1. The story is not a science fiction although it might sound like it. Researchers say they have created the first ever synthetic life form.

这个故事不是科学幻想，虽然听上去很像。研究人员说他们创造出了第一个合成的生命形式。

2. Scientists say that they've created a life with the computer. They made a cell powered by man-made DNA. 

科学家们说他们用电脑创造了一种生命。他们造了一个细胞，动力是由人造的DNA提供的。

3. "This is the first self-replicating species we've had on the planet whose parent is a computer," said J. Craig Venter.

“这是我们在这个世界上有的第一个自我复制的种类，它的父母是电脑，”J.克雷格•文特说到。

4. Researchers designed the DNA and assembled it with a machine. The artificial genome was then transplanted into a cell and then grew.

研究人员设计这个DNA，用机器把它装配起来。这一人工基因组接着就移植入一个细胞，然后生长。

5. The technology is the brainchild of J. Craig Venter. Ten years ago he was one of the first people to decode the human genome. 

这一技术是J. 克雷格•文特的发明。10年前，J.克雷格•文特是人类基因组解码的首批人员之一。

6. Now his companies are working with big business to apply this technology.

现在他的公司在与企业合作来应用这种技术。

7. Right now the potential seems to be limitless. Scientists believe man-made cells could be programmed to do everything from cleaning polluted water to powering your car.

当下看来潜能是无限的。科学家们相信，人造细胞可以接受编码指令来做从清洁污染水到为车辆提供动力的一切事情。

8. Exxon has paid Venter's company to create a synthetic algae that can be turned into a fuel. His team is also trying to design a cell that can speed vaccine production. 

埃克森石油公司付钱给文特的公司来造一种可以转换成燃料的人工藻。文特的团队也在努力设计一种细胞能够加速疫苗的生产。

9. Venter even hopes one day to create a new treatment and cures. But there are concerns that this breakthrough technology could be dangerous and used to create new types of biological weapons. 

文特甚至希望一朝一日创造出新的治病方法。但是人们担心这一突破性的技术可能是危险的，可能被用来制造新型生物武器。

10. Researchers can't predict the full impact of this man-made DNA, but they hope it would change the way we live.

研究人员尚无法预测这一人造DNA的所有影响，但他们希望它能够改变我们生活的方式。

责任编辑：admin