After a deluge of bio-engineers and chemists spent the lion's share of a decade trying to decipher enzymes critical to an HIV cure, gamers stepped in with the help of FoldIt and solved the mystery in a matter of weeks.
One of the most promising routes to a permanent HIV vaccine involves mapping the structure of and deactivating the Mason-Pfizer enzyme. However, unlocking the secrets of a small protein chain proved harder than previously thought -- but then FoldIt showed up! By providing random, experimental trajectories, FoldIt allowed gamers to predict the enzymes growth, giving researchers a better idea of where to stop and kill the HIV virus. Despite not having any formal training in bioengineering, these lay gamers worked in tandem with molecular biologists in order to publish a successful study.
Whoever said video games were good for nothing?
Gamer-Powered Research
FoldIt Allows Techies to Pave the Way to an HIV Cure
Trend Themes
1. Crowdsourced Research - The success of FoldIt in solving the mystery of the Mason-Pfizer enzyme demonstrates the potential for crowdsourced research in tackling complex scientific problems.
2. Gamification of Science - The use of gamification in FoldIt allowed non-experts to contribute meaningfully to scientific research, highlighting the opportunities for leveraging gaming platforms for scientific discovery.
3. Combining Expertise - The collaboration between gamers and molecular biologists in FoldIt's research showcases the power of combining diverse skillsets to drive innovation in scientific fields.
Industry Implications
1. Biotechnology - The biotechnology industry can explore leveraging crowdsourced research platforms like FoldIt to accelerate breakthroughs in drug discovery and genetic engineering.
2. Gaming - The gaming industry has an opportunity to develop more serious games like FoldIt that gamify scientific research and empower players to contribute to real-world problem-solving.
3. Education - The education industry can use the model of FoldIt to design interactive learning platforms that engage students in scientific disciplines through gamification and collaboration.