the computers would soon take over everything.

有人對你說電腦會變成生活的一部分

>From shopping to dating and the stock market.

從購物到交友

That billions of people would be connected via a kind of web.

以及股市

That you would own a handheld device

數十億人透過一種網交流

orders of magnitude more powerful than supercomputers.

你會擁有一種掌上機器

It would seem absurd but then all of it happened.

比超級電腦更為強大

Science fiction became our reality that we don't even think about it

聽起來如同夢話

We're at a similar point today with genetic engineering.

但現在全部都成真了

So let's talk about it.

科幻小說成為現實

Where it came from? What we're doing right now?

而被我們當作理所當然

And about a recent breakthrough that will change how we live

目前基因工程的情況類似當時的電腦

and what we perceive as "normal" forever.

現在就讓我們來討論

Humans have been engineering life for thousands of years. Through selective breeding

它的歷史以及目前的情況

we strengthened useful traits and plants and animals.

近期的突破會如何永遠改變我們的生活及世界觀

We became very good at this but never truly understood how it works.

[片頭曲]

Until we discovered the code of life: deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA,

基因工程

a complex molecule the guide of the growth, development function

幾千年來人們不斷改造 (馴服) 生物

and reproduction of everything alive.

透過人擇

Information is encoded in the structure of the molecule.

我們不斷強化有利我們的特徵 (厚皮大籽→薄皮細籽)

Four nucleotides are paired and make up a code that carries instructions.

技術愈來愈精進，但一直不清楚為什麼

Change the instructions and you change the being carrying it.

直到我們發現了生命密碼

As soon as DNA was discovered people try to tinker with it.

去氧核醣核酸 DNA(deoxyribonucleic acid)

In the 1960's, scientists bombarded plants with radiation

控制生物生長、發展、作用及生殖的複雜分子

to cause random mutations in the genetic code.

資訊由分子的結構儲存

The idea was to get a useful plant variation by pure chance.

四種核心成對組成指令

Sometimes, it actually worked too.

改變指令就能改變生物

In the 70's, scientists inserted DNA snippets into bacteria, plants and animals

在 DNA 剛被發現時人們就試圖更動它

to study and modify them for research, medicine, agriculture and for fun.

在1960年代，科學家們用輻射照射植物使其基因產生隨機突變

The earliest genetically modified animal was born in 1974,

希望可以隨機取得有利的品種

making mice a standard tool for research, saving millions of lives.

有時，真的可以成功

In the 80's, we got commercial.

在70年代，科學家在細菌、植物及動物中注入DNA片段來研究及改變

first patent was given for a microbe engineered to absorb oil today we

用作研究、醫藥、農業及興趣

produce many chemicals by means of engineered life like life-saving

第一個轉基因動物在1974年出生

clotting factors growth hormones and insulin, all things we had to harvest

使得老鼠成為研究工具拯救了百萬人的性命

from the organs of animals before that. The first food modified in the lab went

在80年代，開始商業化

on sale in 1994: the Flavr Savr tomato, a tomato given a much longer shelf life

第一項專利是一種能吸收油脂的微生物

where an extra gene that suppresses the build-up of a rotting enzyme. But GM food

在今日，我們透過許多人造生物來產生化學物質

and the controversy surrounding them deserve a video of their own.

例如凝血因子、生長激素及胰島素

In the 1990's there was also a brief foray into human engineering. To treat

許多原本必須從動物器官中提取

maternal infertility, babies were made to carry genetic information from

第一個基改食品在1994年發售

three humans making them the first humans ever to have three genetic

FLAVR SAVR 蕃茄

parents. Today there are super muscled pigs, fast-growing salmon, featherless

一個可以儲藏更久的蕃茄

chickens and see-through frogs. On the fun side, we made things glow in the dark

一個額外的基因抑制了使蕃茄腐壞的酶

fluorescent zebrafish are available for as little as ten dollars.

但有關基改作物及其爭議值得製作另一部影片

All of this is already very impressive but until recently,

基因改造作物

gene editing was extremely expensive, complicated and took a long time to do.

在1990年代也曾有短暫的人因工程研究

This has now changed with a revolutionary new technology now

為了治療不孕症，嬰兒由三個人提供基因訊息

entering the stage: CRISPR. Overnight, the costs of engineering have shrunk by 99%

使得他們成為第一批擁有三個生父母的人類

Instead of a year.

在今日，超級肌肉豬、快速成長鮭、無毛雞及透明蛙

it takes a few weeks to conduct experiments and basically everybody with

為了興趣，我們讓生物在夜中發光

a lab can do it. It's hard to get across how big a technical revolution CRISPR is.

便宜的熒光魚甚至一條不到十美元

It literally has the potential to change humanity forever.

這些已經非常神奇

Why did this sudden revolution happen and how does it work?

但直到最近，基因改造非常昂貴

Bacteria and viruses have been fighting since the dawn of life.

複雜，且耗費許多時間

So-called bacteriophages, or phages, hunt bacteria.

這被一個革命性的新技術出現所改變

In the ocean, phages kill 40% of them every single day.

CRISPR

Phages do this by inserting their own genetic code into

一夜之間，基因工程的成本降低了99％

the bacteria and taking them over to use them as factories.

實驗原本需要一年的時間縮短成幾個星期 並且有實驗室的人都可以使用

The bacteria try to resist, but fail most of the time

也許很難想像 CRISPR 是如何大的技術革命

because their protection tools are too weak.

它可以說是擁有改變人類的力量

But sometimes, bacteria survive an attack. Only if they do so can they activate

為什麼會出現這個技術革命

their most effective antivirus system. They save a part of the virus DNA in

它又是如何作用的？

their own genetic code in a DNA archive called CRISPR.

最古老的戰爭

Here it's stored safely until it's needed.

從生命出現開始，細菌與病毒就不斷戰鬥

When the virus attacks again, the bacterium quickly makes an RNA copy

一種稱作噬菌體的病毒獵取細菌

from the DNA archive and arms a secret weapon, a protein called Cas9.

每天它們獵殺海洋中 40% 的細菌

The protein now scans the bacterium's inside for signs of the virus invader by

噬菌體透過注入自己的基因到細菌中

comparing every bit of DNA it finds to the sample from the archive.

並使細菌成為自己控制的工廠

When it finds a 100-percent perfect match

細菌會試圖抵抗，但大多時候會失敗

it's activated and cuts out the virus DNA making it useless, protecting the

因為細菌的抵抗系統太弱

bacterium against the attack.

但有時，細菌會在攻擊下存活。

What's special is that Cas9 is very precise, almost like a DNA surgeon.

只有存活下來才能啟動它們最厲害的防禦系統

The revolution began when scientists figured out that the CRISPR system is programmable.

它們在自己的基因中儲存病毒的一部分 DNA

You can just give it a copy of DNA you want to modify and put the

被儲存的地方稱作 CRISPR

system into a living cell. If the old techniques of genetic manipulation were

在要使用前安全的存在這裡

like a map, CRISPR is like a GPS system. Aside from being precise cheap and easy,

當病毒再次攻擊

CRISPR offers the ability to edit life cells to switch genes on and

細菌會快速從儲存的地方製作一份 RNA 複製品

off and target and study particular DNA sequences.

並武裝一個稱作 CAS9 的蛋白質祕密武器

It also works for every type of cell: microorganisms, plants

蛋白質會在細菌裡面掃描病毒入侵者的跡象

animals or humans. But despite the revolution CRISPR is for science,

透過與儲存中樣本比對 DNA

it's still just a first generation tool. More precise tools are already being

當它發現一個 100％ 相同的批配

created and used as we speak.

它會啟動並剪下病毒的 DNA

In 2015, scientists use CRISPR to cut the HIV virus out of living cells from patients

使其失去作用，面對攻擊時保護細菌。

in the lab, proving that it was possible. Only about a year later they carried out

Cas9 特別之處在於它非常精確

a larger scale project with rats that had the HIV virus in basically all of

如同 DNA 外科醫生

their body cells. By simply injecting CRISPR into the rats tails, they were

技術革命就來自於研究員發現可以控制 CRISPR 的機制

able to remove more than 50% of the virus from cells all over the body.

給它一份你想更動的 DNA 片段

In a few decades, a CRISPR therapy might cure HIV and other retroviruses.

然後將它放入活細胞

Viruses that hide inside human DNA like herpes could be eradicated this way.

如果舊方法如同用地圖找路

CRISPR could also defeat one of our worst enemies: cancer. Cancer occurs when

CRISPR 就像用 GPS

cells refused to die and keep multiplying while concealing themselves

除了精確、便宜及簡單

from the immune system. CRISPR gives us the means to edit your immune cells and

CRISPR 擁有更改活著的細胞的能力

make them better cancer hunters. Getting rid of cancer might eventually mean

可以開關特定基因，也可研究單一片段

getting just a couple of injections of a few thousand of your own cells that have

它也可以在所有細胞中使用

been engineered in the lab to heal you for good.

微生物、植物、動物和人類

The first clinical trial for a CRISPR cancer treatment on human patients was

即使 CRISPR 對科學而言的確是革命性的

approved in early 2016 in the US. Not even a month later, Chinese

它依然只是基因工程工具的開始

scientists announced that they would treat lung cancer patients with immune

在這部影片播放同時有更精確的工具被創造及使用

cells modified by CRISPR in August 2016. Things are picking up pace quickly.

疾病的消失？

And then there are genetic diseases. There are thousands of them and they range,

在 2015 年

from merely annoying to deadly or entail decades of suffering. With a powerful

科學家利用 CRISPR 在實驗室從病人的活細胞中剪下的 HIV 基因

tool like CRISPR, we may be able to end this. Over 3,000 genetic diseases are

證明它是可以做到的

caused by a single incorrect letter in your DNA.

僅一年之後

We are already building a modified version of Cas9 that is made to

科學家用全部細胞都被感染 HIV 病毒的白老鼠實驗

change just a single letter, fixing the disease in the cell. In a decade or two

透過注射 CRISPR 到鼠尾中

we could possibly cure thousands of diseases forever. But all of these

成功在 50％ 被感染的細胞中去除病毒

medical applications have one thing in common: they are limited to the

在幾十年內，CRISPR 可能就可以治癒 HIV 患者

individual and die with them, except if you use them on reproductive cells or

及其他反轉錄病毒

very early embryos. But CRISPR can and probably will be used for much more:

隱藏在人類 DNA 中的病毒，例如：皰疹

the creation of modified humans, designer babies and will mean gradual but

可以被消滅

irreversible changes to the human gene pool.

CRISPR 也可能可以擊敗我們最強的敵人：癌症

The means to edit the genome of a

癌症就是拒絕死亡的細胞不斷複製

human embryo already exists, though the technology is still in its early stages.

同時避免被免疫系統發現

But it has already been attempted twice: in 2015 and 2016, Chinese scientists

CRISPR 給我們編輯免疫細胞使它們更容易追蹤癌細胞

experimented with human embryos and were partially successful on their second

治療癌症

attempt. They showed the enormous challenges we still face in gene editing

可能變成注射幾千個實驗室改造的細胞

embryos but also that scientists are working on solving them.

治療並且不會再復發

This is like the computer in the seventies: there will be better computers.

第一個在人類患者身上的 CRISPR 臨床實驗

Regardless of your personal take on genetic engineering, it will affect you.

在 2016 年初在美國核准許可

Modified humans could alter the genome of our entire species because their

不到一個月後

engineered traits will be passed on to that children and could spread over

中國的科學家宣布他們將用 CRISPR 改造後的免疫細胞 治療肺癌患者

generations slowly modifying the whole gene pool of humanity. It will start

實驗會在 2016 年 8 月實施

slowly: the first designer babies will not be overly designed, it's most likely

進步愈來愈快

that they will be created to eliminate deadly genetic disease running a family.

還有超過數千種遺傳性疾病

As the technology progresses and gets more refined, more and more people may argue

從僅僅麻煩、到致命或會造成患者數十年的苦難

that not using genetic modification is unethical, because it condemns children

有了像 CRISPR 的厲害工具

to preventable suffering and death and denies them to cure. But as soon as the

我們也許能夠終結這些遺傳疾病

first engineered kid is born, a door is opened that can't be closed anymore.

有超過三千種疾病僅僅來自 DNA 中一個指令的錯誤

Early on, vanity traits will mostly be left alone, but as genetic modification

我們已經在建立一個只能編輯 DNA 中一個字母的 CAS9

becomes more accepted and our knowledge of our genetic code enhances,

治療細胞中的疾病

the temptation will grow.

幾十年內，我們就可能可以終結數千種疾病

If you make your offspring immune to Alzheimer, why not also

但這些治療的應用都有一個共同點

give them an enhanced metabolism?

他只對個人有效

Why not throw in perfect eyesight? How about height or muscular structure?

會跟著人死亡，除非被使用在生殖細胞中

Full hair? How about giving your child the gift of extraordinary intelligence? Huge changes

或非常早期的胚胎

are made as a result of the personal decisions of millions of individuals

但 CRISPR 可以也可能被用在更多應用

that accumulate. This is a slippery slope. Modified humans could become the new

基因調整人、經過設計的嬰兒的出現

standard, but as engineering becomes more normal and our knowledge improves, we

緩慢漸進及不可逆轉的改變人類基因庫

could solve the single biggest mortality risk factor: aging. Two-thirds of the

經過設計的嬰兒

150,000 people who die today will die of age-related causes. Currently we think

編輯人類胚胎基因的技術早已存在

aging is caused by the accumulation of damage to ourselves, like DNA breaks and

儘管技術仍處於初始階段

the system's responsible for fixing those wearing off over time. But there

但已有兩次實驗

are also genes that directly affect aging. A combination of genetic

在 2015 及 2016 年

engineering and other therapy could stop or slow down aging, maybe even reverse it.

中國科學家用人類胚胎實驗

We know from nature that there are animals immune to aging. Maybe we could

他們在第二次實驗時取得了部份成功

even borrow a few genes for ourselves. Some scientists even think biological

他們顯示出我們編輯人類胚胎基因仍有困難

aging could be something that eventually just stops being a thing. We would still

但科學家們也在努力解決這些問題

die at some point, but instead of doing so in hospitals at age 90

這就像在 70 年代的電腦

we might be able to spend a few thousand years with our loved ones. Research into

未來肯定會有更好的電腦

this is in its infancy, and many scientists are rightly skeptical about

不管你對基因工程的態度為何

the end of aging. The challenges are enormous, and maybe it is unachievable.

它一定會對你有影響

But it is conceivable that people alive today might be the first to profit from

基因調整人會改變我們人類的基因庫

effective anti aging therapy. All we might need is for someone to convince a

因為他們被調整的特徵會遺傳至他們的下一代

smart billionaire to make it their next problem to solve. On a bigger scale we

並且擴散許多代並慢慢調整人類的基因庫

certainly could solve many problems by having a modified population. Engineered

這不會一步到位，第一個基因調整嬰兒不會調整太多

humans might be better equipped to cope with high-energy food, eliminating many

他們很有可能僅僅消除家族性遺傳疾病

diseases of civilization like obesity.

隨著技術的進步，技術更精進

In possession of a modified immune system with a library of potential

愈來愈多人可能會認為「不調整基因」是不道德的

threat, we might become immune to most diseases that haunt us today.

因為會讓小孩痛苦並且不讓他們被治癒

Even further into the future we could engineer humans to be equipped for

但當第一個基因調整嬰兒誕生

extended space travel and to cope with different conditions on other planet,

就如同開啟潘朵拉的盒子，無法再蓋上

which would be extremely helpful in keeping us alive in our hostile universe.

剛開始，虛榮性特徵調整可能不會被使用

Still a few major challenges await us. Some technological, some ethical.

但當基因調整愈來愈被接受

Many of you watching will feel uncomfortable and fear that we will create a world in

我們對人類基因更加瞭解

which we will reject non-perfect humans and preselect features and qualities

誘惑會開始增加

based on our idea of what's healthy.

如果你讓你的小孩對阿茲海默症免疫

The thing is we are already living in this world. Tests for dozens of genetic

為何不給他們一個促進新陳代謝能力？

diseases or complications have become standard for pregnant women

完美視力又有何不可？

in much of the world.

那身高或肌肉呢？

Often, the mere suspicion of a genetic defect can lead to the end of pregnancy.

不會禿頭？

Take Down Syndrome for example: one of the most common genetic defects.

那給予您的孩子高智力呢？

In Europe, about ninety percent of all pregnancies where it's detected are

數以百萬計的個人抉擇所造成的巨大變化

terminated. The decision to terminate pregnancy is incredibly personal, but

積沙成塔

it's important to acknowledge the reality that we are preselecting humans

如此延伸思考

based on medical conditions. There is also no use in pretending this will

基因調整人將成為新的常態

change, so we have to act carefully and respectfully as we advance the

當基因工程變得更常見，且當我們有更多相關知識

technology and can make more and more selections. But none of this will happen

我們可能可以解決的一個最大死亡因素

soon: as powerful as CRISPR is, and it is, it's not infallible yet. Wrong edit

老化

still happen as well as unknown errors that could occur anywhere in the DNA and

今日 15萬死亡人數 中的 2/3

might go unnoticed. The gene edit might achieve the desired result

與老化有關

disabling a disease, but also might accidentally trigger unwanted changes.

目前我們認為老化是由於細胞損傷會累積

We just don't know enough yet about the complex interplay of our genes to avoid

例如：DNA 斷裂

unpredictable consequences. Working on accuracy and monitoring methods is a

以及修復系統因為時間漸漸損壞

major concern as the first human trials begin. And since we've discussed a

但也有些是因為基因而對老化有影響

possible positive future, there are darker visions too.

基因工程搭配其他療法可能可以停止或減緩老化

Imagine what a state like North Korea could do if they embraced genetic

或者有可能返老還童

engineering. Could a state cement its rule forever by forcing gene editing on

我們從自然界知道有些動物不會衰老

their subjects? What would stop a totalitarian regime from engineering an

也許可以借些基因移植到我們身上

army of modified super soldiers? It is doable in theory? Scenarios like this one

有些科學家甚至認為可能未來不再有老化這件事

are far far off into the future, if they ever become possible at all. But the

我們還是會死亡，但可能不是 90 多歲在醫院中

basic proof of concept for genetic engineering like this already exists

我們可能可以用幾千年與親朋好友相處

today. The technology really is that powerful. One of this might be a tempting

這方面的研究還在襁褓之中

reason to ban genetic editing and related research that would certainly

許多科學家也依然懷疑是否能終結老化