Gamers Crack Puzzle Stumping Scientists

[Bean Counter]

In just 3 weeks, online gamers deciphered the structure of a retrovirus protien that has stumped scientists for over a decade and this opens the doors for a new AIDS drug design. The Foldit program at the University of Washington used their program of transforming problems of science into competitive computer games used their three-demensional problem solving skills to build accurate models of the protien. Within days, the gamers generated models good enough for researchers to build accurate models of the protien. the scientists also identified parts of the molecule that are likely targets for drugs to block. These features provide opportunities for the design of antiretroviral drugs.
The ingenuity of game players is a formidable force.
www.foxnews.com/health

[JJThomp]

This link will take you right to the article.

AFP: Online gamers crack AIDS enzyme puzzle

Pretty cool stuff.

[Shadowmeph]

Leave it to gamers to get it.Thats a good use of gaming

[Bond007]

They should do this for other major diseases/ viruses. I am sure the cost of developing a game is less than what gets spent on research.