HELSINKI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- American biochemist Frances Arnold, a pioneer in
the field of "directed evolution", was awarded the seventh Millennium Technology
Prize in Helsinki on Tuesday.
Arnold's method generates random mutations in DNA in the way it happens in
nature. The modified genes produce proteins with new properties, from which the
researcher can choose the useful ones, repeating the process until the level of
performance needed by industry is achieved.
At the ceremony, Arnold stressed the importance of respecting the choice of
nature.
"I find it hard to believe humans will do a much better job than nature.
Because when you look at the code of life, that was not composed by human but
composed by 4 million years of evolution," she told local media.
"We are just learning how to hold a pencil when it comes to writing like
that. That's really the challenge that somebody who wants to rewrite a geno to
solve a problem faces."
The "directed evolution" technology uses the power of biology and evolution
to solve many important problems. It often replaces less efficient and sometimes
harmful technologies, according to Technology Academy Finland (TAF).
Talking to Finnish media, Arnold said the prize was recognition for the
importance of sustainability, the importance of using biology to solve problems.
"Imagine replacing the chemicals industry with biological process in water,
very few waste products, recycling everything. To me, that's a dream that is
starting to come true," she elaborated.
Arnold referred to the fact that modified proteins can be used to replace
processes that are expensive or that utilize fossil raw materials in the
production of fuels, paper products, pharmaceuticals, textiles and agricultural
chemicals.
Currently, Arnold's innovation has been widely used to create enzyme
catalysts to manufacture medicine. The method has already resulted in more
efficient processes for producing numerous drugs, including a treatment for type
2 diabetes.
Born in 1956 in the United States, Arnold is Professor of Chemical
Engineering, Bioengineering and Biochemistry at Donna and Benjamin M. Rosen
Bioengineering Center of California Institute of Technology.
During 2011 to 2015, she won quite a few international awards for her
outstanding work in biochemistry. She is also the first woman to be elected to
all three U.S. National Academies, namely the National Academy of Sciences, the
National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
The Millennium Technology Prize was set by the Finnish government in 2002 to
honor individuals and groups which have made significant contributions in the
fields of science and technology, aiming to particularly highlight innovations
that assist and enrich people's everyday lives.
The prize is awarded by TAF, an independent foundation established by Finnish
industries in cooperation with the State of Finland. The award, worth one
million euros, was first conferred in 2004. The prize is presented every other
year.
Among the previous six winners were World Wide Web creator Tim Berners-Lee,
inventor of bright blue and white LEDs Shuji Nakamura and ethical stem cell
pioneer Shinya Yamanaka.
Arnold is the first woman to win the award. TAF described her as "a strong
role model for women working in technology".
WARSAW
Dorian
Johnson Jersey , May 28 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of Intangible
Cultural Heritage of China's Hubei province ended here on Sunday.
The three-day event, held on May 26-28 in Warsaw and Torun, the country's
capital and a city in northern Poland respectively, aimed to offer visitors an
opportunity to gain an insight into the fragments of the long and abundant
Chinese history and culture.
At the opening ceremony
Chad
Williams Jersey , Vice Minister of the Department of Publicity,
Hubei Committee of CPC, Guo Zhong said that this exhibition would bring the
wonderful, rich and profound Hubei culture closer to the Polish
people
Budda
Baker Jersey , therefore deepening the cultural exchanges between
Hubei and Poland, and promoting the contacts and cooperation of the two
countries.
Marek Suski, Vice-President of Polish-Chinese Parliamentary Group, also said
that the Chinese culture was of a vast and rich history
Haason
Reddick Jersey , the cultural exchange between the two countries in
recent years was abundant and diverse.
He expressed the hope that following the implementation of the "Belt and
Road" initiative, such events might contribute to promote the economic and trade
cooperation between Poland and China.
Located in central China, Hubei was also called "Chu" in ancient China as
today's Hubei was part of the powerful State of Chu during the Zhou dynasty
(1046 BC-256 BC). The Han dynasty (206 B.C.-220 AD), the second imperial dynasty
of China following the Qin dynasty
David
Johnson Vapor Untouchable Jersey , also established the province of
Jingzhou in what is now Hubei province.
The Chu-Han Culture is believed one of the most important parts of the
Chinese culture.
During the event, exhibits and live skill shows allowed the audience to
appreciate the unique charm of this culture. And the viewers were especially
excited about the live performances of shadow play, with many stopping by the
plastic booths, where artisans used various techniques to create both fine and
beautiful works.
Director of Hubei Provincial Center for the Safeguarding of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage
Pat
Tillman Vapor Untouchable Jersey , Yan Ling told Xinhua that out of
various aspects of Hubei's intangible culture, 10 were selected for this
exhibition, including Chu style lacquer decoration technique, flower
art
David
Johnson Cardinals Jersey , cloth collage, carved paper-cut, dough
molding, shadow play
Pat
Tillman Cardinals Jersey , straw collage and others.
According to the event organizers, Hubei enjoys four items on Human
Intangible Cultural Heritage List, 127 items on the list of Chinese Intangible
Cultural Heritage List.
The exhibition was organized by the Hubei Provincial Center for the
Safeguar.