Indeed, we scientists use metaphors all the time when we communicate with one another: we speak of selfish DNA and orphan receptors and proteins that serve as chaperones and genes that hitchhike.

的确，我们科学家彼此交流时，一直都在用比喻：我们说自私的DNA，孤儿接收者，蛋白质像是伴侣，而基因像是搭车旅行。