TED2017
Elizabeth Blackburn: The science of cells that never get old
伊丽莎白·布莱克本: 永不衰老的细胞科学
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什么使我们的身体衰老？…我们的皮肤皱纹，头发变白，免疫系统变弱？生物学家伊丽莎白 布莱克本共享诺贝尔奖通过她的工作与端粒酶的发现。端粒酶，补充细胞分裂时候消耗染色体末端。了解更多关于布莱克本的突破性研究，包括我们如何比我们想象更多能控制衰老。
Elizabeth Blackburn - Molecular biologist
Elizabeth Blackburn won a Nobel Prize for her pioneering work on telomeres and telomerase, which may play central roles in how we age. She is president of the Salk Institute and author of the New York Times Best Seller, "The Telomere Effect." Full bio
Elizabeth Blackburn won a Nobel Prize for her pioneering work on telomeres and telomerase, which may play central roles in how we age. She is president of the Salk Institute and author of the New York Times Best Seller, "The Telomere Effect." Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
Where does the end begin?
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终点是从哪开始的？
00:15
Well, for me, it all began
with this little fellow.
with this little fellow.
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对我来说，一切都是从
这个小家伙开始。
这个小家伙开始。
00:20
This adorable organism --
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这个可爱的微生物
00:21
well, I think it's adorable --
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是的，我觉得它很可爱，
00:23
is called Tetrahymena
and it's a single-celled creature.
and it's a single-celled creature.
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它被称为“四膜虫”，
是一种单细胞生物，
是一种单细胞生物，
它也被称为藻类。
00:27
It's also been known as pond scum.
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00:29
So that's right, my career
started with pond scum.
started with pond scum.
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没错，我的职业生涯从浮渣开始
00:33
Now, it was no surprise
I became a scientist.
I became a scientist.
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我成为一名科学家
并不令人感到意外。
并不令人感到意外。
我在离这里很远的地方长大,
00:36
Growing up far away from here,
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00:38
as a little girl I was deadly curious
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还是一个小女孩时
就对所有活物
就对所有活物
感到非常的好奇。
00:41
about everything alive.
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00:43
I used to pick up lethally poisonous
stinging jellyfish and sing to them.
stinging jellyfish and sing to them.
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我常常捡起有毒刺的水母
并对它们歌唱。
并对它们歌唱。
00:49
And so starting my career,
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所以，我刚开始职业生涯的时候，
就对生命的奥秘非常的好奇
00:52
I was deadly curious
about fundamental mysteries
about fundamental mysteries
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特别是那些构成生命的最基本要素。
00:56
of the most basic building blocks of life,
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00:59
and I was fortunate to live in a society
where that curiosity was valued.
where that curiosity was valued.
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幸运的是，我生活在
一个重视这种好奇的社会。
一个重视这种好奇的社会。
01:05
Now, for me, this little
pond scum critter Tetrahymena
pond scum critter Tetrahymena
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现在，对我来说，这种小藻类生物“四膜虫”，
01:07
was a great way to study
the fundamental mystery
the fundamental mystery
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是一个研究这个基本奥秘的好方法。
我最好奇的是有关：
01:10
I was most curious about:
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01:12
those bundles of DNA
in our cells called chromosomes.
in our cells called chromosomes.
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在我们细胞中
称为染色体的那一簇簇DNA。
称为染色体的那一簇簇DNA。
这是因为我对染色体的最末端，即“端粒"
01:16
And it was because I was curious
about the very ends of chromosomes,
about the very ends of chromosomes,
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这一部分非常有兴趣。
01:22
known as telomeres.
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01:25
Now, when I started my quest,
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在我开始探索时，
01:27
all we knew was that they helped
protect the ends of chromosomes.
protect the ends of chromosomes.
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我们所知道的就是
它们保护染色体的末端。
它们保护染色体的末端。
01:31
It was important when cells divide.
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这在细胞分裂时很重要
01:33
It was really important,
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真的特别重要。
01:34
but I wanted to find out
what telomeres consisted of,
what telomeres consisted of,
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但我想搞清楚端粒由什么组成，
为此，我需要许多端粒。
01:38
and for that, I needed a lot of them.
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而可爱的小四膜虫，
01:41
And it so happens
that cute little Tetrahymena
that cute little Tetrahymena
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拥有许多小线性染色体。
01:44
has a lot of short linear chromosomes,
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大概有两万个，
01:47
around 20,000,
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因此数量充足。
01:48
so lots of telomeres.
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01:51
And I discovered that telomeres
consisted of special segments
consisted of special segments
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我发现端粒包含特殊区段
非编码DNA的就在染色体的最末端。
01:55
of noncoding DNA right
at the very ends of chromosomes.
at the very ends of chromosomes.
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但，这里有个问题。
01:59
But here's a problem.
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02:01
Now, we all start life as a single cell.
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我们的生命都从一个细胞开始，
之后，它倍增成两个，
二个变成成四个，四个变成八个，
二个变成成四个，四个变成八个，
02:04
It multiples to two.
Two becomes four. Four becomes eight,
Two becomes four. Four becomes eight,
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02:07
and on and on to form
the 200 million billion cells
the 200 million billion cells
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不断分化形成
200万兆个细胞，
200万兆个细胞，
组成我们成熟的身体。
02:10
that make up our adult body.
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02:12
And some of those cells
have to divide thousands of times.
have to divide thousands of times.
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而且一些细胞
必须分化几千次。
必须分化几千次。
02:17
In fact, even as I stand here before you,
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事实上，即使我站在你面前，
全身细胞正在疯狂地更新，
02:20
all throughout my body,
cells are furiously replenishing
cells are furiously replenishing
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为了让我能站在你面前。
02:23
to, well, keep me
standing here before you.
standing here before you.
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02:27
So every time a cell divides,
all of its DNA has to be copied,
all of its DNA has to be copied,
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每次细胞分裂，
所有的DNA都必须被复制，
所有的DNA都必须被复制，
所有在那些染色体内部的DNA编码，
02:31
all of the coding DNA
inside of those chromosomes,
inside of those chromosomes,
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02:34
because that carries
the vital operating instructions
the vital operating instructions
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因为它们携带了重要的操作指南，
02:38
that keep our cells in good working order,
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使我们的细胞保持良好的工作状态。
02:41
so my heart cells can keep a steady beat,
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这样我的心脏细胞就可以
保持稳定的跳动。
保持稳定的跳动。
02:46
which I assure you
they're not doing right now,
they're not doing right now,
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但事实上，我向各位保证
它们现在并没有做到。
它们现在并没有做到。
02:48
and my immune cells
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而我的免疫细胞，
02:51
can fight off bacteria and viruses,
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能抵抗细菌和病毒，
02:56
and our brain cells
can save the memory of our first kiss
can save the memory of our first kiss
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还有我们的脑细胞
可以保存我们初吻的记忆，
可以保存我们初吻的记忆，
03:01
and keep on learning throughout life.
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并且保持终身学习。
03:04
But there is a glitch
in the way DNA is copied.
in the way DNA is copied.
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但在DNA复制的过程总会有个小故障
当然，这只是生活中的事实之一。
03:09
It is just one of those facts of life.
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每次细胞分裂
DNA被复制，
DNA被复制，
03:12
Every time the cell divides
and the DNA is copied,
and the DNA is copied,
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一些来自末端的DNA
磨损和缩短，
磨损和缩短，
03:15
some of that DNA from the ends
gets worn down and shortened,
gets worn down and shortened,
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03:19
some of that telomere DNA.
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一些DNA端粒。
03:22
And think about it
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再想一想，
就像在你鞋带的末端保护帽一样
03:24
like the protective caps
at the ends of your shoelace.
at the ends of your shoelace.
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03:27
And those keep the shoelace,
or the chromosome, from fraying,
or the chromosome, from fraying,
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那些阻止鞋带，
或染色体磨损的东西
或染色体磨损的东西
当那些保护措施变得太短，它就会脱落。
03:33
and when that tip
gets too short, it falls off,
gets too short, it falls off,
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而那些磨损的端粒则
向细胞发送信号，
向细胞发送信号，
03:38
and that worn down telomere
sends a signal to the cells.
sends a signal to the cells.
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03:43
"The DNA is no longer being protected."
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“这一条DNA不再受到保护了。”
03:45
It sends a signal. Time to die.
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它发出一个信号，死亡的时刻到了。
03:47
So, end of story.
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所以，故事的结局。
03:49
Well, sorry, not so fast.
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哦，对不起，没那么快。
03:53
It can't be the end of the story,
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这不可能是故事的结局，
03:54
because life hasn't died
off the face of the earth.
off the face of the earth.
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因为生命还没从
地球表面消逝。
地球表面消逝。
03:57
So I was curious:
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所以我很好奇：
如果这样的磨损是不可避免的，
03:59
if such wear and tear is inevitable,
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04:02
how on earth does Mother Nature make sure
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大自然究竟是怎么确保
我们可以保持染色体完整呢？
04:05
we can keep our chromosomes intact?
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04:08
Now, remember that little
pond scum critter Tetrahymena?
pond scum critter Tetrahymena?
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现在，还记得
池塘里的小四膜虫？
池塘里的小四膜虫？
04:13
The craziest thing was,
Tetrahymena cells never got old and died.
Tetrahymena cells never got old and died.
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最古怪的是，
四膜虫的细胞从不变老和死亡。
四膜虫的细胞从不变老和死亡。
04:18
Their telomeres weren't shortening
as time marched on.
as time marched on.
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它们的端粒并没有
随着时间向前而缩短，
随着时间向前而缩短，
04:25
Sometimes they even got longer.
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有时甚至长得更长。
04:27
Something else was at work,
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还有别的东西在起作用，
04:29
and believe me, that something
was not in any textbook.
was not in any textbook.
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相信我，那些东西
不在任何教科书中。
不在任何教科书中。
04:32
So working in my lab with
my extraordinary student Carol Greider --
my extraordinary student Carol Greider --
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所以，在实验室里我与
我杰出的学生卡罗尔·格雷德一起工作
我杰出的学生卡罗尔·格雷德一起工作
凯罗尔和我因这项工作
共享了诺贝尔奖。
共享了诺贝尔奖。
04:35
and Carol and I shared
the Nobel Prize for this work --
the Nobel Prize for this work --
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04:39
we began running experiments
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我们开始做实验，
04:42
and we discovered
cells do have something else.
cells do have something else.
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我们发现细胞
确实有其他的东西。
确实有其他的东西。
04:45
It was a previously undreamed-of enzyme
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这是一个以前做梦也想不到的酶。
它可以补充，
使端粒变得更长。
使端粒变得更长。
04:48
that could replenish,
make longer, telomeres,
make longer, telomeres,
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我们把它命名为端粒酶。
04:52
and we named it telomerase.
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04:55
And when we removed
our pond scum's telomerase,
our pond scum's telomerase,
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当我们去除掉实验藻的端粒酶，
它们的端粒水平下降了，死了。
04:59
their telomeres ran down and they died.
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05:02
So it was thanks
to their plentiful telomerase
to their plentiful telomerase
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所以这得感谢充足的端粒酶
05:05
that our pond scum critters never got old.
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我们的藻生物从不变老。
05:10
OK, now, that's
an incredibly hopeful message
an incredibly hopeful message
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因而，从这个实验中
我们可以得出这样一个充满希望的信息，
我们可以得出这样一个充满希望的信息，
05:14
for us humans to be
receiving from pond scum,
receiving from pond scum,
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从这些藻类生物中得出的。
05:18
because it turns out
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因为结果就是，
05:19
that as we humans age,
our telomeres do shorten,
our telomeres do shorten,
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当我们人类衰老，
我们的端粒就随之缩短。
我们的端粒就随之缩短。
05:23
and remarkably,
that shortening is aging us.
that shortening is aging us.
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显然这种缩短
正在使我们衰老。
正在使我们衰老。
一般来说你的端粒越长，
05:27
Generally speaking,
the longer your telomeres,
the longer your telomeres,
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05:29
the better off you are.
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你的身体狀況就会越好。
05:32
It's the overshortening of telomeres
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正是这端粒的过度缩短
05:34
that leads us to feel and see
signs of aging.
signs of aging.
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让我们感觉和看到衰老的迹象。
05:38
My skin cells start to die
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我的皮肤细胞开始死亡，
05:40
and I start to see fine lines, wrinkles.
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于是我开始看到细纹，皱纹。
毛发色素细胞死亡，
05:43
Hair pigment cells die.
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05:45
You start to see gray.
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你就会开始看到这些灰色的头发。
05:47
Immune system cells die.
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免疫系统细胞死亡，
05:50
You increase your risks of getting sick.
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你增加了生病的风险。
事实上，20年来持续的研究都
05:52
In fact, the cumulative research
from the last 20 years
from the last 20 years
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05:56
has made clear that telomere attrition
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明确表明端粒损耗，
增加了我们患心血管疾病，
05:59
is contributing to our risks
of getting cardiovascular diseases,
of getting cardiovascular diseases,
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06:04
Alzheimer's, some cancers and diabetes,
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老年痴呆症，某些癌症和糖尿病的风险。
06:08
the very conditions many of us die of.
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这些都是现代大多数人的死亡原因。
06:12
And so we have to think about this.
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所以我们必须考虑这个问题
06:17
What is going on?
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到底是怎么回事？
这种损耗，
06:19
This attrition,
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06:21
we look and we feel older, yeah.
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使我们看起来以及感觉老了。
06:23
Our telomeres are losing
the war of attrition faster.
the war of attrition faster.
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我们的端粒正在加快消失。
还有那些我们觉得青春更长的人，
06:26
And those of us who feel youthful longer,
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06:30
it turns out our telomeres
are staying longer
are staying longer
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结果是我们的端粒保持时间长些，
更长的时间，
06:32
for longer periods of time,
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而正是这种延长
也延长了我们的青春感，
也延长了我们的青春感，
06:34
extending our feelings of youthfulness
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06:36
and reducing the risks
of all we most dread
of all we most dread
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减少了当我们每渡过一次生日，
06:40
as the birthdays go by.
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所感到的那种时间流逝的恐惧。
06:44
OK,
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好的，
这么一说好像很简单。
06:45
seems like a no-brainer.
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06:48
Now, if my telomeres are connected
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现在，如果我的端粒水平与
我对变老的感受和我的衰老相关联
06:52
to how quickly
I'm going to feel and get old,
I'm going to feel and get old,
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06:55
if my telomeres can be
renewed by my telomerase,
renewed by my telomerase,
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如果我的端粒可以
被我的端粒酶更新，
被我的端粒酶更新，
07:00
then all I have to do to reverse
the signs and symptoms of aging
the signs and symptoms of aging
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那么为了扭转衰老的征兆和症状
我做的就是
我做的就是
弄清楚在哪里能买到
像Costco瓶子那样大小的
像Costco瓶子那样大小的
07:04
is figure out where to buy
that Costco-sized bottle
that Costco-sized bottle
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07:08
of grade A organic
fair trade telomerase, right?
fair trade telomerase, right?
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A级有机公平交易的端粒酶，对吗？
07:12
Great! Problem solved.
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太好了，问题解决了.
（掌声）
07:14
(Applause)
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07:15
Not so fast, I'm sorry.
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但实际上并没有这么快，我很抱歉
07:18
Alas, that's not the case.
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唉，事实并非如此。
为什么呢？
07:21
OK. And why?
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07:23
It's because human genetics has taught us
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这因为人类遗传学已经告诉我们，
07:27
that when it comes to our telomerase,
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当涉及到我们的端粒酶时，
我们人类生活在刀刃上，
07:30
we humans live on a knife edge.
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07:34
OK, simply put,
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好吧，简单地说，
07:36
yes, nudging up telomerase
does decrease the risks of some diseases,
does decrease the risks of some diseases,
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是的，提高端粒酶的水平
确实减少某些疾病的风险，
确实减少某些疾病的风险，
07:42
but it also increases the risks
of certain and rather nasty cancers.
of certain and rather nasty cancers.
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但它也增加了某些恶性肿瘤的风险。
07:48
So even if you could buy
that Costco-sized bottle of telomerase,
that Costco-sized bottle of telomerase,
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所以即使你能买到
Costco样大瓶的端粒酶，
Costco样大瓶的端粒酶，
而且有很多网站，
销售这种可疑产品。
销售这种可疑产品。
07:54
and there are many websites
marketing such dubious products,
marketing such dubious products,
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但这么做的弊端就是
你可能提高了患癌症的风险。
你可能提高了患癌症的风险。
08:01
the problem is you could
nudge up your risks of cancers.
nudge up your risks of cancers.
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08:06
And we don't want that.
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我们并不想要那样。
08:09
Now, don't worry,
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现在，别担心
08:12
and because, while I think
it's kind of funny that right now,
it's kind of funny that right now,
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因为，虽然我觉得有点好笑，
08:17
you know, many of us may be thinking,
well, I'd rather be like pond scum.
well, I'd rather be like pond scum.
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现在我们很多人可能在想，
好吧，我宁愿是池塘里的水藻。
好吧，我宁愿是池塘里的水藻。
08:22
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
08:26
There is something for us humans
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人类机体内
就存在着端粒维护机制。
08:28
in the story of telomeres
and their maintenance.
and their maintenance.
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08:30
But I want to get one thing clear.
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但是我想澄清一件事，
08:32
It isn't about enormously
extending human lifespan
extending human lifespan
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这并不是关于
延长人类的寿命
延长人类的寿命
或使人类达成永生的机制。
08:35
or immortality.
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08:37
It's about health span.
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这是关于健康的寿命,
08:40
Now, health span is the number
of years of your life
of years of your life
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健康寿命是指你生命中有多少年
08:43
when you're free of disease,
you're healthy, you're productive,
you're healthy, you're productive,
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你没有疾病，你很健康，很有生产力，
08:47
you're zestfully enjoying life.
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你兴致勃勃地享受生活。
08:49
Disease span, the opposite of health span,
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带病生存与健康寿命相反
08:52
is the time of your life
spent feeling old and sick and dying.
spent feeling old and sick and dying.
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是你生命中感觉衰老，生病和死亡的时刻。
08:55
So the real question becomes,
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所以问题实际就变成
08:59
OK, if I can't guzzle telomerase,
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好吧，如果我不能狂饮端粒酶饮料
09:02
do I have control
over my telomeres' length
over my telomeres' length
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我们是否能控制
自己端粒的长度。
自己端粒的长度。
09:06
and hence my well-being, my health,
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因此我的良好状态，我的健康，
09:09
without those downsides of cancer risks?
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就不会有这些负面癌症影响的风险？
09:13
OK?
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可以吗?
09:14
So, it's the year 2000.
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所以，这是2000年
09:17
Now, I've been minutely scrutinizing
little teeny tiny telomeres
little teeny tiny telomeres
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现在，我已经详细检查
那小小的，极小的，极微的的端粒
那小小的，极小的，极微的的端粒
09:22
very happily for many years,
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快乐地过了很多年，
09:25
when into my lab walks
a psychologist named Elissa Epel.
a psychologist named Elissa Epel.
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一个叫伊丽莎 埃佩尔的心理学家
走进我的实验室，
走进我的实验室，
09:29
Now, Elissa's expertise is in the effects
of severe, chronic psychological stress
of severe, chronic psychological stress
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现在，伊丽莎专长的是
严重慢性心理压力，
严重慢性心理压力，
09:35
on our mind's and our body's health.
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于身心健康的影响.
09:39
And there she was standing in my lab,
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她站在我的实验室里，
09:41
which ironically overlooked
the entrance to a mortuary, and --
the entrance to a mortuary, and --
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讽刺的是从那可以看到太平间入口，
09:46
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
09:48
And she had a life-and-death
question for me.
question for me.
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她有一个关生有死的问题问我
09:51
"What happens to telomeres
in people who are chronically stressed?"
in people who are chronically stressed?"
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“在那些长期处于压力的人群中,
端粒会发生什么变化？”
端粒会发生什么变化？”
09:55
she asked me.
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她问我。
09:56
You see, she'd been studying caregivers,
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你看，她一直在研究照护者，
09:58
and specifically mothers of children
with a chronic condition,
with a chronic condition,
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特别是慢性病儿童的母亲
10:04
be it gut disorder,
be it autism, you name it --
be it autism, you name it --
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无论是肠道紊乱，自闭症，
凡你说得出的都有 ---
凡你说得出的都有 ---
10:08
a group obviously under enormous
and prolonged psychological stress.
and prolonged psychological stress.
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这个群体显然是长期
处于巨大心理压力之下。
处于巨大心理压力之下。
10:16
I have to say, her question
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我不得不说，她的问题
10:19
changed me profoundly.
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深深地改变了我。
10:21
See, all this time
I had been thinking of telomeres
I had been thinking of telomeres
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你看，长期以来，
我一直在思考端粒
我一直在思考端粒
10:23
as those miniscule
molecular structures that they are,
molecular structures that they are,
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那些微小的分子结构，
10:27
and the genes that control telomeres.
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和那控制端粒的基因。
10:30
And when Elissa asked me
about studying caregivers,
about studying caregivers,
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当伊丽莎问我
有关照护者的研究。
有关照护者的研究。
10:33
I suddenly saw telomeres
in a whole new light.
in a whole new light.
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我突然看到端粒，
在崭新的亮点之中。
在崭新的亮点之中。
10:39
I saw beyond the genes and the chromosomes
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我看到了超越基因和染色体之外，
10:42
into the lives of the real people
we were studying.
we were studying.
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进入到我们所研究的人
真实的生活之中，
真实的生活之中，
10:46
And I'm a mom myself,
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我自己也是个妈妈
10:48
and at that moment,
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在那一刻，
10:50
I was struck by the image of these women
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我被这些女人的形象所触动。
10:54
dealing with a child with a condition
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照顾一个有病的孩子，
10:58
very difficult to deal with,
often without help.
often without help.
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很难处理，
常常没有帮助
常常没有帮助
11:02
And such women, simply,
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而这样的女人，显然，
11:05
often look worn down.
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经常看起来疲惫不堪。
11:09
So was it possible their telomeres
were worn down as well?
were worn down as well?
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那么她们的端粒
会不会也损耗了呢？
会不会也损耗了呢？
11:13
So our collective curiosity
went into overdrive.
went into overdrive.
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所以，我们的所有的好奇心
马上超速运转。
马上超速运转。
11:17
Elissa selected for our first study
a group of such caregiving mothers,
a group of such caregiving mothers,
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伊丽莎为我们第一个研究
选了一组这样的照护妈妈。
选了一组这样的照护妈妈。
11:21
and we wanted to ask:
What's the length of their telomeres
What's the length of their telomeres
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我们想要问：
端粒的长度
端粒的长度
11:25
compared with the number of years
that they have been caregiving
that they have been caregiving
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与她们照顾慢性病孩子的年数相比.
11:30
for their child with a chronic condition?
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11:32
So four years go by
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四年过去了，
11:35
and the day comes
when all the results are in,
when all the results are in,
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在所有的结果都来临这一天，
11:38
and Elissa looked down
at our first scatterplot
at our first scatterplot
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伊丽莎看着
我们的第一个散点图，
我们的第一个散点图，
11:41
and literally gasped,
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简直深吸了一口气，
11:44
because there was a pattern to the data,
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2616
因为数据呈现一个模式，
11:47
and it was the exact gradient
that we most feared might exist.
that we most feared might exist.
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5416
正是我们最害怕
可能存在的梯度变化。
可能存在的梯度变化。
11:53
It was right there on the page.
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1936
就呈现在那页上。
11:55
The longer, the more years that is,
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时间越长，年数越多，
11:57
the mother had been
in this caregiving situation,
in this caregiving situation,
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母亲处于
在这照顾者的情况下，
在这照顾者的情况下，
12:00
no matter her age,
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不管她的年龄的大小，
12:02
the shorter were her telomeres.
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她的端粒越短。
12:04
And the more she perceived
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和她越感到
12:07
her situation as being more stressful,
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她的处境压力越大
12:11
the lower was her telomerase
and the shorter were her telomeres.
and the shorter were her telomeres.
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她的端粒酶越低，
她的端粒越短。
她的端粒越短。
12:19
So we had discovered something unheard of:
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所以我们发现了一些前所未闻的东西：
12:22
the more chronic stress you are under,
the shorter your telomeres,
the shorter your telomeres,
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你承受的慢性压力越大，
你的端粒越短，
你的端粒越短，
12:26
meaning the more likely you were
to fall victim to an early disease span
to fall victim to an early disease span
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5656
意味着你越有可能
过早患病
过早患病
12:32
and perhaps untimely death.
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也许是英年早逝。
12:35
Our findings meant
that people's life events
that people's life events
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我们的研究结果意味着
人们的生活事件，
人们的生活事件，
12:39
and the way we respond to these events
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以及我们对这些事件的反应方式
12:42
can change how you
maintain your telomeres.
maintain your telomeres.
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可以改变
你如何维持你的端粒。
你如何维持你的端粒。
12:48
So telomere length wasn't
just a matter of age counted in years.
just a matter of age counted in years.
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端粒长度并不只是年岁长短，
12:54
Elissa's question to me,
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伊丽莎的问题于我而言，
12:55
back when she first came to my lab,
indeed had been a life-and-death question.
indeed had been a life-and-death question.
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就在她第一次来到我的实验室时，
的确是一个生死问题。
的确是一个生死问题。
13:01
Now, luckily, hidden
in that data there was hope.
in that data there was hope.
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现在，幸运的是
隐藏在这些数据中有希望。
隐藏在这些数据中有希望。
13:06
We noticed that some mothers,
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我们注意到一些母亲，
13:07
despite having been carefully caring
for their children for many years,
for their children for many years,
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尽管细心照顾
她们的孩子多年，
她们的孩子多年，
13:11
had been able to maintain their telomeres.
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却能够维持她们的端粒。
13:15
So studying these women closely revealed
that they were resilient to stress.
that they were resilient to stress.
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5416
所以仔细研究这些女人
她们能承受压力。
她们能承受压力。
13:20
Somehow they were able
to experience their circumstances
to experience their circumstances
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不知何故她们能
经历她们的处境，
经历她们的处境，
13:23
not as a threat day in and day out
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不当作一日复一日的威胁
13:26
but as a challenge,
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而是作为挑战。
13:27
and this has led to a very important
insight for all of us:
insight for all of us:
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这给了我们所有人一个领悟：
13:31
we have control over the way we age
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我们可以控制自己的老化过程。
13:35
all the way down into our cells.
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一直深入到我们的细胞。
13:39
OK, now our initial curiosity
became infectious.
became infectious.
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好了，现在我们起初的好奇
变得有传染性。
变得有传染性。
13:43
Thousands of scientists
from different fields
from different fields
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成千上万的科学家
从不同的领域
从不同的领域
13:45
added their expertise
to telomere research,
to telomere research,
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加入他们的专业知识在
端粒的研究上，
端粒的研究上，
13:49
and the findings have poured in.
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研究结果也大量涌现。
13:51
It's up to over 10,000
scientific papers and counting.
scientific papers and counting.
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5000
超过10，000篇
科技论文与统计。
科技论文与统计。
13:58
So several studies
rapidly confirmed our initial finding
rapidly confirmed our initial finding
243
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所以，有一些研究
很快证实了我们的初步发现。
很快证实了我们的初步发现。
14:02
that yes, chronic stress
is bad for telomeres.
is bad for telomeres.
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是的，慢性应激
对端粒不好。
对端粒不好。
14:06
And now many are revealing
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现在许多研究揭示，
14:08
that we have more control
over this particular aging process
over this particular aging process
246
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3896
我们在这种老化过程
有更多的掌控权，
有更多的掌控权，
14:12
than any of us could ever have imagined.
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比我们所能想象的更多。
14:14
A few examples:
248
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举几个例子：
14:16
a study from the University
of California, Los Angeles
of California, Los Angeles
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加利福尼亚洛杉矶大学的一项研究，
14:20
of people who are caring
for a relative with dementia, long-term,
for a relative with dementia, long-term,
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5416
长期照顾患有痴呆症亲人，
14:25
and looked at their caregiver's
telomere maintenance capacity
telomere maintenance capacity
251
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5456
研究他们的照顾者
端粒的维持能力，
端粒的维持能力，
14:31
and found that it was improved
252
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发现它得到了改善，
14:33
by them practicing a form of meditation
253
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3816
通过练习一种冥想，
14:37
for as little as 12 minutes
a day for two months.
a day for two months.
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只需每天12分钟持续两个月。
14:41
Attitude matters.
255
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态度很重要。
14:43
If you're habitually a negative thinker,
256
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2376
如果你习惯了消极的思考，
14:45
you typically see a stressful situation
with a threat stress response,
with a threat stress response,
257
873800
5736
你通常遇到压力情形
会以威胁应激作反应，
会以威胁应激作反应，
14:51
meaning if your boss wants to see you,
258
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2456
比如，你的老板想见你，
14:54
you automatically think,
"I'm about to be fired,"
"I'm about to be fired,"
259
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2336
你自然而然地想，
“我就要被解雇了，”
“我就要被解雇了，”
14:56
and your blood vessels constrict,
260
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1576
你的血管收缩，
14:58
and your level of the stress
hormone cortisol creeps up,
hormone cortisol creeps up,
261
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4336
和你的压力荷尔蒙
皮质醇水平升高，
皮质醇水平升高，
15:02
and then it stays up,
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1536
而且持续在那，
15:03
and over time, that persistently
high level of the cortisol
high level of the cortisol
263
891920
4936
随着时间的推移，
这种持续高水平的皮质醇
这种持续高水平的皮质醇
15:08
actually damps down your telomerase.
264
896880
1896
实际上，抑制你的端粒酶，
15:10
Not good for your telomeres.
265
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1760
不利于你的端粒。
15:14
On the other hand,
266
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1256
另一方面，
15:15
if you typically see something stressful
as a challenge to be tackled,
as a challenge to be tackled,
267
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5976
如果你通常视有压力的事情，
作为一个有待解决的挑战，
作为一个有待解决的挑战，
15:21
then blood flows to your heart
and to your brain,
and to your brain,
268
909480
3456
于是，血液流向你的心脏。
和你的大脑，
和你的大脑，
15:24
and you experience a brief
but energizing spike of cortisol.
but energizing spike of cortisol.
269
912960
4696
你经历了一个简短的
但兴奋的皮质醇峰值。
但兴奋的皮质醇峰值。
15:29
And thanks to that habitual
"bring it on" attitude,
"bring it on" attitude,
270
917680
2536
感谢那个
“来吧”的态度，
“来吧”的态度，
15:32
your telomeres do just fine.
271
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你的端粒会没事，
15:37
So ...
272
925600
1200
所以,
15:40
What is all of this telling us?
273
928160
2840
这一切告诉我们什么？
15:45
Your telomeres do just fine.
274
933480
1936
你的端粒很好。
15:47
You really do have power
to change what is happening
to change what is happening
275
935440
5976
你真的有权力
改变正在发生的事情
改变正在发生的事情
15:53
to your own telomeres.
276
941440
2360
对你自己的端粒。
15:56
But our curiosity
just got more and more intense,
just got more and more intense,
277
944480
5040
但我们的好奇心
变得越来越強烈，
变得越来越強烈，
16:02
because we started to wonder,
278
950520
2416
因为我们开始想知道，
16:04
what about factors outside our own skin?
279
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我们自己皮肤以外的因素呢？
16:08
Could they impact
our telomere maintenance as well?
our telomere maintenance as well?
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它们也能影响
我们的端粒维持吗？
我们的端粒维持吗？
16:12
You know, we humans
are intensely social beings.
are intensely social beings.
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你知道，我们人类
是极度的群居动物
是极度的群居动物
16:16
Was it even possible
that our telomeres were social as well?
that our telomeres were social as well?
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我们的端粒也可能是有社会性的吗？
16:21
And the results have been startling.
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结果令人吃惊。
16:24
As early as childhood,
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早在童年时代，
16:28
emotional neglect, exposure to violence,
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情感上的忽视、暴露在暴力之中，
16:31
bullying and racism
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欺凌和种族主义
16:33
all impact your telomeres,
and the effects are long-term.
and the effects are long-term.
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都会影响你的端粒，
其影响是长期的。
其影响是长期的。
16:39
Can you imagine the impact on children
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你能想象对孩子的影响,
16:42
of living years in a war zone?
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在战区度过多年，
16:46
People who can't trust their neighbors
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人们不能信任邻居,
16:48
and who don't feel safe
in their neighborhoods
in their neighborhoods
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在他们的社区觉得不安全,
16:51
consistently have shorter telomeres.
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端粒长度较短。
16:54
So your home address
matters for telomeres as well.
matters for telomeres as well.
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所以你的家庭住址
对端粒也很重要。
对端粒也很重要。
16:57
On the flip side,
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反过来，
17:00
tight-knit communities,
being in a marriage long-term,
being in a marriage long-term,
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紧密结合的社区，
长久的婚姻，
长久的婚姻，
17:03
and lifelong friendships, even,
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甚至终身的友谊，
17:06
all improve telomere maintenance.
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改善端粒的维持。
17:10
So what is all this telling us?
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那么这一切告诉我们什么？
17:13
It's telling us that I have the power
to impact my own telomeres,
to impact my own telomeres,
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它告诉我们，我有力量
影响我自己的端粒，
影响我自己的端粒，
17:18
and I also have the power to impact yours.
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我也有能力影响你的。
17:21
Telomere science has told us
just how interconnected we all are.
just how interconnected we all are.
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端粒科学告诉我们
我们是那么的连接在一起。
我们是那么的连接在一起。
17:29
But I'm still curious.
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但我还是很好奇。
17:31
I do wonder
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我真的想知到，
17:35
what legacy all of us
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我们所有人
17:38
will leave for the next generation?
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将遗留给下一代什么？
17:40
Will we invest
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我们是否会投资
17:42
in the next young woman or man
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在下一个年轻男女，
17:45
peering through a microscope
at the next little critter,
at the next little critter,
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透过显微镜窥视
下一个小动物，
下一个小动物，
17:49
the next bit of pond scum,
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下一堆绿藻，
17:52
curious about a question
we don't even know today is a question?
we don't even know today is a question?
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对某个问题很好奇
我们今天都不知道是个问题？
我们今天都不知道是个问题？
17:56
It could be a great question
that could impact all the world.
that could impact all the world.
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这可能是个很好的
会影响整个世界的问题.
会影响整个世界的问题.
17:59
And maybe, maybe you're curious about you.
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也许，也许你对自己很好奇。
18:04
Now that you know
how to protect your telomeres,
how to protect your telomeres,
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现在你知道了
如何保护你的端粒，
如何保护你的端粒，
18:06
are you curious what are you going to do
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你好奇你将要做什么吗？
18:08
with all those decades
of brimming good health?
of brimming good health?
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在身体健康的几十年。
18:11
And now that you know you could impact
the telomeres of others,
the telomeres of others,
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现在你知道你可以影响
其他人的端粒，
其他人的端粒，
18:16
are you curious
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你是否好奇
18:18
how will you make a difference?
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你将如何改变世界？
18:21
And now that you know the power
of curiosity to change the world,
of curiosity to change the world,
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现在你知道了
好奇心改变世界的力量，
好奇心改变世界的力量，
18:26
how will you make sure
that the world invests in curiosity
that the world invests in curiosity
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你将如何确定
世界投资于好奇心
世界投资于好奇心
18:32
for the sake of the generations
that will come after us?
that will come after us?
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为了下一代，为了来人？
18:38
Thank you.
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谢谢。
18:39
(Applause)
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（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Elizabeth Blackburn - Molecular biologistElizabeth Blackburn won a Nobel Prize for her pioneering work on telomeres and telomerase, which may play central roles in how we age. She is president of the Salk Institute and author of the New York Times Best Seller, "The Telomere Effect."
Why you should listen
Dr. Blackburn is the president of the Salk Institute and a pioneering molecular biologist. She received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009 for discovering the molecular nature of telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that serve as protective caps essential for preserving genetic information, and for co-discovering telomerase, an enzyme that maintains telomere ends. Both telomeres and telomerase are thought to play central roles in aging and diseases such as cancer, and her work helped launch entire new fields of research in these areas.
In addition to the Nobel Prize, Blackburn has received nearly every major scientific award including the Lasker, Gruber, and Gairdner prizes. She has served as president of the American Association of Cancer Research and the American Society for Cell Biology, and on editorial boards of scientific journals including Cell and Science. She coauthored the best-selling book The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer.
Elizabeth Blackburn | Speaker | TED.com