TED演讲:动画如何帮助科学家检验假说(1)

Take a look at this drawing. Can you tell what it is?

请看这幅图。大家知道这是什么吗？

I'm a molecular¹ biologist by training, and I've seen a lot of these kinds of drawings.

我是一个接受过训练的分子生物学家，因此我已经看过了很多这类图片。

They're usually referred to as a model figure, a drawing that shows how we think a cellular² or molecular process occurs.

他们通常被称作模型图片，展示我们对细胞或分子过程是如何进行的理解。

This particular drawing is of a process called clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

这幅图描述的是这样一个过程，它叫网格蛋白介质的内吞。

It's a process by which a molecule³ can get from the outside of the cell to the inside

该过程是指一个分子可以从细胞外转运入细胞内，

by getting captured in a bubble or a vesicle that then gets internalized by the cell.

转入的方式是通过先被捕捉进小泡或囊中，随后被细胞内在化。

There's a problem with this drawing, though, and it's mainly in what it doesn't show.

但这幅图有一个问题，这个问题主要是这幅图所没有表现的东西。

From lots of experiments, from lots of different scientists,

从大量的实验中，从大量不同的科学家身上，

we know a lot about what these molecules⁴ look like, how they move around in the cell,

我们对这些分子的样子，它们是如何在细胞内移动的了解很多，

and that this is all taking place in an incredibly dynamic environment.

这些都发生在一个不可思议的动态的环境中。

So in collaboration⁵ with a clathrin expert Tomas Kirchhausen,

因此，在与网格蛋白专家托马斯·科切豪斯合作中，

we decided⁶ to create a new kind of model figure that showed all of that.

我们决定创造一个新的模型图片，它可以展示所有的细节。

So we start outside of the cell. Now we're looking inside.

于是我们从细胞外开始。现在，我们看到的是内部。

Clathrin are these three-legged molecules that can self-assemble into soccer-ball-like shapes.

网格蛋白就是那些三条腿的分子，它们可以自己组合成足球的形状。

Through connections with a membrane⁷,

通过膜的相互连接，

clathrin is able to deform⁸ the membrane and form this sort of a cup that forms this sort of a bubble, or a vesicle,

网格蛋白可以使膜发生变形，然后形成这种像杯子一样的形状，接着形成这种像小泡或小囊样的形状，

that's now capturing some of the proteins that were outside of the cell.

现在它正在捕捉一些细胞外的蛋白质。

Proteins are coming in now that basically pinch off this vesicle, making it separate from the rest of the membrane,

蛋白质正在进入，基本上掐断了小囊，使得它从膜上分离开来，

and now clathrin is basically done with its job, and so proteins are coming in now

现在，网格蛋白基本上已经完成了它的使命，于是，蛋白质就进来了，

we've covered them yellow and orange -- that are responsible for taking apart this clathrin cage.

我们用黄色和橙色来标记它们，它们负责将网格蛋白形成的笼子拆开。

And so all of these proteins can get basically recycled and used all over again.

于是所有这些蛋白质基本上都可以循环，重新加以利用。

1 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

2 cellular   

adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的

参考例句：

• She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。
• Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。

3 molecule   

n.分子，克分子

参考例句：

• A molecule of water is made up of two atoms of hygrogen and one atom of oxygen.一个水分子是由P妈̬f婘̬ 妈̬成的。
• This gives us the structural formula of the molecule.这种方式给出了分子的结构式。

4 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

5 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 membrane   

n.薄膜，膜皮，羊皮纸

参考例句：

• A vibrating membrane in the ear helps to convey sounds to the brain.耳膜的振动帮助声音传送到大脑。
• A plastic membrane serves as selective diffusion barrier.一层塑料薄膜起着选择性渗透屏障的作用。

8 deform   

vt.损坏…的形状；使变形，使变丑；vi.变形

参考例句：

• Shoes that are too tight deform the feet.(穿)太紧的鞋子会使脚变形。
• Ice crystals begin to deform measurably.冰晶就产生某种程度的变形了。