ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Elizabeth Murchison - Cancer researcher
Elizabeth Murchison studies a mysterious (and contagious) cancer that threatens to wipe out Tasmanian devils.

Why you should listen

Elizabeth Murchison grew up in Tasmania, the island home of the small, aggressive marsupial known as the Tasmanian devil. In the mid-'90s, the devils were beset with a terrible new disease -- a contagious facial cancer, spread by biting, that killed the animals just as they reached breeding age. By 2008, half the devil population of Australia had contracted the cancer and died. And as Murchison says: "I didn’t want to sit back and let the devils disappear.”

Leading an international team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, she worked to understand why this cancer was so virulent -- with the goal of saving the Taz, as it is called, but also of understanding how a contagious cancer works. Analyzing gene and microRNA activity in 25 different facial tumors and in healthy tissue, the team found that cancers from animals across Tasmania were identical, and that the cancer stems from Schwann cells, which normally insulate nerve fibers.

Now a Research Fellow in Medical Sciences at King's College, Cambridge, Murchison is using high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies to investigate the genetics and evolution of this disease, one of only three known cancers that spread contagiously.

She says: "This is why cancer is such a difficult disease to treat: It evolves."

More profile about the speaker
Elizabeth Murchison | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2011

Elizabeth Murchison: Fighting a contagious cancer

伊麗莎白.默其森:對抗傳染性癌癥

Filmed:
552,510 views

是什麼殺死了塔司馬尼亞惡魔?幾千隻塔司馬尼亞惡魔患上這種致命癌症。和其它癌症不同的是,這種癌症會傳染!研究人員伊麗莎白.默其森告訴我們她如何努力拯救塔司,她從這種非比尋常的癌症病株中暸解到什麼?演講中將展示臉部癌症的可怕圖像。
- Cancer researcher
Elizabeth Murchison studies a mysterious (and contagious) cancer that threatens to wipe out Tasmanian devils. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:15
Everyone's每個人的 familiar with cancer癌症,
0
0
4000
每個人都熟悉癌症,
00:19
but we don't normally一般 think of cancer癌症
1
4000
2000
但是一般我們並不認為癌症
00:21
as being存在 a contagious傳染性的 disease疾病.
2
6000
4000
是一種傳染性疾病。
00:25
The Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 has shown顯示 us
3
10000
2000
然而塔司馬尼亞惡魔告訴我們
00:27
that, not only can cancer癌症 be a contagious傳染性的 disease疾病,
4
12000
3000
癌症不僅是一種傳染性疾病
00:30
but it can also threaten威脅
5
15000
2000
而且它會威脅到
00:32
an entire整個 species種類 with extinction滅絕.
6
17000
3000
整個物種的存亡。
00:36
So first of all, what is a Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼?
7
21000
4000
所以,首先,什麼是塔司馬尼亞惡魔呢?
00:40
Many許多 of you might威力 be familiar with Taz塔茲, the cartoon動畫片 character字符,
8
25000
3000
許多人或許很熟悉塔司,
00:43
the one that spins自旋 around and around and around.
9
28000
2000
那個總是不斷旋轉的卡通動物。
00:45
But not many許多 people know
10
30000
2000
但是,並不是很多人知道
00:47
that there actually其實 is a real真實 animal動物 called the Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼,
11
32000
3000
實際上真的有一種動物叫做塔司馬尼亞惡魔,
00:50
and it's the world's世界 largest最大 carnivorous肉食 marsupial有袋動物.
12
35000
4000
而且牠是世界上最大的肉食性有袋類動物。
00:54
A marsupial有袋動物 is a mammal哺乳動物 with a pouch
13
39000
2000
有袋類動物是一種有一個口袋的哺乳類動物
00:56
like a kangaroo袋鼠.
14
41000
2000
比如袋鼠。
00:58
The Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 got its name名稱
15
43000
2000
塔司馬尼亞惡魔得名于
01:00
from the terrifying可怕的 nocturnal scream驚叫 that it makes品牌.
16
45000
4000
牠在夜間發出的可怕尖叫聲。
01:04
(Screaming尖叫)
17
49000
11000
(尖叫)
01:15
(Laughter笑聲)
18
60000
2000
(笑)
01:17
The Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 is predominantly主要 a scavenger清道夫,
19
62000
3000
塔司馬尼亞惡魔主要以食腐為生。
01:20
and it uses使用 its powerful強大 jaws
20
65000
2000
牠用有力的下顎
01:22
and its sharp尖銳 teeth
21
67000
2000
和尖銳的牙齒
01:24
to chomp格格 on the bones骨頭 of rotting腐爛 dead animals動物.
22
69000
3000
啃食腐爛的動物屍體。
01:27
[The] Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 is found發現 only on the island of Tasmania塔斯馬尼亞,
23
72000
3000
唯有塔司馬尼亞島上才有這種動物。
01:30
which哪一個 is that small island
24
75000
2000
這個小島
01:32
just to the south of the mainland大陸 of Australia澳大利亞.
25
77000
2000
就在澳洲大陸南方
01:34
And despite儘管 their ferocious兇猛 appearance出現,
26
79000
4000
盡管長相兇惡,
01:38
Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devils鬼子 are actually其實
27
83000
2000
塔司馬尼亞惡魔實際上
01:40
quite相當 adorable可愛的 little animals動物.
28
85000
3000
是一種很可愛的動物。
01:43
In fact事實, growing生長 up in Tasmania塔斯馬尼亞,
29
88000
2000
實際上,牠在塔司馬尼亞成長,
01:45
it always was incredibly令人難以置信 exciting扣人心弦
30
90000
2000
當我們有機會
01:47
when we got a chance機會 to see
31
92000
2000
在野外親眼看見塔司馬尼亞惡魔時
01:49
a Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 in the wild野生.
32
94000
2000
總是會感到非常興奮。
01:51
But the Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 population人口
33
96000
2000
但是塔司馬尼亞惡魔的數量
01:53
has been undergoing經歷 a really extremely非常 fast快速 decline下降.
34
98000
4000
卻在急速減少中。
01:57
And in fact事實, there's concern關心
35
102000
2000
實際上,有人擔心
01:59
that the species種類 could go extinct絕種 in the wild野生
36
104000
3000
這種動物可能會在20至30年間
02:02
within 20 to 30 years年份.
37
107000
3000
滅絕
02:05
And the reason原因 for that
38
110000
2000
原因是
02:07
is the emergence緊急情況 of a new disease疾病,
39
112000
2000
一種新疾病的出現,
02:09
a contagious傳染性的 cancer癌症.
40
114000
3000
一種具傳染性的癌症。
02:13
The story故事 begins開始 in 1996
41
118000
2000
事情起自於1996年
02:15
when a wildlife野生動物 photographer攝影師 took this photograph照片 here
42
120000
3000
一個野生攝影師拍下這張
02:18
of a Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼
43
123000
2000
塔司馬尼亞惡魔的照片。
02:20
with a large tumor on its face面對.
44
125000
2000
牠的臉上有一個巨大的腫瘤。
02:22
At the time, this was thought to be a one-off一次性.
45
127000
3000
當時,人們認為這是偶發狀況。
02:25
Animals動物, just like humans人類,
46
130000
2000
因為動物,就像人一樣,
02:27
sometimes有時 get strange奇怪 tumors腫瘤.
47
132000
3000
有時也會長奇怪的腫瘤。
02:30
However然而, we now believe
48
135000
2000
然而,我們現在相信,
02:32
that this is the first sighting瞄準 of a new disease疾病,
49
137000
3000
這是某種目前正在塔司馬尼亞蔓延
02:35
which哪一個 is now an epidemic疫情 spreading傳播 through通過 Tasmania塔斯馬尼亞.
50
140000
4000
的傳染性疾病,最早被目擊的案例。
02:39
The disease疾病 was first sighted短視
51
144000
2000
這種疾病最早
02:41
in the northeast東北 of Tasmania塔斯馬尼亞 in 1996
52
146000
3000
是在1996年塔司馬尼亞州的東北部被發現的,
02:44
and has spread傳播 across橫過 Tasmania塔斯馬尼亞 like a huge巨大 wave.
53
149000
3000
其後就如大浪般席捲了整個塔司馬尼亞。
02:47
Now there's only a small part部分 of the population人口,
54
152000
3000
現在僅有一小部分
02:50
which哪一個 remains遺跡 unaffected未受影響.
55
155000
2000
未受傳染。
02:52
This disease疾病 appears出現 first as tumors腫瘤,
56
157000
3000
通常,在臉上或嘴裡
02:55
usually平時 on the face面對 or inside the mouth
57
160000
2000
長出腫瘤
02:57
of affected受影響 Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devils鬼子.
58
162000
2000
是塔司馬尼亞惡魔被感染後的第一病徴。
02:59
These tumors腫瘤 inevitably必將 grow增長 into larger tumors腫瘤,
59
164000
3000
之後腫瘤就越長越大,勢不可擋,
03:02
such這樣 as these ones那些 here.
60
167000
2000
就像這些一樣。
03:04
And the next下一個 image圖片 I'm going to show顯示
61
169000
2000
我要讓各位看的下一張圖片
03:06
is quite相當 gruesome陰森.
62
171000
2000
十分可怕。
03:08
But inevitably必將, these tumors腫瘤 progress進展
63
173000
2000
但是,無可奈何是,這些腫瘤會
03:10
towards being存在 enormous巨大, ulcerating潰瘍 tumors腫瘤 like this one here.
64
175000
6000
越長越大,就像這個巨大的潰瘍性腫瘤。
03:16
This one in particular特定 sticks in my mind心神,
65
181000
2000
這一個我特別難忘,
03:18
because this is the first case案件 of this disease疾病
66
183000
2000
因為這是在此種疾病中
03:20
that I saw myself.
67
185000
2000
我所見到的第一個案例。
03:22
And I remember記得 the horror恐怖 of seeing眼看 this little female devil魔鬼
68
187000
3000
我還記得我見到這隻母塔司時的恐懼感覺。
03:25
with this huge巨大 ulcerating潰瘍, foul-smelling臭烘烘 tumor
69
190000
2000
她的嘴裏長着一個非常大的潰瘍性腫瘤
03:27
inside her mouth
70
192000
2000
散發出難聞的氣味。
03:29
that had actually其實 cracked破解 off her entire整個 lower降低 jaw.
71
194000
4000
腫瘤使她的整個下顎崩塌,
03:33
She hadn't有沒有 eaten吃過 for days.
72
198000
3000
她好幾天沒吃東西。
03:36
Her guts膽量 were swimming游泳的 with parasitic寄生 worms蠕蟲.
73
201000
2000
她的肚子裏有許多寄生蟲,
03:38
Her body身體 was riddled百病 with secondary次要 tumors腫瘤.
74
203000
3000
她的身上長滿了繼發性腫瘤,
03:41
And yet然而, she was feeding饋送 three little baby寶寶 Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devils鬼子
75
206000
3000
但是,她還在餵她口袋裏的
03:44
in her pouch.
76
209000
3000
三個小寶貝。
03:47
Of course課程, they died死亡 along沿 with the mother母親.
77
212000
3000
當然,在母親去世後,牠們也跟着去了。
03:50
They were too young年輕 to survive生存 without their mother母親.
78
215000
3000
因為牠們還太小,無法離開母親。
03:53
In fact事實, in the area where she comes from,
79
218000
3000
實際上在她生活的地區
03:56
more than 90 percent百分 of the Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 population人口
80
221000
3000
已有百分之九十以上的塔司馬尼亞惡魔死於
03:59
has already已經 died死亡 of this disease疾病.
81
224000
3000
這種疾病。
04:02
Scientists科學家們 around the world世界
82
227000
2000
全世界的科學傢
04:04
were intrigued好奇 by this cancer癌症,
83
229000
2000
都對這種癌症很感興趣,
04:06
this infectious傳染病 cancer癌症,
84
231000
2000
這種傳染性的癌症
04:08
that was spreading傳播 through通過 the Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 population人口.
85
233000
3000
在塔司馬尼亞惡魔中傳播,
04:11
And our minds頭腦 immediately立即 turned轉身 to cervical頸椎 cancer癌症 in women婦女,
86
236000
3000
讓我們不由立即想起子宮頸癌
04:14
which哪一個 is spread傳播 by a virus病毒,
87
239000
2000
也是由病毒傳播的,
04:16
and to the AIDS艾滋病 epidemic疫情,
88
241000
2000
還有愛滋病的傳播
04:18
which哪一個 is associated相關 with a number of different不同 types類型 of cancer癌症.
89
243000
4000
和好幾種不同類型的癌症有關。
04:22
All the evidence證據 suggested建議 that this devil魔鬼 cancer癌症
90
247000
3000
所有的證據都表明塔司馬尼亞惡魔所得的癌症
04:25
was spread傳播 by a virus病毒.
91
250000
3000
是由病毒傳染的。
04:28
However然而, we now know -- and I'll tell you right now --
92
253000
3000
但是,我們現在知道-我現在就告訴各位:
04:31
that we know that this cancer癌症 is not spread傳播 by a virus病毒.
93
256000
3000
這種癌症並非由病毒傳染。
04:34
In fact事實, the infectious傳染病 agent代理人 of disease疾病 in this cancer癌症
94
259000
4000
實際上,這種癌症的傳染性病原體
04:38
is something altogether more sinister險惡,
95
263000
2000
非常兇險,
04:40
and something that we hadn't有沒有 really thought of before.
96
265000
3000
而且是我們以前甚至不曾想到的。
04:43
But in order訂購 for me to explain說明 what that is,
97
268000
3000
但是為了向各位解釋它究竟是什么,
04:46
I need to spend just a couple一對 of minutes分鐘
98
271000
2000
我需要花一兩分鐘的時間,
04:48
talking more about cancer癌症 itself本身.
99
273000
3000
談談癌症本身。
04:51
Cancer癌症 is a disease疾病
100
276000
2000
癌症這種疾病
04:53
that affects影響 millions百萬 of people around the world世界 every一切 year.
101
278000
3000
每年感染全球數百萬人
04:56
One in three people in this room房間
102
281000
2000
在座的三分之一
04:58
will develop發展 cancer癌症 at some stage階段 in their lives生活.
103
283000
3000
將會在今後人生的不同階段患上癌症
05:01
I myself had a tumor removed去除 from my large intestine
104
286000
2000
我自己就曾動過大腸腫瘤切除手術,
05:03
when I was only 14.
105
288000
3000
當時我年僅14歲。
05:06
Cancer癌症 occurs發生
106
291000
2000
癌症的發生
05:08
when a single cell細胞 in your body身體
107
293000
2000
是由於體內某個細胞中
05:10
acquires獲取 a set of random隨機 mutations突變 in important重要 genes基因
108
295000
3000
的重要基因發生了一系列突變,
05:13
that cause原因 that cell細胞 to start開始 to produce生產
109
298000
3000
導致該細胞開始
05:16
more and more and more copies副本 of itself本身.
110
301000
4000
不斷自我複製。
05:20
Paradoxically矛盾的是, once一旦 established既定,
111
305000
3000
矛盾的是,一旦出現這種情況,
05:23
natural自然 selection選擇 actually其實 favors好處
112
308000
2000
‘自然選擇’實際上更傾向於
05:25
the continued繼續 growth發展 of cancer癌症.
113
310000
2000
不斷增長的癌症。
05:27
Natural自然 selection選擇 is survival生存 of the fittest適者生存.
114
312000
3000
因為‘自然選擇’就是適者生存。
05:30
And when you have a population人口 of fast-dividing快速分 cancer癌症 cells細胞,
115
315000
3000
當你有相當數目的快速分裂的癌細胞時,
05:33
if one of them acquires獲取 new mutations突變,
116
318000
2000
如果其中之一發生新的突變
05:35
which哪一個 allow允許 them to grow增長 more quickly很快,
117
320000
2000
而增長更為迅速
05:37
acquire獲得 nutrients營養成分 more successfully順利,
118
322000
2000
更成功的獲得營養
05:39
invade入侵 the body身體,
119
324000
2000
侵入身體,
05:41
they'll他們會 be selected for by evolution演化.
120
326000
3000
它就會成為演變的選擇。
05:44
That's why cancer癌症 is such這樣 a difficult disease疾病 to treat對待.
121
329000
4000
這就是癌症如此難以治療的原因。
05:48
It evolves演變.
122
333000
2000
因為它會進化。
05:50
Throw a drug藥物 at it,
123
335000
2000
對它用藥,
05:52
and resistant cells細胞 will grow增長 back.
124
337000
3000
抗性細胞會重新生長。
05:55
An amazing驚人 fact事實 is that,
125
340000
2000
驚人的事實是,
05:57
given特定 the right environment環境 and the right nutrients營養成分,
126
342000
3000
如果有合適的環境和營養,
06:00
a cancer癌症 cell細胞 has the potential潛在
127
345000
2000
一個癌細胞就有可能
06:02
to go on growing生長 forever永遠.
128
347000
3000
永遠生長下去。
06:05
However然而 cancer癌症 is constrained受限
129
350000
2000
可是癌症
06:07
by living活的 inside our bodies身體,
130
352000
2000
受到生活在我們體內的限制,
06:09
and its continued繼續 growth發展,
131
354000
2000
如果它繼續生長,
06:11
its spreading傳播 through通過 our bodies身體
132
356000
2000
就會遍佈我們的身體
06:13
and eating away at our tissues組織,
133
358000
2000
啃噬我們的組織,
06:15
leads引線 to the death死亡 of the cancer癌症 patient患者
134
360000
3000
導致癌症病人死亡
06:18
and also to the death死亡 of the cancer癌症 itself本身.
135
363000
4000
最後自己也被消滅。
06:22
So cancer癌症 could be thought of
136
367000
2000
所以癌症是一種
06:24
as a strange奇怪, short-lived短命, self-destructive自我毀滅 life form形成 --
137
369000
5000
奇怪的,短命的,自我毀滅的生命形式--
06:29
an evolutionary發展的 dead end結束.
138
374000
3000
一種演化的死亡終結。
06:33
But that is where the Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 cancer癌症
139
378000
2000
但是塔司馬尼亞惡魔所得的癌症
06:35
has acquired後天 an absolutely絕對 amazing驚人
140
380000
3000
卻獲得了一種絕對神奇的
06:38
evolutionary發展的 adaptation適應.
141
383000
3000
進化適應。
06:41
And the answer回答 came來了 from studying研究
142
386000
2000
這個結論是來自
06:43
the Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 cancer's癌症的 DNA脫氧核糖核酸.
143
388000
2000
對塔司馬尼亞惡魔的癌症DNA研究。
06:45
This was work from many許多 people,
144
390000
2000
這項研究工作有許多人參與,
06:47
but I'm going to explain說明 it through通過 a confirmatory驗證 experiment實驗
145
392000
2000
但是我想通過一個驗證實驗來向大家解釋。
06:49
that I did a few少數 years年份 ago.
146
394000
2000
這個試驗是在好幾年前做的。
06:51
The next下一個 slide滑動 is going to be gruesome陰森.
147
396000
3000
下一張幻燈片會很可怕。
06:54
This is Jonas喬納斯.
148
399000
2000
這是喬納斯。
06:56
He's a Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 that we found發現
149
401000
3000
我們發現這隻塔司馬尼亞惡魔
06:59
with a large tumor on his face面對.
150
404000
2000
的臉上長着巨大的腫瘤。
07:01
And being存在 a geneticist遺傳學家,
151
406000
2000
我是基因學家,
07:03
I'm always interested有興趣 to look at DNA脫氧核糖核酸 and mutations突變.
152
408000
3000
對于DNA 和突變總是很感興趣。
07:06
So I took this opportunity機會
153
411000
2000
所以我抓住這個機會,
07:08
to collect蒐集 some samples樣本 from Jonas'喬納斯 tumor
154
413000
2000
從喬納斯的腫瘤當中取樣,
07:10
and also some samples樣本 from other parts部分 of his body身體.
155
415000
3000
同時也從它身體的其它部分取樣。
07:13
I took these back to the lab實驗室.
156
418000
2000
我把這些樣本帶回實驗室
07:15
I extracted提取 DNA脫氧核糖核酸 from them.
157
420000
2000
從中提取DNA。
07:17
And when I looked看著 at the sequence序列 of the DNA脫氧核糖核酸,
158
422000
3000
我研究喬納斯的DNA序列,
07:20
and compared相比 the sequence序列 of Jonas'喬納斯 tumor
159
425000
3000
把它的腫瘤DNA的序列
07:23
to that of the rest休息 of his body身體,
160
428000
2000
和它身體其它部分作比較。
07:25
I discovered發現 that they had a completely全然 different不同 genetic遺傳 profile輪廓.
161
430000
5000
我發現它們的基因圖譜完全不同。
07:30
In fact事實, Jonas喬納斯 and his tumor
162
435000
2000
實際上,喬納斯和它身上的腫瘤的基因
07:32
were as different不同 from each other
163
437000
3000
就好像妳和妳的鄰座的一樣
07:35
as you and the person sitting坐在 next下一個 to you.
164
440000
3000
完全不同。
07:38
What this told us was that Jonas'喬納斯 tumor
165
443000
3000
這說明喬納斯的腫瘤
07:41
did not arise出現 from cells細胞 of his own擁有 body身體.
166
446000
3000
不是來自於它自身的細胞
07:44
In fact事實, more genetic遺傳 profiling剖析
167
449000
3000
實際上,更多的基因圖譜
07:47
told us that this tumor in Jonas喬納斯
168
452000
2000
告訴我們喬納斯的這個腫瘤
07:49
actually其實 probably大概 first arose出現
169
454000
2000
最早可能是來自於
07:51
from the cells細胞 of a female Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 --
170
456000
2000
一隻母惡魔的細胞,
07:53
and Jonas喬納斯 was clearly明確地 a male.
171
458000
2000
而喬納斯是公的。
07:55
So how come
172
460000
2000
那麼,為什么
07:57
a tumor that arose出現 from the cells細胞 of another另一個 individual個人
173
462000
3000
一個來自別人細胞的腫瘤
08:00
is growing生長 on Jonas'喬納斯 face面對?
174
465000
3000
會長在喬納斯的臉上呢?
08:03
Well the next下一個 breakthrough突破
175
468000
2000
下一個突破
08:05
came來了 from studying研究 hundreds數以百計 of Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 cancers癌症
176
470000
3000
來自于對于整個塔司馬尼亞地區數百隻
08:08
from all around Tasmania塔斯馬尼亞.
177
473000
2000
塔司馬尼亞惡魔的研究。
08:10
We found發現 that all of these cancers癌症
178
475000
2000
我們發現所有的癌症
08:12
shared共享 the same相同 DNA脫氧核糖核酸.
179
477000
2000
有同樣的DNA。
08:14
Think about that for a minute分鐘.
180
479000
2000
想一想吧。
08:16
That means手段 that all of these cancers癌症
181
481000
2000
這說明這些癌症
08:18
actually其實 are the same相同 cancer癌症
182
483000
2000
實際上是來源於
08:20
that arose出現 once一旦 from one individual個人 devil魔鬼,
183
485000
3000
一隻塔司馬尼亞惡魔,
08:23
that have broken破碎 free自由 of that first devil's鬼才 body身體
184
488000
3000
癌細胞突破了這隻惡魔的身體
08:26
and spread傳播 through通過 the entire整個 Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 population人口.
185
491000
4000
傳染到整個種群。
08:30
But how can a cancer癌症 spread傳播 in a population人口?
186
495000
3000
可是癌症是怎樣在整個族群裡傳播的呢?
08:33
Well the final最後 piece of the puzzle難題 came來了
187
498000
2000
最後一個謎團終於解開。
08:35
when we remember記得 how devils鬼子 behave表現 when they meet遇到 each other in the wild野生.
188
500000
3000
我們想起它們在野外見面時的表現。
08:38
They tend趨向 to bite each other,
189
503000
2000
它們喜歡啃咬對方
08:40
often經常 quite相當 ferociously兇猛 and usually平時 on the face面對.
190
505000
3000
常常很兇猛,而且通常是咬對方的臉。
08:43
We think that cancer癌症 cells細胞
191
508000
3000
我們認為癌細胞
08:46
actually其實 come off the tumor, get into the saliva唾液.
192
511000
3000
是從腫瘤脫落,進入唾液的。
08:49
When the devil魔鬼 bites咬傷 another另一個 devil魔鬼,
193
514000
2000
當一隻惡魔咬了另一隻的時候,
08:51
it actually其實 physically物理 implants植入物 living活的 cancer癌症 cells細胞 into the next下一個 devil魔鬼,
194
516000
3000
實際上它把活的癌細胞移植到另一隻的體內,
08:54
so the tumor continues繼續 to grow增長.
195
519000
2000
由此腫瘤就繼續生長。
08:56
So this Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 cancer癌症
196
521000
2000
所以這隻塔司馬尼亞惡魔感染的
08:58
is perhaps也許 the ultimate最終 cancer癌症.
197
523000
2000
可能就是已發展的癌症。
09:00
It's not constrained受限 by living活的 within the body身體 that gave rise上升 to it.
198
525000
3000
從而使得這種癌症不受限於在體內生長,
09:03
It spreads利差 through通過 the population人口,
199
528000
2000
而可以在整個族群中傳播。
09:05
has mutations突變 that allow允許 it to evade逃避 the immune免疫的 system系統,
200
530000
3000
它的突變體使其得以避開免疫系統。
09:08
and it's the only cancer癌症 that we know of
201
533000
2000
它是我們所知道的唯一一種
09:10
that's threatening危險的 an entire整個 species種類 with extinction滅絕.
202
535000
4000
威脅到整個種群生存的癌症。
09:14
But if this can happen發生 in Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devils鬼子,
203
539000
3000
但是,既然塔司馬尼亞惡魔會患上這種癌症,
09:17
why hasn't有沒有 it happened發生 in other animals動物
204
542000
2000
為什麼其他動物,
09:19
or even humans人類?
205
544000
2000
或者說人類就不會感染呢?
09:21
Well the answer回答 is, it has.
206
546000
4000
實際上已經有了。
09:25
This is KimboKIMBO.
207
550000
2000
這是金波,
09:27
He's a dog that belongs屬於 to a family家庭 in Mombasa蒙巴薩 in Kenya肯尼亞.
208
552000
4000
是一個住在肯亞盟巴撒島的家庭所養的一隻小狗。
09:31
Last year, his owner所有者 noticed注意到 some blood血液
209
556000
3000
去年,牠的主人發現
09:34
trickling涓涓 from his genital生殖器 region地區.
210
559000
3000
牠的生殖器部位淌血。
09:37
She took him to the vet獸醫
211
562000
2000
她帶牠去看獸醫。
09:39
and the vet獸醫 discovered發現 something quite相當 disgusting討厭.
212
564000
3000
而獸醫發現情況頗為糟糕。
09:42
And if you're squeamish過於拘謹的, please look away now.
213
567000
3000
如果你覺得噁心,請不要看下面的畫面。
09:45
He discovered發現 this,
214
570000
2000
他發現了這個,
09:47
a huge巨大 bleeding流血的 tumor
215
572000
2000
巨大的出血性腫瘤
09:49
at the base基礎 of Kimbo'sKIMBO的 penis陰莖.
216
574000
3000
長在金波的隂莖底部。
09:53
The vet獸醫 diagnosed確診 this as transmissible傳播 venereal性病 tumor,
217
578000
3000
根據獸醫的診斷,這是傳染性花柳腫瘤
09:56
a sexually transmitted發送 cancer癌症
218
581000
3000
是一種犬類會經過性行為感染的
09:59
that affects影響 dogs小狗.
219
584000
2000
傳染性癌症。
10:01
And just as the Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 cancer癌症 is contagious傳染性的
220
586000
3000
正如塔司馬尼亞惡魔所患的癌症,
10:04
through通過 the spread傳播 of living活的 cancer癌症 cells細胞,
221
589000
2000
是通過感染癌症活細胞而傳播的,
10:06
so is this dog cancer癌症.
222
591000
2000
這隻狗也是同樣情況。
10:08
But this dog cancer癌症 is quite相當 remarkable卓越,
223
593000
2000
但是牠的癌症更驚人
10:10
because it spread傳播 all around the world世界.
224
595000
2000
因為這種癌症傳播到全世界。
10:12
And in fact事實, these same相同 cells細胞
225
597000
2000
實際上,同樣的細胞
10:14
that are affecting影響 KimboKIMBO here
226
599000
3000
在此感染到金波,
10:17
are also found發現 affecting影響 dogs小狗
227
602000
2000
也一樣感染到
10:19
in New York紐約 City,
228
604000
2000
紐約市、
10:21
in mountain villages村莊 in the Himalayas喜馬拉雅山
229
606000
2000
喜馬拉雅山村、
10:23
and in Outback傲虎 Australia澳大利亞.
230
608000
3000
和澳洲內地的狗。
10:26
We also believe this cancer癌症 might威力 be very old.
231
611000
2000
我們還認為這種癌症的來歷可能非常久遠。
10:28
In fact事實, genetic遺傳 profiling剖析 tells告訴
232
613000
2000
事實上,根據基因圖譜,
10:30
that it may可能 be tens of thousands數千 of years年份 old,
233
615000
3000
這種癌症可能已有超過萬年以上的歷史。
10:33
which哪一個 means手段 that this cancer癌症
234
618000
2000
這意味著這種癌症
10:35
may可能 have first arisen興起
235
620000
2000
最早可能是
10:37
from the cells細胞 of a wolf
236
622000
2000
來自那些住在
10:39
that lived生活 alongside並肩 the Neanderthals尼安德特人.
237
624000
3000
尼安德塔人聚落附近的狼群。
10:42
This cancer癌症 is remarkable卓越.
238
627000
2000
這個癌症很驚人,
10:44
It's the oldest最老的 mammalian-derived哺乳動物源性 life form形成 that we know of.
239
629000
4000
因為這是我們迄今所知最古老的哺乳類生命,
10:48
It's a living活的 relic遺跡
240
633000
2000
是遠古時代的
10:50
of the distant遙遠 past過去.
241
635000
3000
活化石。
10:54
So we've我們已經 seen看到 that this can happen發生 in animals動物.
242
639000
2000
我們已經看到這在動物身上發生,
10:56
Could cancers癌症 be contagious傳染性的 between之間 people?
243
641000
5000
那麼癌症是否也會在人們之間傳染呢?
11:01
Well this is a question
244
646000
2000
這個問題
11:03
which哪一個 fascinated入迷 Chester切斯特 Southam索瑟姆,
245
648000
2000
吸引了50年代的
11:05
a cancer癌症 doctor醫生 in the 1950s.
246
650000
3000
一位癌症專傢--切斯特.索思姆。
11:08
Ad廣告 he decided決定 to put this to the test測試
247
653000
3000
他決定做一個試驗,
11:11
by actually其實 deliberately故意 inoculating接種 people
248
656000
3000
將癌症病人的細胞
11:14
with cancer癌症 from somebody else其他.
249
659000
3000
注射到其他人體內。
11:17
And this is a photograph照片 of Dr博士. Southam索瑟姆 in 1957
250
662000
4000
這張照片是1957年索思姆醫生
11:21
injecting注射 cancer癌症 into a volunteer志願者,
251
666000
3000
將癌細胞注射到在監獄服刑
11:24
who in this case案件 was an inmate犯人
252
669000
2000
的志願囚犯身體的照片。
11:26
in Ohio俄亥俄州 State Penitentiary教養所.
253
671000
3000
這是在俄亥俄州監獄。
11:30
Most of the people that Dr博士. Southam索瑟姆 injected注射
254
675000
2000
大部分接受索思姆醫生注射的志願者
11:32
did not go on to develop發展 cancer癌症
255
677000
2000
沒有因注射
11:34
from the injected注射 cells細胞.
256
679000
2000
而產生癌症。
11:36
But a small number of them did,
257
681000
2000
但是有一小部分人則罹患了癌症。
11:38
and they were mostly大多 people who were otherwise除此以外 ill生病 --
258
683000
3000
他們多數已患有其它疾病
11:41
whose誰的 immune免疫的 systems系統 were probably大概 compromised妥協.
259
686000
3000
免疫系統可能早已遭到破壞。
11:46
What this tells告訴 us,
260
691000
2000
這告訴我們
11:48
ethical合乎道德的 issues問題 aside在旁邊,
261
693000
2000
且不討論倫理道德
11:50
is that ...
262
695000
2000
就是說...
11:52
(Laughter笑聲)
263
697000
2000
(笑)
11:54
it's probably大概 extremely非常 rare罕見
264
699000
3000
癌症在人類之間傳染的
11:57
for cancers癌症 to be transferred轉入 between之間 people.
265
702000
3000
機率或許微乎其微。
12:01
However然而, under some circumstances情況,
266
706000
2000
但是,在某些情況下,
12:03
it can happen發生.
267
708000
3000
確實會發生。
12:06
And I think that this is something
268
711000
2000
我覺得這是
12:08
that oncologists腫瘤科醫生 and epidemiologists流行病學家
269
713000
2000
腫瘤學家和流行病學家
12:10
should be aware知道的 of in the future未來.
270
715000
3000
在今後應該關注的。
12:13
So just finally最後,
271
718000
2000
最後,
12:15
cancer癌症 is an inevitable必然 outcome結果
272
720000
2000
癌症是
12:17
of the ability能力 of our cells細胞
273
722000
2000
細胞分裂
12:19
to divide劃分
274
724000
2000
以及適應其自身環境的
12:21
and to adapt適應 to their environments環境.
275
726000
3000
必然結果。
12:24
But that does not mean that we should give up hope希望
276
729000
3000
但是我們不應放棄
12:27
in the fight鬥爭 against反對 cancer癌症.
277
732000
2000
擊敗癌症的信心。
12:29
In fact事實, I believe, given特定 more knowledge知識
278
734000
2000
實際上,我相信,如果我們掌握
12:31
of the complex複雜 evolutionary發展的 processes流程 that drive駕駛 cancer's癌症的 growth發展,
279
736000
3000
更多引起癌症生長的複雜進化過程相關知識
12:34
we can defeat打敗 cancer癌症.
280
739000
3000
我們一定能打敗癌症。
12:37
My personal個人 aim目標
281
742000
2000
我個人的目標
12:39
is to defeat打敗 the Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼 cancer癌症.
282
744000
4000
就是打敗塔司馬尼亞惡魔所患的癌症。
12:43
Let's prevent避免 the Tasmanian塔斯馬尼亞 devil魔鬼
283
748000
2000
我們不能讓塔司馬尼亞惡魔
12:45
from being存在 the first animal動物
284
750000
2000
變成第一種
12:47
to go extinct絕種 from cancer癌症.
285
752000
2000
因癌症而滅絕的動物。
12:49
Thank you.
286
754000
2000
謝謝。
12:51
(Applause掌聲)
287
756000
6000
(掌聲)
Translated by Yingzhi Vera Gu
Reviewed by Josie Chen

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Elizabeth Murchison - Cancer researcher
Elizabeth Murchison studies a mysterious (and contagious) cancer that threatens to wipe out Tasmanian devils.

Why you should listen

Elizabeth Murchison grew up in Tasmania, the island home of the small, aggressive marsupial known as the Tasmanian devil. In the mid-'90s, the devils were beset with a terrible new disease -- a contagious facial cancer, spread by biting, that killed the animals just as they reached breeding age. By 2008, half the devil population of Australia had contracted the cancer and died. And as Murchison says: "I didn’t want to sit back and let the devils disappear.”

Leading an international team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, she worked to understand why this cancer was so virulent -- with the goal of saving the Taz, as it is called, but also of understanding how a contagious cancer works. Analyzing gene and microRNA activity in 25 different facial tumors and in healthy tissue, the team found that cancers from animals across Tasmania were identical, and that the cancer stems from Schwann cells, which normally insulate nerve fibers.

Now a Research Fellow in Medical Sciences at King's College, Cambridge, Murchison is using high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies to investigate the genetics and evolution of this disease, one of only three known cancers that spread contagiously.

She says: "This is why cancer is such a difficult disease to treat: It evolves."

More profile about the speaker
Elizabeth Murchison | Speaker | TED.com