万物简史 第410期:生命的起源(4)
英语课
Yet we are talking about several hundred thousand types of protein, perhaps a million, 然而，我们在讨论的蛋白质有几十万种，也许是100万种，
each unique and each, as far as we know, vital to the maintenance of a sound and happy you. 就我们所知，每一种都别具一格，与众不同，对于维持你的健康和幸福必不可少。
And it goes on from there. 我们就从这里接着往下讨论。
A protein to be of use must not only assemble amino acids in the right sequence, 为了被派上用场，一个蛋白质分子不但要把氨基酸分子按照合适的顺序排列起来，
but then must engage in a kind of chemical origami and fold itself into a very specific shape. 还要从事一种化学打褶工作，把自己叠成特定的形状。
Even having achieved this structural 1 complexity 2, a protein is no good to you if it can't reproduce itself, and proteins can't. 即使实现了这种复杂的结构，蛋白质分子对你依然没有用处，除非它能复制自己，而蛋白质分子不会。
For this you need DNA 3. 为了达到这个目的，你需要DNA（脱氧核糖核酸）。
DNA is a whiz at replicating—it can make a copy of itself in seconds—but can do virtually nothing else. DNA是复制专家——几秒钟就能复制一份自己，但除此之外没有别的本事中。
So we have a paradoxical situation. 于是，我们处于一种自相矛盾的境地。
Proteins can't exist without DNA, and DNA has no purpose without proteins. 蛋白质分子没有DNA就不能存在，DNA没有蛋白质就无所事事。
Are we to assume then that they arose simultaneously 4 with the purpose of supporting each other? If so: wow. 那么，我们是不是该认为，它们为了互相支持而同时产生呢？如果是的，哇，太好了！
And there is more still. DNA, proteins, and the other components 5 of life couldn't prosper 6 without some sort of membrane 7 to contain them. 还有，要是没有膜把DNA、蛋白质和别的生命要素包裹起来，它们也不可能兴旺发达。
No atom or molecule 8 has ever achieved life independently. 原子或分子不会独立实现生命。
Pluck any atom from your body, and it is no more alive than is a grain of sand. 从你身上取上一个原子，它像一粒沙，那样没有生命。
It is only when they come together within the nurturing 9 refuge of a cell that these diverse materials can take part in the amazing dance that we call life. 只有许多原子凑到一起，待在营养丰富的细胞里，这些不同的物质才能参加令人惊叹的舞会，我们称其为生命。
adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的
- The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
- The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。
n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物
- Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
- The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。
(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸
- DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
- Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。
adv.同时发生地，同时进行地
- The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
- The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。
（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分
- the components of a machine 机器部件
- Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。
v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣
- With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
- It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。
n.薄膜，膜皮，羊皮纸
- 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。
n.分子，克分子
- 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。
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