
our ability to read and write DNA
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生物打印机利用了
我们读写DNA的能力，
我们读写DNA的能力，
01:43
and starts to bring into focus
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并让我们开始把目光聚焦在
01:45
what we like to call
biological teleportation.
biological teleportation.
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我们称之为生物传送的技术上面。
01:49
I am a biologist and an engineer
who builds stuff out of DNA.
who builds stuff out of DNA.
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我是个用DNA来造东西的
生物学家和工程师。
生物学家和工程师。
01:54
Believe it or not,
one of my favorite things to do
one of my favorite things to do
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不管你们信不信，我的爱好之一是
01:56
is to take DNA apart
and put it back together
and put it back together
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把DNA打散，再组合起来，
01:59
so that I can understand
better how it works.
better how it works.
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以便更好地理解它的工作原理。
02:02
I can edit and program DNA to do things,
just like coders programing a computer.
just like coders programing a computer.
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我可以编辑和编程DNA去做事情，
就如同码农编程计算机一样。
就如同码农编程计算机一样。
02:07
But my apps are different.
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但我们的应用程序不一样。
02:09
They create life.
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它们创造生命。
02:10
Self-replicating living cells
and things like vaccines and therapeutics
and things like vaccines and therapeutics
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如自我复制的活细胞，
以及疫苗和疗法之类的东西，
以及疫苗和疗法之类的东西，
02:15
that work in ways
that were previously impossible.
that were previously impossible.
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这在过去是根本不可能的。
02:19
Here's National Medal of Science
recipient Craig Venter
recipient Craig Venter
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这是国家科学奖章获得者
克雷格 · 文特尔（Craig Venter）
克雷格 · 文特尔（Craig Venter）
02:22
and Nobel laureate Ham Smith.
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和诺贝尔奖得主
哈姆 · 史密斯（Ham Smith）。
哈姆 · 史密斯（Ham Smith）。
02:25
These two guys shared a similar vision.
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这两位有着相似的远见，
02:27
That vision was, because all
of the functions and characteristics
of the functions and characteristics
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即，所有生物体的功能和特征，
02:31
of all biological entities,
including viruses and living cells,
including viruses and living cells,
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包括病毒和活细胞，
02:35
are written into the code of DNA,
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都被写入了DNA的代码中，
02:38
if one can read and write
that code of DNA,
that code of DNA,
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如果可以读写DNA的代码，
02:41
then they can be reconstructed
in a distant location.
in a distant location.
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那么他们就可以
在千里之遥进行重建。
在千里之遥进行重建。
02:46
This is what we mean
by biological teleportation.
by biological teleportation.
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这就是我们所说的生物传送。
02:50
To prove out this vision,
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为了证明这一观点，
02:51
Craig and Ham set a goal
of creating, for the first time,
of creating, for the first time,
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克雷格和哈姆树立了一个目标，
在历史上首次，
在历史上首次，
02:54
a synthetic cell, starting
from DNA code in the computer.
from DNA code in the computer.
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从计算机的DNA代码开始，
去制造合成细胞。
去制造合成细胞。
02:58
I mean, come on,
as a scientist looking for a job,
as a scientist looking for a job,
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我意思是，得了，
一个想养家糊口的科学家，
一个想养家糊口的科学家，
03:03
doing cutting-edge research,
it doesn't get any better than this.
it doesn't get any better than this.
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做做尖端研究，这就够好了。
03:06
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
03:08
OK, a genome is a complete set
of DNA within an organism.
of DNA within an organism.
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基因组是一个
生物体完整的DNA集合。
生物体完整的DNA集合。
03:13
Following the Human
Genome Project in 2003,
Genome Project in 2003,
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继2003年国际社会共同协作，
03:15
which was an international
effort to identify
effort to identify
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以识别人类完整
基因蓝图为目标的
基因蓝图为目标的
人类基因组计划后，
03:18
the complete genetic blueprint
of a human being,
of a human being,
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03:21
a genomics revolution happened.
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基因组学的革命发生了。
03:23
Scientists started mastering
the techniques for reading DNA.
the techniques for reading DNA.
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科学家们开始掌握读取DNA的技术。
03:27
In order to determine the order
of the As, Cs, Ts and Gs
of the As, Cs, Ts and Gs
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这项技术的目的，是确定有机体中
所有的A，C，T和G碱基的
所有的A，C，T和G碱基的
03:30
within an organism.
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排列顺序。
03:32
But my job was far different.
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但我做的事情大不相同。
03:34
I needed to master
the techniques for writing DNA.
the techniques for writing DNA.
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我需要掌握书写DNA的技巧。
03:37
Like an author of a book,
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就像图书的作者，
03:38
this started out
as writing short sentences,
as writing short sentences,
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一开始写个短句，
03:40
or sequences of DNA code,
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或DNA序列，
03:43
but this soon turned into
writing paragraphs
writing paragraphs
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但很快就变成书写段落，
03:45
and then full-on novels of DNA code,
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然后是完整的DNA代码小说，
03:47
to make important biological instructions
for proteins and living cells.
for proteins and living cells.
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去为蛋白质和活细胞
做出重要的生物指示。
做出重要的生物指示。
03:52
Living cells are nature's most efficient
machines at making new products,
machines at making new products,
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活细胞是自然界制造新产品的
03:55
accounting for the production
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最高效机器，
03:57
of 25 percent of the total
pharmaceutical market,
pharmaceutical market,
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占药品生产总市场的25%，
04:01
which is billions of dollars.
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价值几十亿美金。
04:03
We knew that writing DNA
would drive this bioeconomy even more,
would drive this bioeconomy even more,
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我们知道，一旦细胞
可以像电脑一样编程，
可以像电脑一样编程，
04:07
once cells could be programmed
just like computers.
just like computers.
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书写DNA会推动
生物经济进一步发展。
生物经济进一步发展。
04:11
We also knew that writing DNA
would enable biological teleportation ...
would enable biological teleportation ...
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我们也清楚，书写DNA
可以增强生物传送…
可以增强生物传送…
04:17
the printing of defined,
biological material,
biological material,
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从DNA代码开始，
打印已定义的生物材料。
04:20
starting from DNA code.
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04:22
As a step toward bringing
these promises to fruition,
these promises to fruition,
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为了实现这些愿景，
04:25
our team set out to create,
for the first time,
for the first time,
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我的团队第一次
04:28
a synthetic bacterial cell,
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从电脑上的DNA代码中
04:30
starting from DNA code in the computer.
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创造了一种合成细菌细胞。
04:33
Synthetic DNA is a commodity.
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合成DNA是一种商品。
你可以从一些公司
订购到非常短的DNA片段，
订购到非常短的DNA片段，
04:36
You can order very short pieces of DNA
from a number of companies,
from a number of companies,
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04:39
and they will start from these four
bottles of chemicals that make up DNA,
bottles of chemicals that make up DNA,
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他们采用的方法是
从构成DNA的G, A, T 和 C
从构成DNA的G, A, T 和 C
04:43
G, A, T and C,
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这四瓶化学物质开始，
04:44
and they will build
those very short pieces of DNA for you.
those very short pieces of DNA for you.
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为你合成非常短的DNA片段。
04:48
Over the past 15 years or so,
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在过去15年左右，
04:50
my teams have been
developing the technology
developing the technology
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我的团队开发了
04:53
for stitching together
those short pieces of DNA
those short pieces of DNA
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一种把DNA短片段拼接在一起，
04:55
into complete bacterial genomes.
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形成完整细菌基因组的技术。
04:58
The largest genome that we constructed
contained over one million letters.
contained over one million letters.
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我们创造的最大基因组
包含100多万字母。
包含100多万字母。
05:03
Which is more than twice the size
of your average novel,
of your average novel,
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是普通小说平均长度的两倍多，
05:06
and we had to put every single one
of those letters in the correct order,
of those letters in the correct order,
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我们必须把每一个字母
都按正确顺序排列，
都按正确顺序排列，
不能有丝毫差错。
05:10
without a single typo.
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05:11
We were able to accomplish this
by developing a procedure
by developing a procedure
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我们开发了一个流程
来完成这个任务，
来完成这个任务，
05:15
that I tried to call the "one-step
isothermal in vitro recombination method."
isothermal in vitro recombination method."
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我称之为
“一步体外等温重组法”。
“一步体外等温重组法”。
05:20
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
05:22
But, surprisingly, the science community
didn't like this technically accurate name
didn't like this technically accurate name
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但是，意外的是，科学界并不喜欢
这个技术上准确的名字，
这个技术上准确的名字，
05:27
and decided to call it Gibson Assembly.
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并决定把它命名为“吉布森组装法”。
05:31
Gibson Assembly
is now the gold standard tool,
is now the gold standard tool,
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吉布森组装法现在是黄金标准工具，
05:34
used in laboratories around the world
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被全球各地的实验室应用于
05:36
for building short and long pieces of DNA.
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制造或短或长的DNA片段。
05:40
(Applause)
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（鼓掌）
05:45
Once we chemically synthesized
the complete bacterial genome,
the complete bacterial genome,
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一旦我们用化学方法
合成了完整的细菌基因组，
合成了完整的细菌基因组，
05:48
our next challenge was to find a way
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我们的下个挑战，就是找到
05:51
to convert it into a free-living,
self-replicating cell.
self-replicating cell.
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把它转变成能独立生存、
自我复制的细胞的方法。
自我复制的细胞的方法。
05:55
Our approach was to think of the genome
as the operating system of the cell,
as the operating system of the cell,
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我们的解决方法是把基因组
看作细胞的操作系统，
看作细胞的操作系统，
05:59
with the cell containing the hardware
necessary to boot up the genome.
necessary to boot up the genome.
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而细胞内则含有
启动基因组所需的硬件。
启动基因组所需的硬件。
06:04
Through a lot of trial and error,
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在经历无数的尝试和失败后，
我们开发了一种
可以重新编程细胞的程序，
可以重新编程细胞的程序，
06:06
we developed a procedure
where we could reprogram cells
where we could reprogram cells
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06:09
and even convert one
bacterial species into another,
bacterial species into another,
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通过将某个细胞的基因组
替换成另一个细胞的基因组，
替换成另一个细胞的基因组，
06:12
by replacing the genome of one cell
with that of another.
with that of another.
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它甚至可以将某种细菌
转化为另一种细菌。
转化为另一种细菌。
06:17
This genome transplantation
technology then paved the way
technology then paved the way
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这种基因移植技术为科学家，
06:21
for the booting-up of genomes
written by scientists
written by scientists
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而非自然母亲编写基因组
06:24
and not by Mother Nature.
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铺平了道路。
06:26
In 2010, all of the technologies
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2010年，当所有这些
06:29
that we had been developing
for reading and writing DNA
for reading and writing DNA
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我们开发来读写DNA的技术都已就绪，
06:32
all came together
when we announced the creation
when we announced the creation
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我们就联合宣告了
06:35
of the first synthetic cell,
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第一个合成细胞的诞生。
06:37
which of course, we called Synthia.
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理所当然，我们将其
命名为“辛西娅”。
命名为“辛西娅”。
06:39
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
06:41
Ever since the first bacterial genome
was sequenced, back in 1995,
was sequenced, back in 1995,
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自从1995年第一个
细菌基因组被测序以来，
细菌基因组被测序以来，
06:46
thousands more whole bacterial genomes
have been sequenced and stored
have been sequenced and stored
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已经有成千上万的完整
细菌基因组被测序和储存在
细菌基因组被测序和储存在
06:49
in computer databases.
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电脑数据库中。
06:51
Our synthetic cell work
was the proof of concept
was the proof of concept
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合成细胞的诞生证明了
06:54
that we could reverse this process:
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我们可以逆转这个过程的概念：
06:56
pull a complete bacterial genome
sequence out of the computer
sequence out of the computer
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从计算机中取出一个
完整的细菌基因组序列，
完整的细菌基因组序列，
06:59
and convert that information
into a free-living, self-replicating cell,
into a free-living, self-replicating cell,
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并将这些信息转换成一种
带有其所构建物种所有预期特征的
带有其所构建物种所有预期特征的
07:04
with all of the expected characteristics
of the species that we constructed.
of the species that we constructed.
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能独立生存，自我复制的细胞。
07:10
Now I can understand
why there may be concerns
why there may be concerns
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现在我可以理解
为什么那么多人会有
为什么那么多人会有
07:12
about the safety of this level
of genetic manipulation.
of genetic manipulation.
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对这种基因操纵水平的
安全性的担忧。
安全性的担忧。
07:16
While the technology has the potential
for great societal benefit,
for great societal benefit,
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尽管这项技术有可能
带来巨大的社会效益，
带来巨大的社会效益，
07:21
it also has the potential for doing harm.
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它也有可能造成伤害。
07:24
With this in mind, even before
carrying out the very first experiment,
carrying out the very first experiment,
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考虑到这一点，
早在进行第一次实验之前，
早在进行第一次实验之前，
07:28
our team started to work
with the public and the government
with the public and the government
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我们的团队就开始
与公众和政府合作，
与公众和政府合作，
07:31
to find solutions together
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寻找解决方案，
07:33
to responsibly develop
and regulate this new technology.
and regulate this new technology.
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负责任地开发和管理这项新技术。
07:38
One of the outcomes from those discussions
was to screen every customer
was to screen every customer
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这些讨论的成果之一，
是对每个客户
是对每个客户
07:42
and every customer's DNA synthesis orders,
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和客户的DNA合成订单进行筛选，
07:44
to make sure that pathogens or toxins
are not being made by bad guys,
are not being made by bad guys,
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确保病原体或毒素
不会被坏人利用，
不会被坏人利用，
07:49
or accidentally by scientists.
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或被科学家意外制造出来。
07:52
All suspicious orders
are reported to the FBI
are reported to the FBI
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所有可疑的订单都会报告给FBI
07:56
and other relevant
law-enforcement agencies.
law-enforcement agencies.
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和其他相关执法机构。
08:00
Synthetic cell technologies
will power the next industrial revolution
will power the next industrial revolution
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合成细胞技术将为
下一次工业革命提供动力，
下一次工业革命提供动力，
08:04
and transform industries and economies
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以应对全球可持续性挑战的方式，
08:07
in ways that address
global sustainability challenges.
global sustainability challenges.
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去改变行业和经济。
08:12
The possibilities are endless.
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其应用潜力是无穷无尽的。
08:14
I mean, you can think of clothes
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你可以想象
08:15
constructed form renewable
biobased sources,
biobased sources,
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可再生生物材料做成的衣服，
08:19
cars running on biofuel
from engineered microbes,
from engineered microbes,
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工程微生物生产的生物燃料汽车，
08:23
plastics made from biodegradable polymers
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生物可降解聚合物制成的塑料，
08:26
and customized therapies,
printed at a patient's bedside.
printed at a patient's bedside.
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以及在病人床边
就可以打印的定制疗法。
就可以打印的定制疗法。
08:31
The massive efforts
to create synthetic cells
to create synthetic cells
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创造合成细胞的大量努力
08:33
have made us world leaders at writing DNA.
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使我们成为书写DNA的全球领导者。
08:37
Throughout the process,
we found ways to write DNA faster,
we found ways to write DNA faster,
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在这一过程中，我们
发现了书写DNA更快，
发现了书写DNA更快，
08:40
more accurately and more reliably.
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更精确和更可靠的方式。
08:43
Because of the robustness
of these technologies,
of these technologies,
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因为这些技术的稳健性，
08:46
we found that we could
readily automate the processes
readily automate the processes
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我们发现可以很容易地
将过程自动化，
将过程自动化，
08:49
and move the laboratory workflows
out of the scientist's hands
out of the scientist's hands
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将实验室的工作流程
从科学家的手中
从科学家的手中
08:52
and onto a machine.
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转移到机器上面。
08:55
In 2013, we built the first DNA printer.
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2013年，我们创造了
第一台DNA打印机。
第一台DNA打印机。
08:58
We call it the BioXp.
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我们把它命名为BioXP。
09:00
And it has been absolutely
essential in writing DNA
essential in writing DNA
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它的DNA书写功能在我的团队和
09:04
across a number of applications
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全球研究者的
09:05
my team and researchers
around the world are working on.
around the world are working on.
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各种应用场景中，
有着绝对重要的地位。
有着绝对重要的地位。
09:10
It was shortly after we built the BioXp
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在BioXp诞生之后不久，
09:12
that we received that email
about the H7N9 bird flu scare in China.
about the H7N9 bird flu scare in China.
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我们就收到了中国H7N9
禽流感恐慌的电子邮件。
禽流感恐慌的电子邮件。
09:17
A team of Chinese scientists
had already isolated the virus,
had already isolated the virus,
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当时，中国的科学家团队
已经分离出了病毒，
已经分离出了病毒，
09:20
sequenced its DNA and uploaded
the DNA sequence to the internet.
the DNA sequence to the internet.
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测序了DNA结构，并将
序列上传到了互联网。
序列上传到了互联网。
09:25
At the request of the US government,
we downloaded the DNA sequence
we downloaded the DNA sequence
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在美国政府的要求下，
我们下载了DNA序列，
我们下载了DNA序列，
09:29
and in less than 12 hours,
we printed it on the BioXp.
we printed it on the BioXp.
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不到12个小时内，
就在BioXp上打印了出来。
就在BioXp上打印了出来。
09:33
Our collaborators at Novartis
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我们在诺华的合作者
09:35
then quickly started turning
that synthetic DNA into a flu vaccine.
that synthetic DNA into a flu vaccine.
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迅速将合成DNA转化为流感疫苗。
09:39
Meanwhile, the CDC, using technology
dating back to the 1940s,
dating back to the 1940s,
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与此同时，使用的技术可追溯到
20世纪40年代的疾病防控中心，
20世纪40年代的疾病防控中心，
09:44
was still waiting for the virus
to arrive from China
to arrive from China
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还在等待来自中国的病毒样本，
09:47
so that they could begin
their egg-based approach.
their egg-based approach.
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这样他们才可以开始
以鸡蛋为基础的方法。
以鸡蛋为基础的方法。
09:50
For the first time, we had a flu vaccine
developed ahead of time
developed ahead of time
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首次，我们提前开发了
针对这种具备新的
针对这种具备新的
09:53
for a new and potentially
dangerous strain,
dangerous strain,
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潜在危险的毒株的流感疫苗，
09:56
and the US government ordered a stockpile.
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而美国政府从我们
这里订购了一批药物。
这里订购了一批药物。
09:58
(Applause)
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（鼓掌）
10:04
This was when I began
to appreciate, more than ever,
to appreciate, more than ever,
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于是，我开始
比任何时候都更为欣赏
比任何时候都更为欣赏
10:07
the power of biological teleportation.
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生物远距离传送力量。
10:09
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
10:11
Naturally, with this in mind,
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自然的，心里有了这个底，
我们就着手制造生物传送器。
10:13
we started to build
a biological teleporter.
a biological teleporter.
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10:16
We call it the DBC.
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我们称之为DBC。
10:18
That's short for
digital-to-biological converter.
digital-to-biological converter.
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这是数字生物转换器的缩写。
10:22
Unlike the BioXp,
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与预制短链DNA
10:23
which starts from pre-manufactured
short pieces of DNA,
short pieces of DNA,
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开始的BioXp不同的是，
10:26
the DBC starts from digitized DNA code
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DBC从数字化DNA代码开始,
10:29
and converts that DNA code
into biological entities,
into biological entities,
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将DNA代码转化为生物实体，
10:32
such as DNA, RNA,
proteins or even viruses.
proteins or even viruses.
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比如DNA，RNA，蛋白质，甚至病毒。
10:37
You can think of the BioXp
as a DVD player,
as a DVD player,
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你可以把BioXp想象成DVD播放器，
10:40
requiring a physical DVD to be inserted,
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需要插入DVD光盘，
10:43
whereas the DBC is Netflix.
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而DBC则相当于Netflix
（在线播放平台）。
（在线播放平台）。
10:47
To build the DBC,
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为了制造DBC，
10:49
my team of scientists worked with
software and instrumentation engineers
software and instrumentation engineers
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我团队的科学家跟软件
和仪器仪表工程师合作，
和仪器仪表工程师合作，
10:54
to collapse multiple laboratory workflows,
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将多项实验室的工作流程
10:56
all in a single box.
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整合到一个盒子里面。
10:58
This included software algorithms
to predict what DNA to build,
to predict what DNA to build,
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其中包括用软件算法来
预测要构建的DNA，
预测要构建的DNA，
11:02
chemistry to link the G, A, T and C
building blocks of DNA into short pieces,
building blocks of DNA into short pieces,
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用化学方法将碱基结构单元
构成的DNA片段连接成短链，
构成的DNA片段连接成短链，
11:07
Gibson Assembly to stitch together
those short pieces into much longer ones,
those short pieces into much longer ones,
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用吉布森组装法将这些短链
拼接成更长的片段，
拼接成更长的片段，
11:11
and biology to convert the DNA
into other biological entities,
into other biological entities,
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以及用生物学方法
将DNA转化为像蛋白质
将DNA转化为像蛋白质
11:14
such as proteins.
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那样的其他生物实体。
11:17
This is the prototype.
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这是产品的原型。
11:18
Although it wasn't pretty,
it was effective.
it was effective.
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虽然它不完美，但却非常有效。
11:20
It made therapeutic drugs and vaccines.
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它能够制造治疗药物和疫苗。
11:23
And laboratory workflows
that once took weeks or months
that once took weeks or months
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以前在实验室工作流程中
需要耗时数周或数月的工作，
需要耗时数周或数月的工作，
11:27
could now be carried out
in just one to two days.
in just one to two days.
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如今在1-2天内就能完成。
11:30
And that's all without
any human intervention
any human intervention
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而且它无需任何人工干预，
11:33
and simply activated
by the receipt of an email
by the receipt of an email
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电子邮件即可激活，
11:35
which could be sent
from anywhere in the world.
from anywhere in the world.
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这个电子邮件可以来自
全球任何地方。
全球任何地方。
11:39
We like to compare
the DBC to fax machines.
the DBC to fax machines.
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我们喜欢把DBC比喻成传真机。
11:43
But whereas fax machines
received images and documents,
received images and documents,
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传真机接收图像和文件，
11:46
the DBC receives biological materials.
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而DBC接收生物材料。
11:50
Now, consider how
fax machines have evolved.
fax machines have evolved.
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想想传真机是如何演化的。
11:53
The prototype of the 1840s
is unrecognizable,
is unrecognizable,
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1840年代的原型
11:56
compared with the fax machines of today.
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与今天的传真机相比，
简直无法辨认。
简直无法辨认。
11:59
In the 1980s, most people
still didn't know what a fax machine was,
still didn't know what a fax machine was,
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上世纪80年代，很多人
仍然不知道传真机是什么，
仍然不知道传真机是什么，
12:03
and if they did,
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即便知道了，
12:05
it was difficult for them
to grasp the concept
to grasp the concept
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他们也很难理解
12:07
of instantly reproducing an image
on the other side of the world.
on the other side of the world.
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在世界另一端即刻复制图像的概念。
12:11
But nowadays, everything
that a fax machine does
that a fax machine does
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而今天，传真机做的所有事情
都被植入到了我们的智能手机中，
12:13
is integrated on our smart phones,
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12:15
and of course, we take this rapid exchange
of digital information for granted.
of digital information for granted.
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当然，我们早已把数字信息的
快速交换视为理所当然。
快速交换视为理所当然。
12:20
Here's what our DBC looks like today.
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这是今天我们的DBC的样子。
12:23
We imagine the DBC evolving
in similar ways as fax machines have.
in similar ways as fax machines have.
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我们想象DBC以类似于
传真机的方式发展。
传真机的方式发展。
12:28
We're working to reduce
the size of the instrument,
the size of the instrument,
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我们正在努力减少仪器尺寸，
12:30
and we're working to make
the underlying technology
the underlying technology
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努力让基础技术
12:33
more reliable, cheaper,
faster and more accurate.
faster and more accurate.
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更可靠，更廉价，更快，更准确。
12:38
Accuracy is extremely important
when synthesizing DNA,
when synthesizing DNA,
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在合成DNA时，准确性是极其重要的，
12:41
because a single change to a DNA letter
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因为一个DNA字母的改变
12:43
could mean the difference
between a medicine working or not
between a medicine working or not
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就可能影响一种药物是否有效，
12:46
or synthetic cell being alive or dead.
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这个合成细胞是存活还是死亡。
12:50
The DBC will be useful
for the distributed manufacturing
for the distributed manufacturing
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DBC对于从DNA开始的
12:53
of medicine starting from DNA.
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药物的分布式制造是很有用的。
12:56
Every hospital in the world
could use a DBC
could use a DBC
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世界上每所医院都可以使用DBC
12:59
for printing personalized medicines
for a patient at their bedside.
for a patient at their bedside.
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在病人床边打印个性化药物。
13:03
I can even imagine a day
when it's routine for people to have a DBC
when it's routine for people to have a DBC
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我甚至想象着，
有一天可以实现人手一台DBC，
有一天可以实现人手一台DBC，
13:08
to connect to their
home computer or smart phone
home computer or smart phone
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连上家中的电脑或智能手机，
13:11
as a means to download
their prescriptions,
their prescriptions,
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就可以去下载他们的处方，
例如胰岛素或抗体疗法。
13:13
such as insulin or antibody therapies.
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13:15
The DBC will also be valuable when placed
in strategic areas around the world,
in strategic areas around the world,
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在世界各地的战区，
DBC也将会派上用场，
DBC也将会派上用场，
13:19
for rapid response to disease outbreaks.
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它可以快速应对疾病的爆发。
13:22
For example, the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia
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例如，乔治亚州亚特兰大的
疾病防控中心，
疾病防控中心，
13:26
could send flu vaccine instructions
to a DBC on the other side of the world,
to a DBC on the other side of the world,
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可以将流感疫苗的指令
发送到世界另一端的DBC，
发送到世界另一端的DBC，
13:30
where the flu vaccine is manufactured
right on the front lines.
right on the front lines.
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这样流感疫苗就可以在前线生产。
13:35
That flu vaccine could even be
specifically tailored to the flu strain
specifically tailored to the flu strain
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这种流感疫苗甚至可以专门针对
13:40
that's circulating in that local area.
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在当地流行的流感病毒。
13:43
Sending vaccines around in a digital file,
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将疫苗通过数字文件发送，
13:46
rather than stockpiling those same
vaccines and shipping them out,
vaccines and shipping them out,
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而不再将其打包运出，
13:49
promises to save thousands of lives.
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可以拯救成千上万的生命。
13:53
Of course, the applications
go as far as the imagination goes.
go as far as the imagination goes.
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当然，梦想有多大，
舞台就有多大。
舞台就有多大。
13:58
It's not hard to imagine
placing a DBC on another planet.
placing a DBC on another planet.
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不难想象，在另一个星球上
放置这么一台DBC。
放置这么一台DBC。
14:03
Scientists on Earth could then send
the digital instructions to that DBC
the digital instructions to that DBC
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地球上的科学家就可以
将数字指令发送到DBC，
将数字指令发送到DBC，
14:08
to make new medicines
or to make synthetic organisms
or to make synthetic organisms
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去制造新药物，或合成生物，
14:12
that produce oxygen, food,
fuel or building materials,
fuel or building materials,
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以产生氧气，食物，
燃料或建筑材料，
燃料或建筑材料，
14:16
as a means for making the planet
more habitable for humans.
more habitable for humans.
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这不失为一种把外星球
变成适合人类居住的方法。
变成适合人类居住的方法。
14:20
(Applause)
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（鼓掌）
14:24
With digital information
traveling at the speed of light,
traveling at the speed of light,
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数字信息以光速前进，
14:27
it would only take minutes
to send those digital instructions
to send those digital instructions
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数字指令从地球传到火星
14:30
from Earth to Mars,
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只需要几分钟。
14:31
but it would take months
to physically deliver those same samples
to physically deliver those same samples
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但如果通过太空船去
运送这些实体样本
运送这些实体样本
14:35
on a spacecraft.
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则需要耗时数月。
14:37
But for now, I would be satisfied
beaming new medicines across the globe,
beaming new medicines across the globe,
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但就目前而言，能在全球范围内，
完全自动化和根据需求
完全自动化和根据需求
14:42
fully automated and on demand,
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打印出新药物，
14:44
saving lives from emerging
infectious diseases
infectious diseases
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872662
3598
挽救感染了新发传染病的生命，
14:48
and printing personalized cancer medicines
for those who don't have time to wait.
for those who don't have time to wait.
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876284
4752
为那些没有时间等待的人打印个性化的
癌症药物，就已经让我感到很满足了。
癌症药物，就已经让我感到很满足了。
14:53
Thank you.
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881060
1175
谢谢。
14:54
(Applause)
270
882259
7000
（鼓掌）
Translated by jacks peng
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dan Gibson - Genome writerDan Gibson leads a new breed of bioengineers, called genome writers, who use DNA to design and build new products powering the next industrial revolution.
Why you should listen
In 2004, Dan Gibson was drawn to a project at the J. Craig Venter Institute: to build a synthetic cell from scratch. Within days, he was on a path to creating synthetic life alongside genomics pioneers. But to build a whole genome from scratch, Gibson had to first invent new methods to assemble DNA. One method, dubbed the "Gibson Assembly," became a game changer, and a series of firsts followed: first synthetic bacterial genome, first synthetic cell, first minimal cell. Today, these discoveries inform the design of synthetic DNA used for new medicines.
Gibson's teams at SGI and SGI-DNA recently introduced the world's first biologic teleporter, called the Digital-to-Biological Converter (DBC), which turns digital code into functional biologics in the form of DNA, RNA and proteins without human intervention. Imagine a future where digital code is emailed to DBCs at hospitals around the world to deliver personalized medicine at a patient's bedside.
Dan Gibson | Speaker | TED.com