Gaming Science, folding@home, foldit, medicine, news, proteins

Foldit Makes Protein Folding A Game

Could you win a Nobel Prize in Medicine for playing a computer game? Foldit is a game for the PC and Mac that takes the Folding@Home concept and adds a more human element to the mix. Instead of having a network of computers work through all of the possible shapes for folding proteins, a problem so huge it could take centuries for all of the computers in the world to solve, Foldit presents unfolded proteins to the player in the form of puzzles, on the basis that human intuition could tackle the problem much faster.

"Some people are just able to look at the game and in less than two minutes, get to the top score," said (UW associate professor of computer science and engineering) Zoran Popovic. "They can't even explain what they're doing, but somehow they're able to do it."

Created by University of Washington doctoral student Seth Cooper and postdoctoral researcher Adrien Treuille, working with Zoran Popovic, professor of biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator David Baker, and David Salesin, a UW professor of computer science and engineering, the game could revolutionize the way medical research is done.

"We're hopefully going to change the way science is done, and who it's done by," said Popovic, who presented the project today at the Games for Health meeting in Baltimore. "Our ultimate goal is to have ordinary people play the game and eventually be candidates for winning the Nobel Prize."

The game itself is presented as a series of puzzles, slowly introducing you to the concepts of the game, offering point values for completing each level.

The team consulted with game developers in creation of Foldit, which along with human intuition introduces a competitive element to protein folding, allowing for players to create teams that will eventually compete against top researchers around the world. The game has been in testing with puzzles involving known proteins, and now they are beginning to move on to puzzles with unknown solutions. Later this year they intend to introduce proteins they wish existed, allowing players to possibly create all new biological creations within a game.

It remains to be seen how effective the Foldit is, but the concept itself is pure genius. If they could integrate this sort of thing into the Folding@Home project or just introduce it to consoles as a downloadable game via PSN or Xbox Live Arcade, they've immediately have some of the best minds in gaming at their disposal. Hell, with the push and pull mechanism of the puzzles I've played so far, even WiiWare wouldn't be out of the question, though then the medical community would have to tackle an even bigger problem - friend codes.

Computer Game's High Score Could Earn The Nobel Prize In Medicine [ScienceDaily]

6:00 PM on Thu May 8 2008
By Mike Fahey
5,253 views
32 comments

Comments

Cruithne at 06:22 PM on 05/08/08
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"Look at us still talking when there's science to do..."
Neolibertarian at 06:24 PM on 05/08/08
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Some company should commercialize this. Just pay people on the basis of the points they get. I bet you'd fold all the proteins you need in five years.
Sparx at 06:26 PM on 05/08/08
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I can see this as a potentially good thing. If more people see it int he context of a game it might up the results of folded proteins. I downloaded F@H on my PS3 the day it came out, but I'm ashamed to say I really haven't folded that much.
Caalro at 06:31 PM on 05/08/08
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@Neolibertarian:

I believe people are already paid for finding the solution to these problems. They are called scientists, and they can't even do it.
Tiberian at 06:32 PM on 05/08/08
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This is a great concept and i really hope it works or at least gets released in game form. Releasing it on XBLA/PSN/Wiiware would be a great way to get gamers helping out. I hope you keep us posted on this Mike Fahey^^
AlexDitto at 06:33 PM on 05/08/08
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I just wonder how many other obscenely complicated scientific tasks could be broken down to the point that they could be distributed in the form of a game like this. Theorem Proving in Mathematics? Machine Learning algorithms? Population dynamics tracking? Market basket data analysis?

Good heavens! Could gaming be... the future???
Palladium at 06:36 PM on 05/08/08
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Of course. Because I fold proteins in my spare time anyways.

I have a feeling that these are going to be the damn hardest puzzles on the planet.
skullivan at 06:40 PM on 05/08/08
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They must be getting hammered now, because the game can't connect to their servers...
Pammeh at 06:47 PM on 05/08/08
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This is just amazing. There are no words to describe how ingenious of a concept this is. :) Wow, just imagine being able to say 5 years from now that YOU were to on that discovered the 3D shape of protein xyz.
Highlander Wolf at 06:55 PM on 05/08/08
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I support this idea. I've always hoped that game-playing might be harnessed for the greater good... and I don't mean in a piloting-armed-drone-aircraft sort of way. But I figured that was the stuff of dreams.

Hm. This should be interesting.
Peryite at 07:06 PM on 05/08/08
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But I thought video games killed people and destroyed society, not saved lives!
Parapraxis at 07:23 PM on 05/08/08
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I have a biochem final tomorrow on this very subject.

Procrastinate? HELL NAW. I'm researching!

Next up... female external anatomy.
icelight at 07:26 PM on 05/08/08
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@Peryite: Let's be honest though, how many people would rather play a "virtual rape simulator" than a puzzle game? Or what was the scare phrase for Mass Effect "alien orgy game" or something like that? Don't those sound much more exciting. I bet this game doesn't reward you for folding while drunk...
Fyren at 07:27 PM on 05/08/08
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You wiffle-snappers got it good.

Internet?, no guy; we were comparing our e-peen on Oregon Trail. You know, when people actually had to memorize Sin, Cos, Tan.
Grey Gecko at 07:28 PM on 05/08/08
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props to them
if they release this on Wiiware and they make good use of ze wiimote AND its succesful enought with little children (wont be difficul task,is freaking Wii)then they will turn a whole generation of hyperactive kids into mad scientists...

the future will be near...i want hover car and a hover shoes
kevvlosophy at 10:15 PM on 05/08/08
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I challenge anybody to come to my house, look me straight in the eye, and tell me that THAT doesn't look like a christmas tree.
coffeeguy at 10:28 PM on 05/08/08
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@kevvlosophy: Funny, exactly what I thought.
The Red Comet at 10:56 PM on 05/08/08
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Haha, nerdiest game ever.

The main problem here is that you have a few skilled players and then a lot of idiots who will make things worse.
GcRayden at 11:52 PM on 05/08/08
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@Grey Gecko: No No! You're all wrong. It's Hover boards! The shoes only auto-lace. Haven't you ever seen Back to the Future Part 2? That comes in 2015, can't wait!

Anyways, this is a great idea. Hopefully this will come to the 360!
Youlikeyams at 12:28 AM on 05/09/08
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@The Red Comet: How will they make it worse if they're still helping with folding research?
OneManFreakShow at 02:18 AM on 05/09/08
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I downloaded it, and it's actually quite fun. And it makes me feel good inside.
Ravennaz at 04:15 AM on 05/09/08
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Wow, this is just amazing! I hope this will lead to many applications where gaming can help science! It's even fun to play (some serious games are really lacking in the fun department).
Odin at 04:57 AM on 05/09/08
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@Cruithne:
Genius.

As for the topic at hand, it's just telling us what we knew all along that our brains are more advanced than any computer on the planet. Only problem is I can't get solitaire to run on mine. =(
sleepfortheweak at 05:55 AM on 05/09/08
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I've done protein structure and bioinformatic research, and I'm getting a kick out of these comments.
Protector one at 06:16 AM on 05/09/08
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I don't want to be no Mechanical Turk :(
MaxS at 07:55 AM on 05/09/08
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I am amused at how people are getting all excited about doing "science", er, that is all the trial-and-error brute-forcing when all the analytics have been done for them. It's like marking physics exams using a reference answer sheet.
geekgrrl at 08:21 AM on 05/09/08
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i love the concept, but this has me baffled. i thought part of the beauty of computers was the ability to calculate faster than humans. in turn, how can we fold proteins faster than a humongous network of computers?
Eirias at 11:12 AM on 05/09/08
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I have a feeling that, once again, β-barrels will be under-represented. They get no respect.
NeoAkira at 11:24 AM on 05/09/08
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Connectedness Index: 200

@geekgrrl:

Humans are better at pattern recognition and are willing to try more unorthodox solutions to a problem rather than following a programmed algorithm like a computer. There's a whole branch of psychology devoted to human pattern recognition in fact.
Ehardergardens at 11:59 AM on 05/09/08
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@kevvlosophy: So what you are saying is the connection with Christmas (CHRIST-mas) obviously inherent in the design of proteins, is profound evidence for intelligent design (ID) at the very basic protein level?

We may need a new level of science recognition award to bestow upon this great discovery. Maybe even a special comeback episode of "In search of"
Ehardergardens at 12:22 PM on 05/09/08
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@NeoAkira: We are more complex and the problem with that is that we are also less consistent.
e.g. have an average human and a 2 dollar calculator try to divide a random 6 digit number by a random 4 digit number, and see which one gets the right answer more often and faster.

But when the soup of life calls for 'spice' of unpredictable problem solving let the humans add the variety...

hmm did I mean to imply cannibalism there?
fuchikoma at 12:50 PM on 05/09/08
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[www.gokigenyou.com]

@kevvlosophy:
Or "drill hair"... :p