合成生物究竟是人工物还是自然物——从其概念的内在矛盾谈起

Is Synthetic Organism Artificial Objects or Natural Objects:Research from the Inherent Contradiction of Its Concept

合成生物概念具有一种内在的矛盾:“合成”意味着其是人工制造的,而“生物”却固有自然物的特性。合成生物究竟是人工物还是自然物呢?这需要从不同视角对合成生物的生成过程进行细致分析才能得出合理的结论。合成生物的物质结构是人工赋予的,但其生理功能却是自然涌现的;合成生物的基因是人工制作的,但其性状却是自然形成的;合成生物的“种”是人工构造的,但其子代个体却是自然繁殖的。总之,合成生物的生成过程不仅包括人工制造,还包括生命的自我生成。人工制造奠定了合成生物的物质基础,自我生成导致了鲜活生命的出现。事实与逻辑相结合,可以将合成生物界定为一种既不同于人工物也不同于自然物的“人工—自然”物。

There is inherent contradiction in the concept of synthetic organism:“synthetic”implies artificial creation while“organism”is a kind of natural objects.Is synthetic organism artificial objects or natural objects?It is need to analysis the generative process of synthetic organism carefully from multiple perspectives.The material structure of synthetic organism is artificial but its physiological function is natural.The gene of synthetic organism is artificial but its phenotype is shaped by itself.The“species”of synthetic organism is artificial but its offspring is reproduced naturally.In short,the generative processes of synthetic organism include both artificial process and natural process.Artificial processes laid the material foundation of life.Natural processes led to the emergence of living.Synthetic organism can be defined as an"artificial—natural objects"from the perspectives of fact and logic.