Expert Foldit Protein Folder: JSnyder

[walter0bz]

would be cool to add VR style interface, perhaps with the head-tracking tech to display it in virtual 3d space, enabling you to manipulate with fingers.

or even good old fashioned 2d with touchscreen.

[huyked]

Oh my goodness, this looks so complicated. I need to try the tutorial.

[Shabasky1]

So all these modifications in this ui can be applied in real life?

[ShiftyShifts]

I always get really close to the end and then my subject gets aids...

[cpmc1]

The concept is absolutely brilliant.

[nach0s]

AIMHACK

[LoboOscuro3]

No se entiende como es el juego, creo que voy a experimentarlo la primera vez. despues juego de verdad. XD es bastante raro.

[pyt82]

Playstation Move would kickass with Foldit!!

[DarkRain9000]

yea the Nintendo DS would make this game huge.

[magick205]

Wouldn't it actually be more accurate to set it up in the way it happens in nature, one amino acid at a time out of the ribosome? Any folding that takes place would happen in response to that environment plus the impact from the proximity of the ribosomes own shape.

[KaoriBlue]

It wouldn't necessarily be more accurate. Many proteins don't fold in a serial manner coming out of the ribosome. That said, it certainly would be interesting if they accounted for chaperones.

The energy landscapes for most proteins is convex... this is far from a misguided effort and certainly an improvement over automated Monte Carlo sampling.

[magick205]

Oh, I didn't mean to convey the idea that this would be a misguided effort. I was just curious about the range of accuracy of the results. So the result derived is a possible range of configurations based on the amino acid chain? So how is it resolved to what the actual configuration is? X-ray crystallography?

[KaoriBlue]

That or NMR (for mass producible low-MW proteins).

My biggest concern about this is that humans are biased to do things in a certain way, and unlike Monte Carlo sampling, will consistently miss particular foldings. I assume the Fold-It people feed in known structures from the Protein Data Bank once in awhile to look for things like that?

[magick205]

Hopefully, the size of the sample they get from the number of people involved "should" offset any bias. But you are correct. Our minds and senses are built for the plains and problems of an African evironment. We may not even be able to consider some options. Kind of a bulit-in blind spot.

[LocoOffal]

so how long are the servers down for maintenance?

[OverusedChewToy]

I'm glad some people are finally unlocking the potential of game-like programs. Humans work and learn best when at play, I've found at least.

[Makron5]

Its genius, but like genius it's indecipherable to my mind, maybe if I played more I'd see it.

[tmad4000]

I can imagine that head to head play (racing?) could make it more exciting.

[britoca]

so do those who solve such puzzles get credited in the research papers that will be published?

[btbenj]

Yes, they will be (and already have been at rosetta@home)

[rogerpenna]

interesting, they should release it to XBOX360 and PS3 as well, since so many people own those consoles.

I think they can make the game a bit more eye-appealing and make it look more like a real game... maybe even multiplayer...

[salvagebar]

An excellent idea. Increasing the availability of the client can only help the research. Many people, like me, will understand the spatial challenge of the puzzle intuitively, without necessarily understanding the chemistry and physics of the proteins themselves.

[btbenj]

Actually, they have a multiplayer. You are constantly competing with other players to try to get the best score.

[Drooliog]

I was just thinking this would be ideal for the Nintendo DS, with its touch screen and other controls. Maybe it doesn't have enough processing power, though?

I think another idea, for the PC, would be to add mouse gestures to do common actions such as shake and wiggle.

[Drooliog]

Not quite sure why you directed your commented to me - I was merely suggesting interface/usability improvements - nothing to do with the science. But, I have a better idea. Download the program and try it, and perhaps understand the purpose of the project!

[heyitsleo]

Wow you piss me off. Your reply doesn't even make sense to the comment lol. It's as if you just wanted a reason to say you have a Masters degree.

[heyitsleo]

Oh I finally get it. You're directing your comment towards JSnyder lol.

[jhtrico1850]

@Drooliog iPhone/iPad are strong these days.