how things are built within our bodies?

我們身體是怎麼建構的？

Why our bodies can regrow and repair themselves,

為什麼我們的身體可以再生 也可以自我修復

and how we can pass on genes

我們又是如何把基因

from one generation to the next?

一代一代傳下去？

Yet, none of our man-made objects have these traits;

然而，沒有一項人造的物品 有這種特性；

they're simply thrown away when they break

它們壞掉時只會被丟掉

and they definitely can't reproduce.

而且顯然也沒辦法複製再生

The answer lies in something called self assembly.

答案在於被稱做「自我組裝」的性能

Self assembly is a system where unordered parts

自我組裝是一種系統 它可以讓一堆混亂的元件

come together in an organized structure,

單靠自己 變成有組織的結構

completely on their own.

單靠自己 變成有組織的結構

This means that a pile of parts on your desk should,

這表示你桌上的一堆東西，

in theory, be able to move around on their own,

理論上，可以自己移動

find one another,

和另一樣組織結合

and build something useful.

然後變成有用的東西

This seems impossible,

這看起來不太可能，

like Transformers

就像《是變形金剛》

or the Sandman,

或是《蜘蛛人》中的「沙人」

but it's exactly how our bodies are built,

但它正是我們身體組成的方式、

how our immune system works,

免疫系統的運作方式、

and why we can reproduce.

以及我們能繁衍再生的原因

Self assembly is the factory and copy machines within our bodies

自我組裝就像是我們體內的工廠或影印機

that make proteins fold and DNA replicate.

它可以製造蛋白質摺疊 並複製 DNA

It's a process that not only happens

這個過程並不只在

in the biological and chemical world,

生物或化學世界中發生

but is a phenomenon that can be seen from magnets

這個現象可以常見於：磁鐵、

to snowflakes,

雪花、

robotics,

機器人學、

social networks,

社群網路、

the formations of cities and galaxies,

和城市與銀河的形成

to name just a few.

這還只是隨口舉出的例子

In biology and chemistry,

在生物和化學中

self assembly is everywhere,

自我組裝隨處可見

from atomic interactions,

從原子交互作用、

cellular replication

細胞複製、

to DNA, RNA, and protein folding.

到 DNA、RNA、還有蛋白質摺疊

Proteins are like bicycle chains

蛋白質就像是用胺基酸組成的

with sequences of amino acid links.

腳踏車鏈條

They self assemble into 3-D structures

由於鏈條上各胺基酸的交互作用

because of the interaction

以及胺基酸鏈與周圍環境

between the amino acids along the chain,

以及胺基酸鏈與周圍環境

as well as the relationship

之間的關係

between the chain and the environment.

它們可以自我組裝成 3-D 結構

These forces make the flexible chain

這些力量讓可彎曲的胺基酸鏈

fold into a 3-D shape

摺疊成 3-D 的形狀

that governs the function in the protein.

決定了蛋白質的功能

Viruses, on the other hand, are like soccer balls.

另一方面，病毒就像是足球

They're made up of a series of sub-units with specific shapes.

它們由一系列 特定形狀的小單元組成

Those shapes have attraction to one another,

這些小單元會互相吸引

so they fit together in precise ways.

精準地相互結合

Image you want to build a perfect sphere.

想像你想要造一個完美的球體

It turns out that making a precise sphere

你會發現用傳統的方法

through traditional means is actually quite difficult.

要做一個精準的球相當地困難

Alternatively, you could try to self assemble the sphere.

或者，你可以讓這個球自我組裝

One way would be to inflate the sphere

其中一個辦法是把一個球

like a bubble or a balloon.

像泡泡或氣球一樣充氣

Another option would be to create many identical pieces

另一個辦法則是 製做許多一樣的零件

that would come together to make a perfect sphere.

並讓它們互相吸引 變成一個完美的球

You could try to put the pieces together one-by-one,

你可以試著一塊一塊裝上去

but it might take a long time

但那會花很多時間

and you would still have human errors.

而且可能會有人為疏失

Instead you could design a connection

相對地你可以設計一種零件之間的鍵結 就像磁鐵那樣

between the components like magnets

相對地你可以設計一種零件之間的鍵結 就像磁鐵那樣

and dump them into a container.

然後把它們丟到一個容器裡

When you shook the container,

當你搖晃這個容器

all the parts would find one another

所有零件就會找到彼此

and build the sphere for you.

然後自己組成一個球

Self assembly is being used as a new design,

自我組裝漸漸被用在新的設計

science,

科學、

and engineering tool

或是工程工具之中

for making the next generation of technologies

好讓下個世代的科技

easier to build,

更容易建造、

more adaptive,

更具適應性、

and less reliant on fossil fuels.

同時減少對石化燃料的依賴

Scientists are now making molecular microchips for computers

科學家們現在正在 為電腦製作分子微晶片

where small, molecular elements are given

其中，許多微小的分子狀元件

the right conditions to form themselves into organized pathways.

被賦與適當的限制 好讓它們形成有系統的迴路

Similarly, we can now use self assembly

類似地，我們可以利用自我組裝

as a way to make 3-D structures with DNA,

當做用 DNA 製造 3-D 結構的一種方式

like capsules that could deliver drugs inside the body,

比如說膠囊可以把藥送到體內

releasing them only if certain conditions are met.

然後在適當的條件下才釋放它們

Soon, self assembly will be used for larger applications,

很快地，自我組裝會有更多應用

where materials can repair themselves,

物質可以自我修復、

water pipes can reconfigure on demand,

水管可以依要求重新配管、

buildings can adapt on their own

建築物可以自我調整來適應

to environment or dynamic loading,

外在環境或不斷變動的使用者、

and space structures can self assemble without humans.

而太空設備可以在無人的狀況下自我組裝

Imagine if our factories were more like organisms or brains

想想看，如果我們的工廠 像是大腦或組織一樣

and our construction sites were like gardens

而建地像花園一樣

that grow and adapt independently.

可以獨立生長並適應環境

The possibilities are endless

這有無限的可能

and it's now up to us

而它只取決於我們

to design a better world through self assembly.

用自我組裝做為設計 來打造一個更好的世界