Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/gamers-pwn-university-of-washington-scientists-solve-decade-lon/
No
gamer's escaped the throes of adolescence without hearing the damning refrain, "Video games'll rot your brain." While scientific research into
that claim has so far
proved inconclusive, it turns out the preferred pastime of our digital era could potentially cure cancer, and even help prevent
AIDS -- in monkeys. Utilizing crowdsourced results from the downloadable protein-manipulating "game"
Foldit, scientists at the
University of Washington were able to attain a successful model of the simian AIDS-causing Mason - Pfizer monkey virus retroviral protease. For over a decade, researchers have been arduously attempting to reconstruct the folded shape of M-PMV with the aid of the task-specific Rosetta software, but to no avail. Now, in what they're calling a possible first, gamers were able to do what scientific brains and algorithms could not, creating a sufficient model for molecular replacement -- all in just three weeks. Feel like dedicating
your leisure hours to this worthwhile cause? Then be sure to hit up the source link below, and transform yourself from couch potato to couch crusader.
Continue reading Gamers pwn University of Washington scientists, solve decade-long simian AIDS protein conundrum (video)
Gamers pwn University of Washington scientists, solve decade-long simian AIDS protein conundrum (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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