Muse Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/09/19/us-gamers-crack-puzzle-in-aids-research-that-stumped-scientists-for-years/?intcmp=obnetworkIn just three weeks, online gamers deciphered the structure of a retrovirus protein that has stumped scientists for over a decade, and a study out Sunday says their breakthrough opens doors for a new AIDS drug design. The protein, called a protease, plays a critical role in how some viruses, including HIV, multiply. Intensive research has been underway to find AIDS drugs that can deactivate proteases, but scientists were hampered by their inability to crack the enzyme's structure. Looking for a solution, researchers at the University of Washington turned to Foldit, a program created by the university a few years ago that transforms problems of science into competitive computer games, and challenged players to use their three-dimensional problem-solving skills to build accurate models of the protein. With days, the gamers generated models good enough for the researchers to refine into an accurate portrayal of the enzyme's structure. What's more, the scientists identified parts of the molecule that are likely targets for drugs to block the enzyme. "These features provide opportunities for the design of antiretroviral drugs, including anti-HIV drugs," the authors wrote. Proteins are made up of long chains of amino acids that fold into complex shapes, but their structures are difficult even for computers to predict. "We wanted to see if human intuition could succeed where automated methods had failed," said Firas Khatib, a lead author of the study, published in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. The researchers were hopeful that their finding would open further possibilities of crowd-sourcing and online game-playing in scientific discovery. "The ingenuity of game players is a formidable force that, if properly directed, can be used to solve a wide range of scientific problems," Khatib said. Seth Cooper, a co-creator of Foldit, added, "People have spatial reasoning skills, something computers are not yet good at. Games provide a framework for bringing together the strengths of computers and humans. The results in this week's paper show that gaming, science and computation can be combined to make advances that were not possible before."Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/09/19/us-gamers-crack-puzzle-in-aids-research-that-stumped-scientists-for-years/#ixzz1YYTr5Jne Link to comment
Beric Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I recently read an interesting article about the increased use of video games in businesses/education/getting masses of random people to take on huge tasks. Now I can't find it... Link to comment
Hobdog Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Really hoping for some insight on neckbeards. Disappoint. Link to comment
Cpatel23 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Really hoping for some insight on neckbeards. Disappoint. Link to comment
Jake Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I recently read an interesting article about the increased use of video games in businesses/education/getting masses of random people to take on huge tasks. Now I can't find it...It's called crowdsourcing, if that helps at all. The theory works on the fact that statistically, when sample size is large enough, it will be correct./obligatory this is my school's work post Link to comment
Hobdog Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I recently read an interesting article about the increased use of video games in businesses/education/getting masses of random people to take on huge tasks. Now I can't find it...It's called crowdsourcing, if that helps at all. The theory works on the fact that statistically, when sample size is large enough, it will be correct./obligatory this is my school's work postWill you autograph my thread print out so I can show it to my friends? Link to comment
Jake Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I recently read an interesting article about the increased use of video games in businesses/education/getting masses of random people to take on huge tasks. Now I can't find it...It's called crowdsourcing, if that helps at all. The theory works on the fact that statistically, when sample size is large enough, it will be correct./obligatory this is my school's work postWill you autograph my thread print out so I can show it to my friends?I go to the University of Washington where AIDS was literally cured.Best,Jake Link to comment
I Vander I Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 The game sounds pretty lame, but when you beat it I guess that would make you feel pretty good about yourself. Link to comment
Daytonnn Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Read about this a couple days ago. Link to comment
Erador Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Really hoping for some insight on neckbeards. Disappoint. Link to comment
Beric Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I recently read an interesting article about the increased use of video games in businesses/education/getting masses of random people to take on huge tasks. Now I can't find it...It's called crowdsourcing, if that helps at all. The theory works on the fact that statistically, when sample size is large enough, it will be correct./obligatory this is my school's work postThanks! I knew there was an actual word for that. The article I mentioned focused primarily on businesses replacing tedious job tasks with games to increase employee productivity and job satisfaction. It went a bit beyond crowdsourcing.----- Mo, you're on our memberlist because Runehead was hacked and rolled back. That's all. Link to comment
Linda Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Made me think of Ender's Game. Link to comment
Rafi Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Made me think of Ender's Game.Yeah for sure. Next thing we know we'll actually be fighting insurgents in Afghanistan when we are boss hunting! Link to comment
Ymesocool Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Made me think of Ender's Game.Must get to it... Link to comment
Joe Jenninz Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 I recently read an interesting article about the increased use of video games in businesses/education/getting masses of random people to take on huge tasks. Now I can't find it...It's called crowdsourcing, if that helps at all. The theory works on the fact that statistically, when sample size is large enough, it will be correct./obligatory this is my school's work postWill you autograph my thread print out so I can show it to my friends?I go to the University of Washington where AIDS was literally cured.Best,JakeI don't see a cure yet. Link to comment
B Z X Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 thought i was gonna see beards Link to comment
Joshjrn Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 I recently read an interesting article about the increased use of video games in businesses/education/getting masses of random people to take on huge tasks. Now I can't find it...It's called crowdsourcing, if that helps at all. The theory works on the fact that statistically, when sample size is large enough, it will be correct./obligatory this is my school's work postWill you autograph my thread print out so I can show it to my friends?I go to the University of Washington where AIDS was literally cured.Best,JakeI don't see a cure yet.Was it Jerico? It was Jerico, wasn't it? Link to comment
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