Shinya Yamanaka: Reprogramming Life
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EN: Prepositional Phrase as an Adverbial: The sentence begins with 'After years of dedicated testing,' which functions as a time-related adverbial phrase. It sets the context for when the main action occurred.
After months of hard work, the project was finally completed.
EN: Collocation 'Make a discovery': In English, we often use the verb 'make' with nouns like 'discovery,' 'decision,' or 'mistake' to describe an action, rather than using a single verb.
The explorers made a significant discovery in the cave.
EN: Shinya Yamanaka is a Japanese scientist who won the Nobel Prize for discovering iPS cells. In Japanese culture, his story is often cited as an example of 'persistence' (ganbaru), especially since he was once considered a clumsy surgeon before finding his true calling in research.
EN: The sentence uses a 'Noun Clause' (that-clause) as the direct object of the verb 'found'. This structure allows the speaker to report a fact or discovery by connecting a full sentence to a main verb.
Researchers discovered that the new drug was effective.
EN: The phrase 'reprogram A into B' uses the preposition 'into' to indicate a transformation or change in state from one thing to another.
The magician turned the paper into a bird.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the action is performed on the subject. Here, 'were called' indicates that the cells received the name from scientists.
The new species was named after the professor who discovered it.
EN: Appositive Phrase: The phrase 'short for...' acts as an appositive, providing additional information or a definition for the noun 'iPS cells' immediately preceding it.
He lives in Kyoto, a city famous for its beautiful temples.
EN: The term 'iPS cells' was intentionally coined by Shinya Yamanaka with a lowercase 'i' to mimic the popularity of the 'iPod' at the time, hoping the technology would become just as widely recognized.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the subject receives the action rather than performing it. Here, 'the scientific world' is the receiver of the 'stunning' action.
The audience was deeply moved by the performance.
EN: Adverbs of Degree: The word 'completely' is an adverb used to modify the adjective/participle 'stunned,' emphasizing the total extent of the feeling.
The project was completely finished on time.
EN: The verb 'mean' can be followed by a noun clause (that-clause) acting as its object. In this sentence, the word 'that' is omitted, which is common in informal and semi-formal English. It connects the subject 'iPS cells' to the consequence or implication.
The heavy rain meant the football match had to be cancelled.
EN: The phrase 'no longer' is an adverbial phrase used to indicate that a situation that existed in the past does not exist now. It is more formal than 'not... anymore' and usually placed before the main verb.
He no longer works for this company.
EN: The use of embryonic stem cells has been a major ethical issue in science because it involves the destruction of human embryos. Shinya Yamanaka's discovery of iPS cells was revolutionary because it provided a way to create stem cells without using embryos, thus bypassing these ethical concerns.
EN: The use of the past participle 'surrounding' acts as a present participle phrase (reduced relative clause). It functions as an adjective to modify the preceding noun 'debate'. It is short for 'which surrounded' or 'that was surrounding'.
There are many issues surrounding the new policy.
EN: The verb 'avoid' is a transitive verb that must be followed by a direct object (in this case, 'a huge ethical debate'). It describes the action of preventing something from happening.
We should take the highway to avoid traffic jams.
EN: The use of human embryos in scientific research has been a major ethical and political issue globally, particularly in Western countries, due to differing views on when human life begins. Yamanaka's iPS cell discovery was revolutionary because it provided a way to conduct stem cell research without destroying embryos, thus bypassing these moral concerns.
EN: The present participle phrase (V-ing) is used here as a result clause, indicating a consequence of the main action. It functions as a reduced adverbial clause.
The company implemented new safety rules, reducing workplace accidents by half.
EN: The modal verb 'could' is used here to express possibility or capability in a past context or a hypothetical scenario enabled by a discovery.
With the new telescope, astronomers could see distant galaxies more clearly.
EN: In medical science, 'rejection' refers to the immune system attacking a transplanted organ or tissue. The use of iPS cells is a major breakthrough because it uses the patient's own genetic material, theoretically eliminating the need for immunosuppressant drugs.
EN: The modal verb 'could' is used here to express possibility or potential in the future. It suggests that while the outcome is likely, it is not yet a guaranteed reality.
New technology could reduce energy consumption significantly.
EN: The sentence uses a compound predicate where two verbs ('revolutionize' and 'offer') share the same subject ('This discovery') and modal verb ('could'), connected by the conjunction 'and'.
The program will educate students and provide job opportunities.
EN: The term 'personalized medicine' (or treatments) refers to a modern medical model that tailors healthcare to the individual characteristics of each patient, often based on genetic information. This was a major shift from the 'one-size-fits-all' approach.
EN: The Past Simple tense is used to describe completed actions at a specific time in the past. In this sentence, 'received' is the past form of the regular verb 'receive'.
She graduated from university in 2015.
EN: Prepositional phrases of time (e.g., 'In 2012') are often placed at the beginning of a sentence to set the context or emphasize when the event occurred.
In the morning, we usually go for a walk.
EN: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is one of the most prestigious awards in the scientific world. Shinya Yamanaka's win was significant for Japan and the field of regenerative medicine, as it recognized the discovery that mature cells can be converted back into stem cells.
EN: The Past Continuous tense (was/were + verb-ing) is used here to describe an ongoing background action ('doing laundry') that was interrupted by a sudden event in the Past Simple ('the phone rang').
I was sleeping when the alarm went off.
EN: The conjunction 'When' introduces a subordinate time clause. When the 'when' clause comes first, a comma is required to separate it from the main clause.
When the rain stopped, we went outside.
EN: The mention of Shinya Yamanaka doing laundry when he received the Nobel Prize call is a famous anecdote in Japan. It highlights his humility and 'ordinary' lifestyle despite his extraordinary scientific achievements, which resonates with the cultural value of staying grounded (modesty).
EN: The sentence uses 'It' as a preparatory subject (dummy subject) to introduce a 'that-clause' which functions as the real subject. This structure is used to place focus on the adjective 'ironic'.
It is surprising that he finished the marathon in under three hours.
EN: The Past Perfect tense ('had become') is used to describe an action that was completed before another point in the past (the moment it was recognized as ironic).
By the time the movie started, we had already bought our popcorn.
EN: Shinya Yamanaka often humbles himself by mentioning his past struggles as a surgeon, where he was nicknamed 'Jyamanaka' (a play on his name meaning 'obstacle' or 'nuisance') because he was not skilled at surgery. This narrative of turning failure into world-class success is highly respected in both Japanese and global scientific culture.
EN: The sentence uses the 'Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement' structure. Here, 'a moment of incredible recognition' acts as the complement, providing more information about the subject 'This'.
That was a period of great transition for the company.
EN: The preposition 'for' is used here to indicate the reason or the object of the recognition, connecting the achievement to the specific work performed.
She received an award for her bravery.
EN: The term 'groundbreaking' is frequently used in scientific and academic contexts to describe research that changes the way people think about a subject or opens up new possibilities, much like Shinya Yamanaka's iPS cell discovery.
EN: The 'to-infinitive' (to + base verb) is used here as an adverbial of purpose to explain 'why' the action is being performed. It answers the question: For what purpose does he run marathons?
She studies hard to get into a good university.
EN: The conjunction 'and' connects two noun phrases ('money' and 'awareness') that function as the direct objects of the verb 'raise'. This is known as a compound object.
The charity provides food and shelter for the homeless.
EN: In the scientific community, it is increasingly common for high-profile researchers to engage in public activities like marathons to humanize science and attract private funding, as government grants can be highly competitive or limited.
EN: The imperative mood is used to give commands, advice, or encouragement. It is formed by using the base form of the verb without a subject. To make it negative, 'don't' (do not) is added before the verb.
Don't lose hope during difficult times.
EN: The conjunction 'even when' is used to emphasize that something remains true or should continue to happen despite a specific condition or circumstance occurring.
She stays calm even when she is under pressure.
EN: Shinya Yamanaka is known for his humility and persistence. He often uses the metaphor of running a marathon to describe scientific research, emphasizing that long-term dedication is more important than short-term speed. This quote reflects the 'Ganbaru' (perseverance) spirit common in Japanese culture.
EN: The structure 'Subject + is + what...' uses a nominal relative clause (what-clause) as a subject complement to define or emphasize the subject.
Hard work is what leads to success.
EN: The phrasal verb 'drive someone forward' means to motivate or compel someone to progress or continue their efforts.
Her ambition drives her forward even in difficult times.
EN: The sentence reflects the value of 'persistence' (shitsunen or gambaru in Japanese context), which is highly regarded in scientific research and Japanese culture, emphasizing that success comes from not giving up.
EN: The verb 'continue' can be followed by a gerund (V-ing) to describe an ongoing action or a state that persists over time without interruption.
She continues practicing the piano every evening.
EN: The phrasal verb 'turn A into B' means to transform or change something from one state or form into another.
The magician turned the piece of paper into a flower.
EN: The mention of 'iPS cells' refers to a major milestone in Japanese scientific history. Shinya Yamanaka's work is a source of great national pride in Japan, representing the country's leading role in regenerative medicine.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To stop making an effort; to quit.
To collect money for a particular purpose, especially for charity.
To motivate or push someone to make progress or succeed.
Related to or connected with the utilization of something.
To change the genetic instructions of a cell so that it functions as a different type of cell.
Undifferentiated cells capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, or from which certain other kinds of cells arise by differentiation.
Artificially caused or stimulated in a laboratory environment rather than occurring naturally.
An immune system response where the body attacks a transplanted organ or tissue as if it were a foreign threat.