Dead Cat - the work of Matthew Gaffen

9/19/2011

Fold It - Gaming for Science!


This game is incredible. It allows individuals such as you and me to make significant contributions to the scientific community through gaming. I insist you play it!

It's also very addictive. I found it through @avantgame - she made the 'gaming for a better world' TED talk

It's already having significant effects - the game challenges people to map proteins - which helps scientists figure out how they work. For example, recently - thanks to the effort of gamers - the structure of retroviral protease was mapped. this is a key enzyme to the way the HIV virus multiplies, something that scientists have been working on for a decade. This research could really help in the fight against HIV.

You can read more on this at http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-20108365-247/foldit-game-leads-to-aids-research-breakthrough/


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