When computer programming became widespread, pieces of software were found to behave the same way, and were thus called “viruses.” And when it became possible to manipulate DNA in vitro, the metaphor of a “genetic program” appeared even more precise: scientists could construct experiments that corresponded to the reprogramming of cells merely by working on symbols in silicon.
一项惊人的观察结果为此推论提供了依据：病毒就像程序中的独立小程序，利用细胞作为必需的机器进行繁殖（通常通过破坏核心组织）。计算机编程普及时，人们发现有些软件也有此般表现,它们被称为“病毒”。当人们有能力在试管内处理控制DNA时，“遗传程序”这一比喻变得更为准确：科学家可以设计实验，仅仅通过修改硅片上的记号重新编排分子序列。