I would like to introduce you to Laika.

嗨，大家好。

To most of us, Laika is simply a very cute pig.

讓我向各位介紹萊卡。

However, to hundreds of thousands of patients in need of a lifesaving organ

對大部分的人來說， 萊卡只是一隻非常可愛的豬。

Laika is a symbol of hope.

然而，

You see, ever since the 1970s,

對於數十萬名需要器官 來救命的病人來說，

when organ transplants became a real option

萊卡是希望的象徵。

for patients with kidney failure and other organ diseases,

在七十年代，

organ supply has been an issue.

器官移植這個選項成真了，

Over the last few decades,

腎臟衰竭和其他器官疾病的 病人都可以選擇它，

the issue only worsened as organ demand has exponentially increased.

此後，器官供應便成了一個議題。

Currently in the US,

在過去幾十年間，

there are close to 115,000 patients

器官需求以指數增加， 使這個議題變得更糟。

in need of a lifesaving organ transplant.

目前，在美國，

By the end of my talk,

有接近 11 萬 5 千名病人

one more patient will be added to this list.

需要組織移植來拯救他們的性命。

Today, about 100 people will get a new organ,

在我的演說結束時，

a chance to start their life anew,

就會再有一位病人加入名單中。

and yet by the end of today,

今天，大約有 100 人 可以得到一個新器官，

20 others will die waiting.

一個重新開始新生活的機會，

The situation is heartbreaking

但，在今天結束時，

for patients, for their families

會有另外 20 個人 等不到器官而死。

and for the doctors who want to do more.

這個情況讓人心碎，

In some parts of the world,

對病人、對他們的家人，

the situation also becomes a disturbing social issue.

及對想要做更多的醫生 來說都是如此。

In Asia, for example,

在世界上的某些地方，

media outlets reported that desperate patients

這個情況也變成了 令人不安的社會議題。

are obtaining organs from the cruel black market.

比如，在亞洲，

It is clear that a solution is needed to this crisis.

媒體管道報導指出， 走投無路的病人

Human lives are at stake.

會從殘酷的黑市取得器官。

As a biologist and a geneticist,

很明顯，這個危機 需要一個解決方案。

it has become my mission to help solve this problem.

人命關天。

Today, I am optimistic to say that we are on our way there,

身為生物學家和遺傳學家，

thanks to Laika.

協助解決這個問題成了我的使命。

Using gene editing technology,

今天，我能很樂觀地說， 我們正在朝那個目標邁進，

it's now possible to exquisitely create a human-transplantable organ

這要感謝萊卡。

that can be safely grown in pigs.

用基因編輯技術，

Before we jump into the incredible science that makes it happen,

現在已經有可能精緻地創造出 可以移植給人類的器官，

let's have a better understanding what xenotransplantation is.

並讓它在安全地長在豬身上。

It's a process of transplanting animal organs into humans.

在我們跳進去談 讓它成真的偉大科學之前，

You may want to ask, why pig organs?

咱們先多了解一下 「異種器官移植」是什麼。

Because some pigs carry organs with similar size and physiology

它是把動物組織移植到 人類身上的過程。

to human organs.

你們可能會想問， 為什麼用豬的器官？

Over the last half a century,

因為有些豬本身的器官

pioneers of transplantation have tried hard to make it happen,

和人類器官的大小 及生理機能都很類似。

but with limited to no success.

在過去半個世紀，

Why is that?

移植領域的先鋒 非常努力地實現這個想法，

Two fundamental hurdles stood in the way.

但成功有限，或甚至根本沒能成功。

First is a problem of rejection.

為什麼會這樣？

When our immune system sees a new organ as foreign,

有兩個基本的阻礙。

it will reject it.

第一，是排斥的問題。

Second, and this one is specific to the organs from the pig,

當我們的免疫系統 把新器官視為是外來物，

every pig carries a virus that is benign to the pig,

就會排斥它。

but can be transmitted into humans.

第二，這是只有豬的器官 才會遇到的狀況，

It is called the porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV),

每隻豬都帶有一種病毒， 這病毒對牠的健康有益，

and this virus has the potential to cause a viral epidemic similar to HIV.

但可能會被傳給人類。

Without an effective way to address these issues,

這種病毒叫豬內源性 反轉錄病毒（PERV），

the field of xenotransplantation has been on hold for more than one decade.

這種病毒有可能會造成 類似愛滋病的病毒大流行。

Little progress has been made, until now.

因為沒有有效的方式 來處理這些議題，

Let me share with you how I got here today with Laika.

異種器官移植的領域 停滯了超過十年的時間。

My journey started from Emei Mountain in China.

到目前為止，進展都相當少。

That is the place well described in a lot of legendary stories,

讓我分享一下，我和萊卡的故事 是怎麼今天來到這裡的。

like the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

我的旅程始於中國的峨眉山。

That is the place I call home.

許多傳奇故事都對這座山 做了很好的描述，

Growing up in the mountain,

比如《臥虎藏龍》。

I started to have a strong connection with nature.

那是我稱為家的地方。

This is me when I was seven years old

我在山中長大，

standing in front of an ancient Buddhist temple

我開始和大自然有強烈的連結。

with a monkey on my shoulder.

這是我七歲的時候，

I still vividly remember how my friends and I

站在一座古老的佛教寺廟前，

would toss peanuts around to distract the monkeys

肩上有一隻猴子。

so that we could cross to hike through the valley.

我仍然能很鮮明地記得 我和我的朋友

I love nature.

如何向周圍丟花生， 來引開猴子的注意力，

When it was time to choose a field of study,

這樣我們才能通過，去山谷中健行。

I chose to study biology at Peking University in Beijing.

我愛大自然。

However, the more I learned,

在要選擇研讀領域的時候，

the more questions I had.

我選擇在北京大學研讀生物。

How could our genetic makeup be so similar to animals

然而我學得越多，就有越多的問題。

and yet we look so different?

怎麼可能我們的基因構造 和動物如此相似，

How is our immune system capable of fighting off so many pathogens

外表上卻差這麼多？

but smart enough not to attack ourselves.

為什麼我們的免疫系統 能夠抵抗這麼多病原體，

Questions like this tormented me.

卻聰明到不會攻擊我們自身？

I know it sounds nerdy, but you know I'm a scientist.

像這樣的問題讓我很煩擾。

After college, I decided I didn't want to just ask the questions,

我知道這樣聽起來很宅， 但你們知道我是個科學家。

I wanted to answer them, so I did.

大學之後，我決定 我不想要只是問問題，

In 2008, I was lucky enough to be accepted

我想要回答問題， 我也的確就這麼做了。

into the PhD program at Harvard University

2008 年，我很幸運，

and worked with Dr. George Church.

被哈佛大學的博士班接受，

While working in Church's lab,

跟著喬治丘奇博士研究。

I started to learn and experiment with the genetic makeup of mammals.

在丘奇的實驗室中工作時，

Among all the experiments,

我開始學習和實驗 哺乳動物的基因構造。

one particular one took me closer to Laika.

在所有的實驗中，

In 2013, my colleagues and I made changes in a human cell

有一項實驗特別讓我更靠近萊卡。

using a tool you may have heard about

2013 年，我和同事 改造了人類的細胞，

called CRISPR.

我們用的工具各位可能有聽過，

We were one of the first two groups

叫 CRISPR。

to report the successful use of such a tool in changing our DNA.

最早提出成功使用這種工具

It was an exciting moment in scientific discovery.

改變人類 DNA 的兩個團隊， 其中一個就是我們。

The gene-editing tool CRISPR has two components.

那是科學發現的一個興奮時刻。

It has a scissor called the enzyme CRISPR

CRISPR 是種基因編輯工具， 它有兩個元件。

and what is called a guide RNA.

它有一把剪刀， 叫做酵素 CRISPR，

Think about it as genetic scissors with a microscope.

還有所謂的嚮導 RNA。

The microscope is a guide RNA,

把它想成是有顯微鏡的基因剪刀。

which brings the scissors to the place we want to cut

顯微鏡是一個嚮導 RNA，

and says, "Here it is,"

能把剪刀帶到我們想要剪的地方，

and the enzyme CRISPR just cuts and repairs the DNA in the way we want.

然後說「就是這裡」，

Shortly after we reported our study,

接著酵素 CRISPR 就會剪下去，

physicians at Mass General Hospital were intrigued by the medical applications

並以我們希望的方式 來修復該 DNA。

of our research.

在我們提出了我們的 研究之後沒多久，

They reached out to us,

麻省總醫院的醫師對於我們的研究

and together, we began to see the potential to use CRISPR

在醫療上的應用很感興趣。

to solve the organ shortage crisis.

他們跟我們聯絡，

How do we do it?

我們合作之後，開始發現 是有可能使用 CRISPR

It is simple, yet very complex.

來解決器官短缺的危機。

We started by making changes in a pig's cell to make it virus-free

我們要如何做到？

and human-immune-compatible.

很簡單，卻也很複雜。

The nucleus of that cell is then implanted into a pig egg

我們開始改變豬的細胞，

and allowed to divide into an embryo.

讓它變成沒有病毒， 且和人類免疫系統能夠相容。

The resulting embryo is then placed into the uterus of a surrogate mother

接著，把那細胞核 植入豬的卵細胞中，

and allowed to divide into a pig.

讓它分裂成胚胎。

Basically, it's a process of cloning.

接著把產生出的胚胎 放到代理孕母的子宮中，

The piglet then carries organs whose genetic makeup

讓它分裂成一隻豬。

hopefully wouldn't be rejected by the human immune system.

基本上，它是一個複製的過程。

In 2015, our team decided to tackle the viral transmission problem first.

這些器官接著就會生長在小豬身上，

We wanted to take out all 62 copies of the PERV virus

希望它們的基因構造不會 被人類免疫系統給排斥。

from the pig genome,

2015 年，我們的團隊決定

but at the time, it was nearly mission impossible.

先處理病毒傳播的問題。

Even with CRISPR,

我們想要從豬的基因組當中取出

we could only do one or two modifications within a cell.

所有 62 個 PERV 病毒的複製品，

The record for number of modifications we can do in a particular cell was five.

但在當時，那幾乎是不可能的任務。

We had to increase the throughput by more than tenfold to achieve that.

即使有 CRISPR，

With very careful design and hundreds of trials,

我們也只能在一個細胞中 做一或兩種修改。

we successfully took out all the virus,

在一個細胞中，我們所能達到的

broke the record.

最高修改數量記錄是五。

More importantly, our studies showed

我們得要將總處理能力 增加十倍以上才能達成目標。

that we could eliminate the possibility of this dangerous virus

經過非常小心的設計 和數百次的試驗，

being transmitted into humans.

我們成功取出了全部病毒，

Last year, with a modified cell and cloning technology,

打破了記錄。

our startup, eGenesis, produced Laika,

更重要的是，我們的研究顯示，

the first pig of its kind born without PERV.

我們可以消除這種危險病毒

(Applause)

傳給人類的可能性。

Laika represents the first critical step

去年，用修改過的細胞 以及複製技術，

in establishing safe xenotransplantation.

我們的新創公司 eGenesis 產出了萊卡，

It is also a platform

牠是第一隻生出來 就沒有 PERV 的豬。

that we can do further genetic modification on

（掌聲）

to solve the immunology problem.

萊卡代表的是關鍵的第一步，

Since then, we have created more than 30 pigs without PERV,

朝向建立安全異種器官移植邁進。

and they may be the most advanced geno-modified animal living on earth.

牠也是個平台，

We named Laika after the Soviet dog

我們可以在上面 做進一步的基因修改，

who was the first animal to orbit the earth.

來解決免疫學問題。

We hope Laika and her siblings

從那之後，我們已經創造出了 超過 30 隻沒有 PERV 的豬，

can lead us into a new frontier of science and medicine.

牠們可能是地球上 最先進的基因改造動物。

Imagine a world where patients who suffer from liver failure

萊卡這個名字是取自第一隻

can be saved with a new liver

進入環繞地球軌道的蘇聯太空犬。

without having to wait for a donation

我們希望萊卡和牠的手足們

or another human to die.

能領導我們進入 科學和醫學的新領域。

Imagine a world where people with diabetes

想像一個世界， 在那裡，肝衰竭的病人

do not have to rely on insulin after every meal

可以得到新的肝，因而得救，

because we can provide them with good pancreatic cells

不需要等待捐贈， 也不用等待另一個人死亡。

that can produce insulin on their own.

想像一個世界， 在那裡，有糖尿病的人

And imagine a world where patients with kidney failure

不需要仰賴每餐後的胰島素，

do not have to face the burden of dialysis.

因為我們能夠提供他們 好的胰臟細胞，

We are striving to create that world,

那些細胞自己就可以產生胰島素。

a world without organ shortage.

想像一個世界， 在那裡，腎臟衰竭的病人，

We finally have the tool to tackle the problem

不需要面臨洗腎的沉重負擔。

we could never tackle before,

我們在努力創造那樣的世界，

and Laika is just the beginning of our journey.

沒有器官短缺的世界。

We have to be very humble in front of nature,

我們終於有了一項工具 可以處理這個問題，

because there are more issues to be addressed,

這是以前完全辦不到的，

including immunology

萊卡只是我們旅程的開端。

and things we couldn't even anticipate at this point.

在大自然面前，我們得要非常謙虛，

However, it is our responsibility to translate the cutting-edge science

因為還有更多議題 需要處理，包括免疫學，

into medicine to save the lives of all the patients who are waiting.

以及我們在這個時點， 我們甚至還無法預期的議題。

Thank you very much.

然而，我們有責任

(Applause)

要將這尖端科學轉變為醫學，

Chris Anderson: I mean, Luhan, this is extraordinary work here.

來拯救所有在等待的病人的性命。

Come forward.

非常謝謝。

So what's the next steps here? You've got rid of the virus.

（掌聲）

The next steps involve trying to get to the point

克里斯安德森：璐菡， 這是非常了不起的研究。

where a human body won't reject a transplant.

請上前來。

What's involved in solving that?

接下來要做的是什麼？ 你已經解決了病毒問題。

Luhan Yang: It's a very complicated process.

接下來要做的是

So we need to take out the antigen of the pigs.

要試著讓人體不排斥移植。

In addition, we can learn a lot from cancer.

要解決這問題，會牽涉到什麼？

How can cancer invade or circumvent our immune system

楊：這是個非常複雜的過程。

so that we can utilize the trick of cancer

所以我們得要從豬身上取出抗原。

and implement that on the pig organ

此外，我們也從癌症學到很多。

to fool our immune system to not attack the organ.

癌症如何能侵入或規避 我們的免疫系統？

CA: When would you estimate, when do you hope

我們可能學癌症的技巧，

that the first successful transplant would happen?

把它用在豬的器官上，

LY: It would be irresponsible for me to give you any number.

來愚弄我們的免疫系統， 讓它不去攻擊移植的器官。

CA: We're at TED. We're always irresponsible.

克：依你估計，你希望

LY: But we are working day and night

第一次成功移值會在何時發生？

trying to make this happen for the patients.

楊：我無法給你任何數字， 那是不負責任的行為。

CA: So not even, you won't say that you think it could happen

克：我們在 TED。 我們總是不負責任。

within a decade or within five years or something?

楊：但我們日以繼夜地在努力， 試著為病人實現這個夢。

LY: For sure we hope it happens within one decade.

克：所以，你甚至 不能說你認為可能會在

(Laughter)

十年或是五年之類的期間發生嗎？

CA: So there's a lot of people here who would be very, very excited at that,

楊：當然我們會希望 能在十年內實現。

the potential is extraordinary.

（笑聲）

There will be some other people here who are going,

克：這裡有很多人 對此會感到非常興奮，

"That pig is too cute.

這潛力是非常不凡的。

Humans shouldn't be exploiting something so cute for our benefit."

這裡也會有一些其他的人說： 「那隻豬太可愛了。

Do you have any response to that?

人類不應該利用那麼可愛的生物 來謀求自己的利益。」

LY: Yeah, sure.

你對這個問題有什麼要回應的嗎？

So imagine one pig can save eight people's lives.

楊：有，當然。

In addition, similar to human donation,

想像一下，一隻豬能夠 拯救八個人的性命。

if we only harvest one kidney from the pig,

此外，和人類捐贈很類似，

the pig can still be alive,

如果我們只從豬身上 取得一個腎臟，

so we are very mindful about the issues,

牠仍然能存活，

but I think our goal is just to address the unmet medical need

我們對於這些議題非常小心謹慎，

for those patients and their families.

但我認為我們的目標只是 要處理尚未滿足的醫療需求，

CA: Plus, no one can say that to you if they eat bacon, right?

為了那些病人和他們的家人。

LY: That's a good point.

克：此外，吃培根的人 也不能對你說那種話，對吧？

(Laughter)

楊：說得有理。

CA: Luhan, thank you so much. LY: Thank you so much.

（笑聲）

(Applause)

克：璐菡，非常感謝。 楊：非常感謝。