In his lab, researchers fill test tubes with the barest ingredients of life, then watch the elements self-assemble into what look like primitive cells, hoping that they will begin replicating.

• 在他的实验室里，研究人员把生命所必需，最原始的素材放进试管中，然后看著它们自己装配成看来像是原始细胞的东西；并期待它们能自我复制。