英语沙龙：克瑞格•温特破译人类基因组的关键人物

The Pivotal Figure In the Decoding¹ of The Human Genome

Bill Clinton and Tony Blair linked up by satellite on June ２６to announce the completion of the first draft of the human genome．Even when the hype is discounted，decoding the ３bn chemical“letters”of the genome is likely to have a huge impact on science，medicine and our perception of what it means to be human．Although thousands of scientists in dozens of laboratories around the world share credit for the achievement，one individual can be singled out for recognition：Craig Venter．

Dr．Venter，president of Celera，the US genomics company，may represent just one side of the race between the private and public efforts to decode² the book of life．But no one stands out in the same way among the leaders of the public Human Genome Project．The controversial Californian has made vital contributions to the whole enterprise，and his competitive pressure spurred on the public project．

That is certainly his view．“I have been the catalyst³ for making everything happen on the [fastest possible] time course，”he says．“Some of my worst critics have said I only speeded things up by a year――and even that would have biomedical research――while the most optimistic ones have said I made １０years’ difference．”

Some leaders of the public project are happy to acknowledge Dr．Venter’ s contribution．Trevor Hawkins，director of the US Joint⁴ Genome Institute，says：“The fact that we are sitting here with a completed draft genome is１００percent due to Craig and his bold initiative of introducing gene⁵ sequencing on an industrial scale，with hundreds of machines working round the c lock．”

Celera Genomics was founded in May １９９８as a subsidiary of Perkin－Elmer，the scientific instruments company．（Since then Perkin－Elmer has changed name twice，first to PE and then to Applera．）Equipped with one of the world’ s most powerful civil super－computer facilities and ３００of the latest gene sequencing machines from PE’s Applied⁶ Biosystems subsidiary，Dr ．Venter set up shop close to the National Institutes of Health（NIH）in Bethesda，Maryland――the federally funded research campus where he had started his career in genomics．

Celera’ s stated goal was“to substantially complete the sequencing of the human genome ”in ２００１．The public Human Genome Project，funded mainly by the US government and Britain’s Wellcome Trust，the world’s richest research charity，was then still aiming for the original completion date of ２００５，set when the programme had started １０years earlier．

The leaders of the public programme――alarmed at the prospect⁷ of a private company gaining patent rights to so much genetic⁸ information――promptly accelerated their schedule；in September １９９８they promised a “working draft”of the genome by ２００１．But Celera was working even faster than expected and by the end of １９９９it was clear that the company might complete its own draft by mid－２０００．

Both sides were then becoming concerned about the damage being done to their image by the increasingly vituperative⁹ race between them．They discussed a collaboration¹⁰ but the talks foundered¹¹ because the public project’s commitment to immediate¹² open access to all DNA¹³ sequences was irreconcilable¹⁴ with Celera’s commercial need to retain intellectual property rights over its data．

The bickering¹⁵ resumed early in ２０００，although the two sides patched up their differences sufficiently¹⁶ to soak up the politicians’ plaudits together at the genome completion ceremony in June．

In retrospect，however，Dr．Venter sees that all the publicity¹⁷ about the“race to the genome ”has brought benefits，too．“On my travels this year I have seen how fascinated people are by this〖genetic〗information，and my view is that the human competition was a primary reason why they became interested．It had all the elements of melodrama¹⁸ you could want．”

In scientific terms，Dr．Venter has made two main contributions to gene discovery．

In conversation with Dr．Venter it becomes clear that his primary motivation is scientific discovery，rather than making millions of dollars or even deriving¹⁹ medical benefits from genomics．He says：“The biggest thrill in life is making scientific breakthroughs．No other reward can compare with that satisfaction．”

克瑞格•温特破译人类基因组的关键人物

（２０００年）６月２６日，比尔•克林顿和托尼•布莱尔通过卫星联合宣布人类基因组第一份框架图已完成。就在人们对宣传将信将疑之际，破译人类基因组３０亿个化学“字母”的密码可能对科学、医学以及对人类的观念带来巨大的冲击。虽然全世界数十个研究机构的数千名科学家共享了这一重大成果的荣誉，但是其中一个人却是功劳卓著。他就是克瑞格•温特。

温特博士是美国赛莱拉基因组公司总裁，是在破译生命之书的私营与公家竞赛中独挡一面的私方代表人。相比之下，公家一方的人类基因组计划领导人中，根本找不出一个如此出类拔萃之人。这位加利福尼亚人，是个备受争议的人；但他对揭示人类基因组密码的全部事业做出了无可替代的贡献。由他产生的竞争压力刺激了公家研究工作的进展。

这无疑是他的观点：“我一直在扮演催化剂的作用，即在尽可能短的时间内（以最快速度）促成一切事物”。他说，“一些最恶毒的批评我的人说，我只不过把事情进展的速度加快了一年---甚至对生物医学的研究也是如此---而最乐观的批评者则说，我之所为造成了１０年的差距。”

公共项目的一些领导人倒是乐意承认温特博士的贡献。美国联合基因组研究所主任特雷弗•霍金斯说：“事实上，我们今天坐在这里手拿已完成的基因组框架图，百分之百应归功于克瑞格，和他首次大胆地把工业化规模引进到基因测序中，而且是几百台机器不分昼夜地连轴干。”

赛莱拉基因组公司作为伯金艾尔莫科学仪器公司的附属公司成立于１９９８年５月。（此后伯金艾尔莫两次易名；开始改为PE，后来改为阿普莱拉。）得到世界最强大民用超级电脑设备的装备，和PE应用生物系统附属公司提供的３００台最先进的基因测序机器。温特博士把工作间建在位于马里兰州贝塞斯达的全国卫生研究所附近---该研究所是由联邦政府出资的研究机构，他就是在那里开始了其基因研究生涯。

赛莱拉称它的目标是在２００１年“真正完成人类基因组测序工作”。而在１０年前启动的公共人类基因组项目---主要由美国政府与英国维尔考姆信托基金（世界上最富有的研究赞助机构）出资赞助，当时仍然将他们的计划完成日期定在２００５年。

公共项目的领导者们对一家私人公司打算将那么多遗传信息申请专利，感到惊慌失措。于是，他们加快了他们的进程。１９９８年９月，他们承诺到２００１年可以拿出基因组“研究草图”。然而，赛莱拉的工作进程比预期的更快。到１９９９年底情况已经很清楚，这家公司可能在２０００年中期完成它的草图。

于是，双方开始担忧彼此不断升级的相互指责会损害各自的形象。他们协商合作。但是，协商失败。因为公共项目组要求立即开放所有DNA测序方法，这与赛莱拉控制资料想获取知识产权的商业需求构成不可调和的矛盾。

就这样，２０００年初又恢复争吵，尽管在６月双方充分弥和了分歧以响应政治家们的撮合---共同出席了完成基因组发布会。

然而，回过头一想，温特博士发现“基因组揭秘竞赛”的宣传也有好处。“这一年里在我所到之处，我发现人们对有关遗传的信息是那么的着迷。在我看来，人类的竞争是他们感兴趣的根本原因。这其中你可以找到你想要看的情节紧张剧中的一切要素。”

从科学角度上看，温特博士在基因发现中做出了两大贡献。

在与温特博士的谈话期间，我们发现事情已很清楚，他的原始动机是为了科学发现，绝不是为了赚大把大把的美钞。或从基因组学中捞到医学方面的好处。他说：“人生最大的快慰莫过于科学突破，没有什么奖赏能与之相比。”

1 decoding   

n.译码，解码v.译（码），解（码）( decode的现在分词 )；分析及译解电子信号

参考例句：

• We cannot add any other memory to this system without further decoding. 如果不增加译码，就不能使系统的存贮容量有任何扩展。 来自辞典例句
• Examples using the 8250 will be presented in hardware section to clarify full-decoding schemes. 在硬件一节中有应用说明全译码方案8250的例子。 来自辞典例句

2 decode   

vt.译（码），解（码）

参考例句：

• All he had to do was decode it and pass it over.他需要做的就是将它破译然后转给他人。
• The secret documents were intercepted and decoded.机密文件遭截获并被破译。

3 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

5 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

6 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

7 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

8 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

9 vituperative   

adj.谩骂的；斥责的

参考例句：

• He is often the victim of vituperative remarks concerning his wealth.他经常因为富有而受到辱骂。
• I was really taken aback by their vituperative animosity toward the Soviet Union.他们对苏联如此深恶痛绝，着实令我吃惊。

10 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。

11 foundered   

v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Three ships foundered in heavy seas. 三艘船在波涛汹涌的海面上沉没了。 来自辞典例句
• The project foundered as a result of lack of finance. 该项目因缺乏资金而告吹。 来自辞典例句

12 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

13 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• 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。

14 irreconcilable   

adj.（指人）难和解的，势不两立的

参考例句：

• These practices are irreconcilable with the law of the Church.这种做法与教规是相悖的。
• These old concepts are irreconcilable with modern life.这些陈旧的观念与现代生活格格不入。

15 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

16 sufficiently   

adv.足够地，充分地

参考例句：

• It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
• The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

17 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

18 melodrama   

n.音乐剧；情节剧

参考例句：

• We really don't need all this ridiculous melodrama!别跟我们来这套荒唐的情节剧表演！
• White Haired Woman was a melodrama,but in certain spots it was deliberately funny.《白毛女》是一出悲剧性的歌剧，但也有不少插科打诨。

19 deriving   

v.得到( derive的现在分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• I anticipate deriving much instruction from the lecture. 我期望从这演讲中获得很多教益。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He anticipated his deriving much instruction from the lecture. 他期望从这次演讲中得到很多教益。 来自辞典例句