More folding proteins.. but this time a game too

Folding@home runs on idle time, as I understand it, as does rosetta@home. I haven't got a PS3 yet which runs the former - waiting for LittleBigPlanet before I splurge (and have to remove the gamecube to make room).  But this, Foldit, is a game, designed to get players to develop actually-useful proteins for use in designing new vaccines.

Solve Puzzles for Science! is the strapline. How can you resist?

Technology Review says:

The game, called Foldit, is part of Baker's vision for the future of protein engineering. His algorithms are good at the nitty-gritty of generating completely novel protein sequences for a particular purpose. But humans, who are better at seeing the big picture than computers are, could improve computer-designed proteins by playing the game.

Some of the proteins could go towards helping to design a vaccine for HIV, even. This is double plus good.

(Thanks to Kim!)

Comments

[Cunzy1 1]

Wait! You don't have a Wii? Shame on you!

[Alice]

O I do. Well pointed out, my friend!