TEDxGalway
Michel Dugon: The secrets of spider venom
米歇爾杜岡: 蜘蛛毒液的秘密
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動物學家米歇爾杜岡說，蜘蛛毒液可能在幾分鐘內讓你的心臟停止跳動，可能造成難以想像的痛苦，但也有可能救你的命。杜岡解釋這種強力毒素的醫療特性，以及能用它來製做下一代抗生素的可能性。在他一邊解釋時，一邊還有隻狼蛛在他的手臂上爬上爬下。
Michel Dugon - Zoologist, venom researcher
Michel Dugon researches the potential of spider venom as a source of novel therapeutic agents. Full bio
Michel Dugon researches the potential of spider venom as a source of novel therapeutic agents. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
Well, hello.
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哈囉。
00:16
This is Sophie.
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這位是蘇菲。
00:17
It's all right, don't worry,
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沒關係，別擔心，
00:20
everything's going to be fine.
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不會有事的。
（笑聲）
00:21
(Laughter)
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00:23
There are some people on the balcony
that are very happy to be up there now.
that are very happy to be up there now.
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現在坐在樓上看台的人
應該很高興自己選對了位子。
應該很高興自己選對了位子。
（笑聲）
00:27
(Laughter)
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00:28
So this is Sophie --
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這位是蘇菲——
00:30
not Sophia -- no, Sophie.
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不是蘇菲雅——而是蘇菲。
00:32
She has a French name.
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她有個法文名字。
真不知是為什麼？
真不知是為什麼？
00:33
And you wonder why?
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00:35
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
00:36
So Sophie, for most people,
is the incarnation of terror, really.
is the incarnation of terror, really.
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所以，對大部分的人來說，
蘇菲就是恐怖的化身。
蘇菲就是恐怖的化身。
00:40
She's far too leggy, she's far too hairy,
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她的腿太多、身上太多毛，
00:42
and she's far too big to ever be trusted.
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而且太大隻了，不可能信任她。
00:45
But to me, Sophie is a fantastic
feat of bioengineering.
feat of bioengineering.
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但對我來說，蘇菲是
很棒的生物工程產物。
00:50
You see, Sophie is a testimony
to all those creatures
to all those creatures
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蘇菲是一項證據，
代表了所有從最古早時期
存活下來的生物；
存活下來的生物；
00:54
that have managed to survive
since the beginning of time;
since the beginning of time;
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00:57
all those animals
that have managed to have offspring
that have managed to have offspring
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所有一直想辦法產生後代，
一代又一代，
直到現今的那些動物。
直到現今的那些動物。
01:01
generation after generation,
until this day.
until this day.
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01:05
You see, over one billion years ago,
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超過十億年前，
01:07
the first primitive cells
started to evolve on this planet.
started to evolve on this planet.
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地球上最原始的細胞開始演化。
01:12
It took spiders 430 million years
to become what they are now:
to become what they are now:
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蜘蛛就花了四億三千萬年，
才變成牠們現在的樣子：
01:17
one of the most versatile,
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牠們是地球上最多功能、
01:19
one of the most diverse
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最具有多樣性，
01:21
and one of the most evolved groups --
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且最進化的——
01:26
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
01:27
of predators to ever walk this earth.
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地球上最進化的捕食性動物之一。
01:31
It's actually quite sporty
to give a speech
to give a speech
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我必須要說，一邊演講
還要一邊看管狼蛛，
實在是蠻累的。
實在是蠻累的。
01:33
while wrangling a tarantula,
I have to say.
I have to say.
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01:35
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
01:40
So, we shouldn't forget that Sophie --
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所以，我們不該忘記，蘇菲——
01:43
and in fact, all of us --
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其實，我們也都是——
01:44
we all are a testimony
to all those ruthless battles
to all those ruthless battles
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我們都是證據，代表了
所有那些無情的戰爭，
所有那些無情的戰爭，
01:48
that actually were won
consistently by all our ancestors,
consistently by all our ancestors,
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我們的祖先持續不斷打贏的戰爭，
01:52
all our predecessors.
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我們所有的前人。
01:54
In fact, all of us,
every single one of you,
every single one of you,
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事實上，我們所有人，
每一個人，其實都是
01:58
is in fact an uninterrupted,
one-billion-years-old success story.
one-billion-years-old success story.
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一個十億年沒有中斷的成功故事。
02:05
And in the gaze of Sophie,
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看著蘇菲，
02:06
that success is partly due
to what she has in her chest,
to what she has in her chest,
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那成功，有部分的原因
是因為她的胸部上的特色，
是因為她的胸部上的特色，
02:10
just under her eyes.
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就在她的眼睛底下。在那裡，
02:11
In there, she has a pair of venom glands
that are attached to a pair of fangs,
that are attached to a pair of fangs,
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她有一對毒液腺，
連結著一對毒牙，
連結著一對毒牙，
02:17
and those fangs are folded into her mouth.
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那些毒牙會摺進她的口中。
02:21
So, without those fangs
and without this venom,
and without this venom,
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若沒有那些毒牙，沒有這種毒液，
02:25
Sophie would have never
managed to survive.
managed to survive.
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蘇菲不可能生存下來。
02:28
Now, many animals have evolved
venom systems in order to survive.
venom systems in order to survive.
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許多動物為了生存，
會演化出毒液系統。
會演化出毒液系統。
02:32
Nowadays, any species of venomous snakes,
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現今，任何一種毒蛇、
02:34
any species of spider,
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任何一種蜘蛛、任何一種蝎子，
02:36
any species of scorpion,
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02:38
has its own venom signature, if you will,
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可以說都有它自己的毒液簽名，
02:42
made out of dozens, if not hundreds,
of chemical compounds.
of chemical compounds.
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成份是數十種，
甚至數百種化合物。
甚至數百種化合物。
02:47
And all of those compounds
have evolved purely for one purpose:
have evolved purely for one purpose:
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所有這些化合物都只
針對一個目的來演化：
針對一個目的來演化：
02:52
disable and, eventually, kill.
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讓對方傷殘，最終死亡。
02:55
Now, venom can actually act
in many different ways.
in many different ways.
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毒液的運作方式有許多種。
02:59
Venom, believe me, can make you feel
pains that you've never felt before.
pains that you've never felt before.
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毒液可以讓你感受到你從來沒有
感受過的痛楚，相信我。
感受過的痛楚，相信我。
03:04
Venom can also make
your heart stop within minutes,
your heart stop within minutes,
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毒液也可以在幾分鐘之內
讓你的心臟停止，
讓你的心臟停止，
03:08
or it can turn your blood into jelly.
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或者它可以把你的血液變成果凍。
03:10
Venom can also paralyze you
almost instantly,
almost instantly,
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毒液也可以讓你癱瘓，
幾乎是立即生效，
幾乎是立即生效，
03:13
or it can just eat
your flesh away, like acid.
your flesh away, like acid.
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或者它可以直接腐蝕
你的肉，就像強酸一樣。
你的肉，就像強酸一樣。
03:18
Now, all of these are pretty
gruesome stories, I know,
gruesome stories, I know,
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我知道，這些聽起來都很可怕，
03:22
but, to me, it's kind of music to my ears.
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但，對我來說，
這些都算是好消息。
這些都算是好消息。
03:26
It's what I love.
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這是我的熱情所在。為什麼？
03:27
So why is that?
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03:29
Well, it's not because I'm a nutcase, no.
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並不是因為我是瘋子，不是。
03:31
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
03:33
Just imagine what we could do
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想像一下，如果我們能取得
那些超能力化合物，
用在我們自己的利益上，
用在我們自己的利益上，
03:36
if we could harvest
all those super powerful compounds
all those super powerful compounds
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03:40
and use them to our benefit.
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會有什麼樣的可能性。
03:43
That would be amazing, right?
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那會很驚人，對吧？
03:45
What if we could, I don't know,
produce new antibiotics with those venoms?
produce new antibiotics with those venoms?
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如果我們能用那些毒液
來製造新的抗生素呢？
來製造新的抗生素呢？
03:49
What if we could actually help people
that are suffering from diabetes
that are suffering from diabetes
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如果我們能夠協助飽受糖尿病
或高血壓之苦的人呢？
03:53
or hypertension?
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03:55
Well, in fact, all those applications
are already being developed
are already being developed
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事實上，我現在正在說話的同時，
世界各地像我這樣的科學家
04:00
by scientists just like me
everywhere around the world, as I speak.
everywhere around the world, as I speak.
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已經一直在開發這些應用了。
04:06
You see, hypertension is actually treated
regularly with a medication
regularly with a medication
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高血壓通常用藥物治療，
04:11
that has been developed from the toxin
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這些藥物一直都是
04:13
that is produced
by a South American viper.
by a South American viper.
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從南美毒蛇的毒素開發出來的。
04:17
People that have type 2 diabetes
can be monitored using, actually,
can be monitored using, actually,
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有第二型糖尿病的人，
在監控之下，
在監控之下，
可以使用北美蜥蜴所產生的毒素。
04:20
the toxin produced
by a lizard from North America.
by a lizard from North America.
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04:24
And in hospitals all around the world,
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全世界的醫院正在開發
一項新的步驟，
一項新的步驟，
04:26
a new protocol is being developed
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04:28
to use a toxin from
a marine snail for anesthetics.
a marine snail for anesthetics.
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用一種海螺的毒素來做麻醉劑。
04:34
You see, venom is that kind of huge
library of chemical compounds
library of chemical compounds
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毒液可說是巨大的，
且大家都能使用的化合物圖書館，
04:40
that are available to us,
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04:42
that are produced by hundreds
of thousands of live creatures.
of thousands of live creatures.
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且是由數十萬活生物
所產生出來的。
所產生出來的。
04:46
And --
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且——喔，
04:48
Oh, sorry, she just wants
to go for a little walk.
to go for a little walk.
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抱歉，她只是想要去散個步。
04:51
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
04:52
Spiders alone are actually
thought to produce
thought to produce
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一般認為，光是蜘蛛就能產生出
04:56
over 10 million different
kinds of compounds
kinds of compounds
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超過一千萬種不同的化合物，
05:00
with potential therapeutic application.
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都有治療應用的可能性。
05:03
10 million.
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一千萬。
05:04
And do you know how many scientists
actually have managed to study so far?
actually have managed to study so far?
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你們知道科學家目前
設法研究了多少種？
設法研究了多少種？
05:08
About 0.01 percent.
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大約 0.01%。
05:11
So that means that there is still
99.99 percent of all those compounds
99.99 percent of all those compounds
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那就表示那些化合物還有 99.9%
05:17
that are out there, completely unknown,
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是完全未知的狀態，
05:19
and are just waiting
to be harvested and tested,
to be harvested and tested,
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在等著被拿來測試，這樣很棒。
05:21
which is fantastic.
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05:23
You see, so far, scientists
have concentrated their efforts
have concentrated their efforts
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目前，科學家把努力的焦點放在
05:27
on very charismatic,
very dangerous animals --
very dangerous animals --
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非常有吸引力、
非常危險的動物上——
05:31
vipers and cobras or scorpions
and black widows.
and black widows.
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毒蛇、眼鏡蛇、蠍子，及黑寡婦。
05:35
But what about all those little bugs
that we actually have all around us?
that we actually have all around us?
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但我們身邊常見的那些小蟲子呢？
05:40
You know, like that spider
that lives behind your couch?
that lives behind your couch?
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就像你家沙發後面的
蜘蛛，那些小生物？
蜘蛛，那些小生物？
05:44
You know, the one that decides
to just shoot through the floor
to just shoot through the floor
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你們知道的，決定在你看電視時
快速地從地上
跑出來的那些小生物，
跑出來的那些小生物，
05:47
when you're watching TV
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05:48
and freaks you out?
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還把你嚇得半死？
05:50
Ah, you have that one at home as well.
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啊，你家也有，對吧。
05:52
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
05:53
Well, what about those guys?
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所以，那些傢伙呢？
05:55
Do they actually produce
some kind of amazing compound
some kind of amazing compound
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牠們是否也會在小小的身體中
產生出很了不起的化合物？
05:59
in their tiny body as well?
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06:01
Well, an honest answer a few months ago
would have been, "We have no clue."
would have been, "We have no clue."
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在幾個月前，老實的答案會是
「我們一點頭緒也沒有。」
06:05
But now that my students and myself
have started to look into it,
have started to look into it,
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但現在我和我的學生
已經開始調查研究，
已經開始調查研究，
06:09
I can tell you those guys
actually are producing
actually are producing
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我可以告訴各位，
那些傢伙真的會製造
那些傢伙真的會製造
06:12
very, very interesting compounds.
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非常非常有趣的化合物。
06:15
And I'm going to tell you
more about that in a second,
more about that in a second,
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我等下會再多談一些，
06:18
but first, I would like to tell you more
about this "we are looking into it."
about this "we are looking into it."
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但首先，我想先跟各位談談
「我們在調查研究」這部分。
「我們在調查研究」這部分。
06:22
How does one look into it?
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要如何研究這些化合物？
06:25
Well, first of all, my students and I
have to capture a lot of spiders.
have to capture a lot of spiders.
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首先，我和我的學生
捕捉了很多蜘蛛。
捕捉了很多蜘蛛。
06:30
So how do we do that?
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我們怎麼捕捉？
你們會覺得很驚訝。
你們會覺得很驚訝。
06:31
Well, you'd be surprised.
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06:33
Once one starts to look,
one finds a lot of spiders.
one finds a lot of spiders.
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一旦你開始找，
你就會找到很多蜘蛛。
你就會找到很多蜘蛛。
06:38
They actually live everywhere around us.
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牠們其實就生活在我們周遭。
06:40
Within a couple of hours,
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在幾個小時之內，
06:41
we are capable of catching maybe
two, three, four hundred spiders,
two, three, four hundred spiders,
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我們抓到了也許大約兩百、
三百、四百隻蜘蛛，
三百、四百隻蜘蛛，
06:46
and we bring them back to my laboratory,
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我們把牠們帶回我的實驗室，
06:48
and we house each of them
in its own individual home.
in its own individual home.
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我們給每一隻蜘蛛
一個自己個別的家。
一個自己個別的家。
06:52
And we give each of them a little meal.
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也給每一隻蜘蛛一小頓餐。
06:55
So now I know what you're thinking:
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我知道你們在想什麼：
06:57
"This guy's nuts.
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「這傢伙瘋了。竟提供蜘蛛
住宿加早餐的飯店……」
住宿加早餐的飯店……」
06:58
He has a spider B&B at work ..."
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07:00
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
07:02
No, no it's not exactly that,
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不，不完全是那樣的，
07:04
and it's not the kind of venture
I would advise you to start.
I would advise you to start.
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我不會建議各位朝這個方向創業。
07:09
No, once we're done with that,
we wait a few days,
we wait a few days,
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不，做完上述這些之後，
我們等了幾天，
我們等了幾天，
07:12
and then, we anesthetize those spiders.
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接著，我們就把這些蜘蛛麻醉。
07:15
Once they're asleep, we run a tiny
little electric current through their body
little electric current through their body
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牠們熟睡之後，
我們讓微弱的電流
通過牠們的身體，
通過牠們的身體，
07:20
and that contracts their venom glads.
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那會讓牠們的毒液腺體收縮。
07:22
Then, under a microscope, we can see
a tiny little droplet of venom appearing.
a tiny little droplet of venom appearing.
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在顯微鏡下，我們可以
看見很小一滴毒液出現。
看見很小一滴毒液出現。
07:27
So we take a hair-thin
glass tube, a capillary,
glass tube, a capillary,
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我們拿了一支和頭髮一樣細的
玻璃管，一支毛細管，
玻璃管，一支毛細管，
07:30
and we collect that tiny droplet.
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把那一小滴毒液收集起來。
07:33
Then, we take the spider
and we put it back into its home,
and we put it back into its home,
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接著，我們把蜘蛛放回牠的家中，
07:36
and we start again with another one.
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再開始對下一隻重覆進行。
07:38
Because spiders are completely
unharmed during the process,
unharmed during the process,
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因為在過程中蜘蛛
完全沒有受到傷害，
完全沒有受到傷害，
07:43
it means that a few days later,
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那就表示，幾天之後，
07:44
once they've produced a little bit
of venom again and they've recovered,
of venom again and they've recovered,
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一旦牠們再產生出了
一點毒液且恢復了之後，
一點毒液且恢復了之後，
07:48
we can release them back into the wild.
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我們就可以把牠們野放。
07:50
It takes literally hundreds of spiders
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真的用了數百隻蜘蛛，
07:53
to just produce the equivalent
of one raindrop of venom.
of one raindrop of venom.
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才產生出等同於
一滴雨水的毒液量。
一滴雨水的毒液量。
07:58
So that drop is incredibly precious to us.
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對我們來說，
那一滴毒液非常珍貴。
那一滴毒液非常珍貴。
08:02
And once we have it, we freeze it,
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我們拿到毒液之後，就把它冷凍，
把它送入機器當中，
把它送入機器當中，
08:04
and we then pass it in a machine
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08:05
that will separate and purify every
chemical compound that is in that venom.
chemical compound that is in that venom.
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機器會把毒液中的每一種化合物
做分離和純化。
08:11
We're speaking about tiny amounts.
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我們談的是很小的量，
其實大約只有千萬分之一公升，
08:13
We're actually speaking about a tenth
of a millionth of a liter of compound,
of a millionth of a liter of compound,
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08:18
but we can dilute that compound
several thousand times
several thousand times
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但我們可以把那些化合物
稀釋數千倍，
08:21
in its own volume of water
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08:23
and then test it against
a whole range of nasty stuff,
a whole range of nasty stuff,
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接著拿它們來測試
一大堆討厭的東西，
一大堆討厭的東西，
08:26
like cancer cells or bacteria.
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比如癌症細胞或是細菌。
08:30
And this is when the very exciting
part of my job starts,
part of my job starts,
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我的工作中
非常讓人興奮的部分
就從這裡開始，
就從這裡開始，
08:35
because this is pure scientific gambling.
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因為這完全是科學賭博。
08:38
It's kind of "Las Vegas, baby," for me.
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這對我就像是「寶貝，賭城。」
（笑聲）
08:42
(Laughter)
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我們花了無數小時的
時間，好多的資源，
時間，好多的資源，
08:43
We spend so many hours, so much resources,
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08:47
so much time trying to get
those compounds ready,
those compounds ready,
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好多的時間，來將
那些化合物準備好，
那些化合物準備好，
08:50
and then we test them.
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接著我們開始測試它們。
08:52
And most of the time, nothing happens.
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大部分的時候，什麼都沒有發生。
08:55
Nothing at all.
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完全沒有。
08:57
But once in a while --
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但，偶爾——只有偶爾，
08:58
just once in a while,
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09:00
we get that particular compound
that has absolutely amazing effects.
that has absolutely amazing effects.
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我們會發現某種特定的化合物
有著非常驚人的效果。
有著非常驚人的效果。
09:04
That's the jackpot.
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那就是中了頭獎。
09:06
And when I'm saying that, actually,
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當我在說這句話時，其實，
09:08
I should take out something
else from my pocket --
else from my pocket --
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我應該要從我的口袋
拿出另一樣東西——
拿出另一樣東西——
09:10
be afraid, be very afraid.
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你們在怕了，非常害怕。（笑聲）
09:12
(Laughter)
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09:13
Now, in that little tube,
I have, actually, a very common spider.
I have, actually, a very common spider.
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在這個小試管中，
有一隻非常常見的蜘蛛。
有一隻非常常見的蜘蛛。
09:17
The kind of spider
that you could find in your shed,
that you could find in your shed,
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這種蜘蛛，你在
你的小屋裡也可以找到，
你的小屋裡也可以找到，
09:20
that you could find in your basement
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在你的地下室裡也可以找到，
09:22
or that you could find in your sewer pipe,
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在你的污水管裡也可以找到，
09:25
understand: in your toilet.
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就是在你的廁所裡。懂嗎？
09:28
Now, that little spider happens to produce
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這種小蜘蛛剛好會製造
09:31
amazingly powerful
antimicrobial compounds.
antimicrobial compounds.
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非常強大的抗菌化合物。
09:35
It is even capable of killing
those drug-resistant bacteria
those drug-resistant bacteria
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它甚至可以殺死
那些有抗藥性的細菌，
那些帶給我們好多麻煩，
通常會上媒體頭條的細菌。
通常會上媒體頭條的細菌。
09:40
that are giving us so much trouble,
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09:42
that are often making media headlines.
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09:45
Now, honestly, if I was living
in your sewer pipe,
in your sewer pipe,
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老實說，如果我要住在
你的污水管裡，
你的污水管裡，
09:47
I'd produce antibiotics, too.
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我也會製造抗生素。
09:49
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
09:51
But that little spider,
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但，那種小蜘蛛，
可能可以為我們手上一個
09:54
may actually hold the answer
to a very, very serious concern we have.
to a very, very serious concern we have.
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非常棘手的問題提供解答。
09:59
You see, around the world,
every single day,
every single day,
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在全世界，每一天，
10:02
about 1,700 people die because of
antimicrobial-resistant infections.
antimicrobial-resistant infections.
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大約有一千七百人死亡，
死因是抗藥性細菌造成的感染。
10:08
Multiply that by 365,
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把這個數字乘以 365 天，
10:11
and you're reaching the staggering number
of 700,000 people dead every single year
of 700,000 people dead every single year
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就會得到很驚人的數字，
每年就有七十萬人死亡，
10:17
because antibiotics that were efficient
30, 20 or 10 years ago
30, 20 or 10 years ago
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而死因就是因為三十、二十，
或十年前還有效的抗生素，
10:23
are not capable of killing
very common bugs.
very common bugs.
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現在無法殺死很常見的病菌。
10:26
The reality is that the world
is running out of antibiotics,
is running out of antibiotics,
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現實是，世界已經
快要沒有抗生素了，
快要沒有抗生素了，
10:30
and the pharmaceutical industry
does not have any answer,
does not have any answer,
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而製藥業沒有任何解答，
10:34
actually, any weapon
to address that concern.
to address that concern.
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沒有任何武器可以處理這個問題。
10:38
You see, 30 years ago,
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三十年前，
10:40
you could consider that 10 to 15
new kinds of antibiotics
new kinds of antibiotics
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每幾年大約就會有十到十五種
新的抗生素進入市場。
10:44
would hit the market
every couple of years.
every couple of years.
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10:46
Do you know how many of them
hit the market in the past five years?
hit the market in the past five years?
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你們知道在過去五年中
有多少新的抗生素進入市場嗎？
有多少新的抗生素進入市場嗎？
10:50
Two.
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兩種。
10:51
The reality is
that if we continue this way,
that if we continue this way,
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現實就是，若我們繼續這樣下去，
10:55
we are a few decades away
from being completely helpless
from being completely helpless
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不出幾十年，面對感染時，
我們就會完全處於無助的狀態，
10:59
in front of infections,
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11:01
just like we were before the discovery
of penicillin 90 years ago.
of penicillin 90 years ago.
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就像九十年前盤尼西林
被發現之前一樣。
被發現之前一樣。
11:05
So you see, the reality
is that we are at war
is that we are at war
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現實是，我們在打戰，
11:08
against an invisible enemy
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對手是看不見的敵人，
11:10
that adapts and evolves
a lot quicker than we do.
a lot quicker than we do.
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他們適應和演化的速度
比我們快很多。
比我們快很多。
11:14
And in that war,
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在那場戰爭中，
11:16
this little spider might be
one of our greatest secret weapons.
one of our greatest secret weapons.
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這隻小蜘蛛可能會是
我們最厲害的秘密武器。
我們最厲害的秘密武器。
11:21
Just a half a millionth
of a liter of a venom,
of a liter of a venom,
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只要五十萬分之一公升的毒液
11:25
diluted 10,000 times,
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稀釋一萬倍，
11:28
is still capable of killing most bacteria
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仍然能夠殺死大部分
對各種其他抗生素
有抗藥性的細菌。
有抗藥性的細菌。
11:34
that are resistant
to any other kind of antibiotics.
to any other kind of antibiotics.
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11:38
It's absolutely amazing.
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這真的很了不起。
11:39
Every time I repeat
this experiment, I just wonder:
this experiment, I just wonder:
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每當我重覆這項實驗時，
我都會納悶：
我都會納悶：
11:43
How is that possible?
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這怎麼有可能？
11:45
How many other possibilities and secrets
do the siblings actually have?
do the siblings actually have?
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牠的同科生物到底
還有多少可能性和秘密？
還有多少可能性和秘密？
11:51
What kind of wonderful product
can we really find, if we care to look?
can we really find, if we care to look?
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如果我們願意去找，
還能找到多麼美好的產物？
還能找到多麼美好的產物？
11:57
So when people ask me, "Are bugs
really the future of therapeutic drugs?"
really the future of therapeutic drugs?"
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所以當別人問我：「蟲子真的是
治療性藥物的未來嗎？」
治療性藥物的未來嗎？」
我的答案是：「嗯，我真的相信
12:01
my answer is, "Well, I really believe
that they do hold some key answers."
that they do hold some key answers."
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牠們的確持有某些關鍵的答案。」
12:08
And we need to really give ourselves
the means to investigate them.
the means to investigate them.
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而我們自己真的需要
研究牠們的方法。
研究牠們的方法。
12:12
So when you head back home later tonight,
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所以，當你們今天晚上回到家，
12:15
and you see that spider
in the corner of your room ...
in the corner of your room ...
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在房間的角落看到一隻蜘蛛……
12:18
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
12:19
don't squash it.
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別壓扁牠。
12:20
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
12:22
Just look at it, admire it
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只要看著牠、欽慕牠，
12:25
and remember that it is
an absolutely fantastic creature,
an absolutely fantastic creature,
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記得牠絕對是種很棒的生物，
12:29
a pure product of evolution,
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是演化的純淨產物，
12:31
and that maybe that very spider,
one day, will hold the answer,
one day, will hold the answer,
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也許那隻蜘蛛就
持有答案，有一天，
持有答案，有一天，
牠握有你生存的關鍵。
12:36
will hold the key
to your very own survival.
to your very own survival.
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12:40
You see, she's not so insignificant
anymore now, is she?
anymore now, is she?
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看，她不再那麼不重要了，
對吧？（笑聲）
12:43
(Laughter)
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12:44
Thank you.
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謝謝。
12:45
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Michel Dugon - Zoologist, venom researcherMichel Dugon researches the potential of spider venom as a source of novel therapeutic agents.
Why you should listen
Michel Dugon runs the Venom Systems and Proteomics Lab and teaches zoology at the National University of Ireland Galway. His research focuses on the evolution of venom systems and on the potential of arthropod venom as a source of novel therapeutic agents. After a six-year stint chasing venomous creatures in the jungles of South East Asia, Dugon published extensively on the evolution of venom systems while pursuing a PhD in Evolutionary Developmental Biology. He was awarded the 2015 Irish National Teaching Award in Higher Education and the 2017 Ryan Award for Innovation. Dugon is currently working on developing the VIDAA network (Venom Investigations for the Development of Antimicrobial Agents) in collaboration with Irish, French and Belgian researchers.
As the founder and director of the science outreach Eco Explorers, Dugon dedicates a sizable amount of his time to promoting ecological awareness in the media and in schools throughout Ireland. Dr Dugon's work has been featured on national and international networks, including RTE, the BBC, Euronews and SKY.
Michel Dugon | Speaker | TED.com