卫新成教授谈“文革”中胰岛素晶体结构的测定工作

A Retrospect of Determining the Structure of Insulin:An Interview with Prof.Wei Xincheng

通过就胰岛素晶体结构测定工作对卫新成教授所做的访谈 ,展示了一项具体的科研工作在“文化大革命”的政治风浪中的运行过程 :它在“文革”前夕上马 ,随即因“文革”开始而告停。然后 ,随着中央领导对胰岛素合成工作的表态 ,它又得以重新上马 ,但暴烈的政治运动和武斗仍令其很快即濒临覆灭。中央打过来的强心剂再次挽救了它 ,可随即国外竞争对手的成功又令相关研究集体几乎解体。由于部分研究人员对科学的执著追求 ,再加上当时中国科学院领导的命令 ,这项工作终于延续了下来 ,并最终获得了一些重要成果。

As the record of an interview with Prof. Wei Xincheng about determining the structure of insulin, this article unfolds the process of a certain research during the Cultural Revolution,which started on the eve of the revolution and was forced to cease working because of its outbreak.Then,as some leading members of the central authorities praised the synthesis of insulin,the research was relaunched.But the waves of the Cultural Revolution were too high,and soon the work was turned down.The attitude of the central authorities revived the work once again.Shortly afterwards,the success announced by foreign rivals almost made Chinese research group concerned about to be dismissed. Because of the order of CAS leaders and the perseverance of some scientists,the research was reserved and achieved some remarkable results in the end.