英语听力文摘 English Digest 204、纳米机器人

（单词翻译）

　　Robot Attack
“纳米机器人”的研制属于分子仿生学的范畴，它根据分子水平的生物学原理为设计原型，设计制造可对纳米空间进行操作的“功能分子器件”。纳米生物学的近期设想，是在纳米尺度上应用生物学原理，发现新现象，研制可编程的分子机器人，也称纳米机器人。合成生物学对细胞信号传导与基因调控网络重新设计，开发“在体”（in vivo）或“湿”的生物计算机或细胞机器人，从而产生了另种方式的纳米机器人技术。
Nanotechnology scientists dream of some day creating robots the size of molecules¹, or even turning molecules into machines that could roam the human body and perform all sorts of useful tasks.

　　But some nanotechnology theorists and science fiction aficionados² imagine a more ominous³ possibility. What if one of these tiny robots was given the ability to self-replicate?
All it would take is a single malfunction⁴ and the robots would consume everything in the galaxy⁵ as they multiply out of control until all that was left was a shapeless, robotic mass called “grey goo.” Now, before you go heading for the hills with a year’s supply of water and a survival guide, understand that the death-by-robot scenario⁶ is just that–a scenario, and a pretty fanciful one to boot.
First, we’re nowhere near the point of being able to create a self-replicating nano-machine. But even if such machines do one day exist, they would have a hard time taking over the universe for one simple reason: fuel.
Even microscopic⁷ machines need an energy source. Inorganic⁸ matter like rocks and minerals wouldn’t do the trick because they just don’t contain stuff that the machines could break down and use for power.
But what if a mad scientist created a robot that fed on organic materials like sunlight and living things? Not to worry. Natural life forms have had around four billion years of training to compete for resources; the killer⁹ robots probably wouldn’t stand much of a chance against such streamlined competitors. Plus, if the robots were made from organic materials, they might be preyed¹⁰ on by bacteria or other predators¹¹.