Podcasts about protein folding

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop speaks with German Jurado about the strange loop between computation and biology, the emergence of reasoning in AI models, and what it means to "stand on the shoulders" of evolutionary systems. They talk about CRISPR not just as a gene-editing tool, but as a memory architecture encoded in bacterial immunity; they question whether LLMs are reasoning or just mimicking it; and they explore how scientists navigate the unknown with a kind of embodied intuition. For more about German's work, you can connect with him through email at germanjurado7@gmail.com.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 - Stewart introduces German Jurado and opens with a reflection on how biology intersects with multiple disciplines—physics, chemistry, computation.05:00 - They explore the nature of life's interaction with matter, touching on how biology is about the interface between organic systems and the material world.10:00 - German explains how bioinformatics emerged to handle the complexity of modern biology, especially in genomics, and how it spans structural biology, systems biology, and more.15:00 - Introduction of AI into the scientific process—how models are being used in drug discovery and to represent biological processes with increasing fidelity.20:00 - Stewart and German talk about using LLMs like GPT to read and interpret dense scientific literature, changing the pace and style of research.25:00 - The conversation turns to societal implications—how these tools might influence institutions, and the decentralization of expertise.30:00 - Competitive dynamics between AI labs, the scaling of context windows, and speculation on where the frontier is heading.35:00 - Stewart reflects on English as the dominant language of science and the implications for access and translation of knowledge.40:00 - Historical thread: they discuss the Republic of Letters, how the structure of knowledge-sharing has evolved, and what AI might do to that structure.45:00 - Wrap-up thoughts on reasoning, intuition, and the idea of scientists as co-evolving participants in both natural and artificial systems.50:00 - Final reflections and thank-yous, German shares where to find more of his thinking, and Stewart closes the loop on the conversation.Key InsightsCRISPR as a memory system – Rather than viewing CRISPR solely as a gene-editing tool, German Jurado frames it as a memory architecture—an evolved mechanism through which bacteria store fragments of viral DNA as a kind of immune memory. This perspective shifts CRISPR into a broader conceptual space, where memory is not just cognitive but deeply biological.AI models as pattern recognizers, not yet reasoners – While large language models can mimic reasoning impressively, Jurado suggests they primarily excel at statistical pattern matching. The distinction between reasoning and simulation becomes central, raising the question: are these systems truly thinking, or just very good at appearing to?The loop between computation and biology – One of the core themes is the strange feedback loop where biology inspires computational models (like neural networks), and those models in turn are used to probe and understand biological systems. It's a recursive relationship that's accelerating scientific insight but also complicating our definitions of intelligence and understanding.Scientific discovery as embodied and intuitive – Jurado highlights that real science often begins in the gut, in a kind of embodied intuition before it becomes formalized. This challenges the myth of science as purely rational or step-by-step and instead suggests that hunches, sensory experience, and emotional resonance play a crucial role.Proteins as computational objects – Proteins aren't just biochemical entities—they're shaped by information. Their structure, function, and folding dynamics can be seen as computations, and tools like AlphaFold are beginning to unpack that informational complexity in ways that blur the line between physics and code.Human alignment is messier than AI alignment – While AI alignment gets a lot of attention, Jurado points out that human alignment—between scientists, institutions, and across cultures—is historically chaotic. This reframes the AI alignment debate in a broader evolutionary and historical context, questioning whether we're holding machines to stricter standards than ourselves.Standing on the shoulders of evolutionary processes – Evolution is not just a backdrop but an active epistemic force. Jurado sees scientists as participants in a much older system of experimentation and iteration—evolution itself. In this view, we're not just designing models; we're being shaped by them, in a co-evolution of tools and understanding.

This podcast is brought to you by Outcomes Rocket, your exclusive healthcare marketing agency. Learn how to accelerate your growth by going to outcomesrocket.com AI is revolutionizing healthcare by offering new ways to solve complex problems, emphasizing data-driven solutions over traditional hypothesis-based approaches. In this episode, Dr. Sam Perli, Chief Scientific Officer and founding member of Thinkhat, discusses how his company is building an AI-powered venture studio to launch innovative healthcare and life sciences companies. Thinkhat serves physicians with its Noki co-pilot for automated tasks, patients with noninvasive monitoring solutions, and pharmaceutical companies with its Encode AI engine for optimizing sequence medicines. Dr. Perli acknowledges skepticism around AI but highlights its potential to solve complex problems like protein folding and neurodegenerative diseases. He encourages openness to AI and suggests cost-effective development strategies, including tapping into global talent pools and leveraging resources in places like Puerto Rico. Tune in and learn how Thinkhat leverages AI to address previously unsolvable problems in medicine, providing a diverse set of solutions across the healthcare industry! Resources:  Connect and follow Dr. Sam Perli on LinkedIn. Learn more about Thinkhat on their LinkedIn and website. Email Thinkhat directly here. Email Sam here. Fast Track Your Business Growth: Outcomes Rocket is a full-service marketing agency focused on helping healthcare organizations like yours maximize your impact and accelerate growth. Learn more at outcomesrocket.com

Fresh off this past week's presentation at the NFI global seafood market conference, we're expanding on the narrative surrounding AI—viewed by some as humanity's greatest threat and by others as its most remarkable invention. Join us as we tackle the recent upheaval caused by DeepSeek's new AI model, which not only disrupted global tech valuations but also showcased breakthrough capabilities that challenge established AI constraints. This episode offers a detailed exploration of how such innovations could profoundly impact aquaculture, from cost and data challenges to the potential in protein folding for sustainable seafood practices. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n' Bits blog.

In this conversation, Stewart Alsop welcomes Ekue Kpodar for a thought-provoking exploration of technology, history, and societal evolution. The discussion traverses topics such as DARPA's pivotal role in technological innovation, the symbiotic relationship between governments and big tech, and the trajectory of AI in reshaping everything from scientific research to social organization. They touch on the influence of open-source movements, the philosophical underpinnings of accelerationism, and the complex ethical landscapes AI introduces. You can connect with Ekue through Twitter or LinkedIn.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:24 Diving into DARPA's Origins02:21 DARPA's Technological Contributions03:44 Government and Big Tech Interactions05:07 Historical Context of Technology and Empires11:58 Big Science vs. Little Science16:55 AI's Role in Future Research32:40 Political Implications of AI and Technology41:14 Future of Human and AI Integration47:03 Conclusion and FarewellKey InsightsDARPA's Role in Modern Technology: The conversation highlights DARPA as a central player in shaping key technological advancements such as the internet and the early development of Siri. The agency's strategy of fostering innovation through collaboration with universities and private companies underpins much of the progress in tech we see today, illustrating how government initiatives have historically catalyzed transformative breakthroughs.The Symbiosis of Government and Big Tech: A recurring theme is the deeply intertwined relationship between governments and big tech companies. From providing cloud services to pioneering research projects, companies like AWS and Oracle play a vital role in national operations, emphasizing how modern economies depend on these partnerships to push forward technological frontiers.Generative AI and Science Evolution: Ekue Kpodar discusses how generative AI is revolutionizing fields like biology and chemistry. Tools like protein folding models and molecule generators are paving the way for breakthroughs in medicine and materials science, demonstrating how AI can accelerate complex research that previously required vast resources and specialized teams.Centralization vs. Decentralization: The episode delves into how societal systems toggle between centralized and decentralized models. While the U.S. strikes a balance, contrasting approaches like China's centralized focus highlight the impact of governance structures on innovation and societal organization.Philosophy of Accelerationism: The discussion explores accelerationism, a concept arguing that the rapid advancement of technology and capitalism could lead to societal upheaval, potentially necessitating a systemic restart. This philosophical lens is applied to understand the dissonance between human values and the unchecked growth of AI and economic systems.AI as a Management Tool and Existential Threat: Both hosts ponder the future role of AI in society, ranging from its potential to replace human managers with algorithmic oversight to Elon Musk's controversial stance on merging humanity with AI through initiatives like Neuralink. These reflections underscore the growing influence of AI in shaping human interactions and decisions.Imagination and the Cost of Knowledge: The advent of AI significantly lowers the cost of generating and accessing new knowledge, which raises profound questions about how humanity will adapt. The hosts speculate on how AI might impact creativity, societal evolution, and even the formation of entirely new paradigms that transcend existing frameworks of understanding.

In this engaging conversation on the Crazy Wisdom podcast, Stewart Alsop talks with neurologist Brian Ahuja about his work in intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, the intricate science of brainwave patterns, and the philosophical implications of advancing technology. From the practical applications of neuromonitoring in surgery to broader topics like transhumanism, informed consent, and the integration of technology in medicine, the discussion offers a thoughtful exploration of the intersections between science, ethics, and human progress. Brian shares his views on AI, the medical field's challenges, and the trade-offs inherent in technological advancement. To follow Brian's insights and updates, you can find him on Twitter at @BrianAhuja.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:21 Understanding Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring00:59 Exploring Brainwaves: Alpha, Beta, Theta, and Gamma03:25 The Impact of Alcohol and Benzodiazepines on Sleep07:17 The Evolution of Remote Neurophysiological Monitoring09:19 Transhumanism and the Future of Human-Machine Integration16:34 Informed Consent in Medical Procedures18:46 The Intersection of Technology and Medicine24:37 Remote Medical Oversight25:59 Real-Time Monitoring Challenges28:00 The Business of Medicine29:41 Medical Legal Concerns32:10 Alternative Medical Practices36:22 Philosophy of Mind and AI43:47 Advancements in Medical Technology48:55 Conclusion and Contact InformationKey InsightsIntraoperative Neurological Monitoring: Brian Ahuja introduced the specialized field of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, which uses techniques like EEG and EMG to protect patients during surgeries by continuously tracking brain and nerve activity. This proactive measure reduces the risk of severe complications like paralysis, showcasing the critical intersection of technology and patient safety.Brainwave Categories and Their Significance: The conversation provided an overview of brainwave patterns—alpha, beta, theta, delta, and gamma—and their connections to various mental and physical states. For instance, alpha waves correspond to conscious relaxation, while theta waves are linked to deeper relaxation or meditative states. These insights help demystify the complex language of neurophysiology.Transhumanism and the Cyborg Argument: Ahuja argued that humans are already "cyborgs" in a functional sense, given our reliance on smartphones as extensions of our minds. This segued into a discussion about the philosophical and practical implications of transhumanism, such as brain-computer interfaces like Neuralink and their potential to reshape human capabilities and interactions.Challenges of Medical Technology Integration: The hype surrounding medical technology advancements, particularly AI and machine learning, was critically examined. Ahuja highlighted concerns over inflated claims, such as AI outperforming human doctors, and stressed the need for grounded, evidence-based integration of these tools into healthcare.Philosophy of Mind and Consciousness: A recurring theme was the nature of consciousness and its central role in both neurology and AI research. The unresolved "hard problem of consciousness" raises ethical and philosophical questions about the implications of mimicking or enhancing human cognition through technology.Trade-offs in Technological Progress: Ahuja emphasized that no technological advancement is without trade-offs. While tools like CRISPR and mRNA therapies hold transformative potential, they come with risks like unintended consequences, such as horizontal gene transfer, and the ethical dilemmas of their application.Human Element in Medicine: The conversation underscored the importance of human connection in medical practice, particularly in neurology, where patients often face chronic and emotionally taxing conditions. Ahuja's reflections on the pitfalls of bureaucracy, private equity in healthcare, and the overemphasis on defensive medicine highlighted the critical need to prioritize patient-centered care in an increasingly technological and administrative landscape.

Now that we're starting a new year, let's look ahead at the opportunities and challenges facing the software business world in 2025.This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-biggest-opportunity-of-2025/The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/367-the-biggest-opportunity-of-2025Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fmSend me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvidYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw

In today's episode, MIT computational biologist Manolis Kellis dive into the hidden patterns linking DNA, evolution, and cognition, exploring a potential unifying theory that bridges biology, AI, and the essence of life. New Substack! Follow my personal writings and EARLY ACCESS episodes here: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com SPONSOR (THE ECONOMIST): As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe LINKS MENTIONED: - Manolis Kellis's Lab (website): https://compbio.mit.edu/ - Manolis Kellis's profile: https://web.mit.edu/manoli/ - Curt's article on language: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/language-isnt-just-low-resolution - Chiara Marletto on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uey_mUy1vN0 - Roger Penrose on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGm505TFMbU TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction 02:05 - The Scope of Biological Unification 06:02 - Biology vs. Physics 09:31 - DNA as Life's Language 13:45 - The Universal Compatibility of DNA 16:55 - Evolutionary Trade-Offs and Isolation 20:17 - Layers of Abstraction in Biology 24:51 - Beyond DNA: The Role of Histones 30:30 - Protein Folding and Function 35:26 - How Cells Interpret DNA Signals 40:24 - The Creativity of Language and Miscommunication 44:55 - Teaching and Simplification 51:09 - Evolution of Cognition and Centralized Decision-Making 57:35 - Vertical vs. Horizontal Evolution 1:04:20 - Specialization and Society's Role in Evolution 1:08:50 - The Future of Biological Understanding TOE'S TOP LINKS: - Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal (early access to ad-free audio episodes!) - Listen to TOE on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e - Become a YouTube Member Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Join TOE's Newsletter 'TOEmail' at https://www.curtjaimungal.org Other Links: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs - iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802 - Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything #science #sciencepodcast #physics #biology #consciousness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we talk to Charles Harris, PhD student at The University of Cambridge who is looking at marrying the lessons learnt by 2024 Chemistry Nobel Prize winners and their game-changing AI tool for predicting protein structures called AlphaFold with generative modelling and drug discovery.

Curious about the secret to staying young? Rob Signer shares insights into how our bodies age, focusing on the role of stem cells and a critical protein called HSF1 that helps them cope with stress. Signer explores the delicate balance of keeping these cells healthy without increasing cancer risk and highlighted some promising progress in enhancing the cells' ability to manage waste. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39980]

Curious about the secret to staying young? Rob Signer shares insights into how our bodies age, focusing on the role of stem cells and a critical protein called HSF1 that helps them cope with stress. Signer explores the delicate balance of keeping these cells healthy without increasing cancer risk and highlighted some promising progress in enhancing the cells' ability to manage waste. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39980]

Curious about the secret to staying young? Rob Signer shares insights into how our bodies age, focusing on the role of stem cells and a critical protein called HSF1 that helps them cope with stress. Signer explores the delicate balance of keeping these cells healthy without increasing cancer risk and highlighted some promising progress in enhancing the cells' ability to manage waste. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39980]

Curious about the secret to staying young? Rob Signer shares insights into how our bodies age, focusing on the role of stem cells and a critical protein called HSF1 that helps them cope with stress. Signer explores the delicate balance of keeping these cells healthy without increasing cancer risk and highlighted some promising progress in enhancing the cells' ability to manage waste. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39980]

Curious about the secret to staying young? Rob Signer shares insights into how our bodies age, focusing on the role of stem cells and a critical protein called HSF1 that helps them cope with stress. Signer explores the delicate balance of keeping these cells healthy without increasing cancer risk and highlighted some promising progress in enhancing the cells' ability to manage waste. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39980]

Curious about the secret to staying young? Rob Signer shares insights into how our bodies age, focusing on the role of stem cells and a critical protein called HSF1 that helps them cope with stress. Signer explores the delicate balance of keeping these cells healthy without increasing cancer risk and highlighted some promising progress in enhancing the cells' ability to manage waste. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39980]

Curious about the secret to staying young? Rob Signer shares insights into how our bodies age, focusing on the role of stem cells and a critical protein called HSF1 that helps them cope with stress. Signer explores the delicate balance of keeping these cells healthy without increasing cancer risk and highlighted some promising progress in enhancing the cells' ability to manage waste. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39980]

Curious about the secret to staying young? Rob Signer shares insights into how our bodies age, focusing on the role of stem cells and a critical protein called HSF1 that helps them cope with stress. Signer explores the delicate balance of keeping these cells healthy without increasing cancer risk and highlighted some promising progress in enhancing the cells' ability to manage waste. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39980]

In this episode, Professor Hannah Fry sits down with Pushmeet Kohli, VP of Research at Google DeepMind to discuss AI's impact on scientific discovery. They go on a whirlwind tour of scientific projects, touching on recent breakthroughs in AlphaFold, material science, weather forecasting, and mathematics to better understand how AI can enhance our scientific understanding of the world.Further reading:Millions of new materials discovered with deep learningGraphCast: AI model for faster and more accurate global weather forecastingAlphaFold: A breakthrough unfolds (S2,E1)AlphaGeometry: An Olympiad-level AI system for geometryAI achieves silver-medal standard solving International Mathematical Olympiad problemsPresenter: Professor Hannah FrySeries Producer: Dan HardoonEditor: Rami Tzabar, TellTale Studios Commissioner & Producer: Emma YousifMusic composition: Eleni Shaw Camera Director and Video Editor: Tommy BruceAudio Engineer: Perry RogantinVideo Studio Production: Nicholas DukeVideo Editor: Bilal MerhiVideo Production Design: James BartonVisual Identity and Design: Eleanor TomlinsonProduction support: Mo Dawoud Commissioned by Google DeepMind Want to share feedback? Why not leave a review on your favorite streaming platform? Have a suggestion for a guest that we should have on next? Leave us a comment on YouTube and stay tuned for future episodes.

Episode: 3203 The Shape of Proteins.  Today, let's talk about the shape of proteins.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 8-08-2024: Dr. Dawn compares conventional medicine with functional medicine, explaining their different approaches to diagnosis and treatment. The show addresses a listener's question about nutrition and supplementation for breastfeeding mothers, offering specific advice on omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, vitamin K2, and dietary recommendations. A new study using gut flora analysis and AI to potentially detect autism in children at an early stage is discussed, highlighting the potential for earlier interventions. Recent research using epigenetic markers to identify prenatal exposures allows early diagnosis of subtle, hard to identify congenital defects and start early treatments The show explores other new uses of AI in medical research, particularly in the development of new antibiotics and antibodies for various diseases including cancer. The potential of AI in protein folding prediction and its application in designing more effective antibodies for diseases like Ebola and COVID-19 is explained. Development of new antibiotics and antifungals using AI and nonprofit partnerships is discussed as a way to address antibiotic resistance where no market incentives exist to drive industry investment. Health warnings are given about Valley Fever (coccidiosis) risks at outdoor music festivals in California and dangers of freshwater algae blooms during summer. The potential of repurposing older, off-patent drugs for cancer treatment is explored, using the example of pyrvinium for colon cancer. The rising costs of new cancer drugs and biological treatments are addressed, with suggestions for alternative development models. A concerning increase in congenital syphilis cases is noted, with a call for more widespread testing, especially in pregnant women.

Send us a Text Message.Join us on this week's episode of Sidecar Sync as hosts Amith and Mallory dive into the fascinating world of exponential growth and artificial intelligence. From the historical context of computing power to the latest advancements in AI, we explore how these technologies are revolutionizing various industries, including healthcare and associations. Amith shares his insights on the future of AI, the concept of artificial general intelligence (AGI), and how associations can stay ahead in this rapidly evolving landscape. Whether you're curious about AI's impact on society or looking for strategies to future-proof your association, this episode is packed with valuable information and forward-thinking perspectives.

Episode DescriptionIn this riveting episode of "The James Altucher Show," James welcomes back futurist Jamie Metzl to explore the groundbreaking themes from his new book, Superconvergence: How the Genetics, Biotech, and AI Revolutions Will Transform Our Lives, Work, and World. As one of the most frequent and insightful guests on the show, Jamie shares his expert perspective on the rapid acceleration of technologies that are reshaping our future. From the intersection of genomics and artificial intelligence to the ethical implications of human-engineered life, this conversation is packed with insights that you won't find anywhere else. Tune in to understand how these technological advancements will affect your health, the environment, and the global economy.What You'll Learn:The concept of superconvergence and how it marks a pivotal point in technological evolution.The ethical considerations and potential risks of genome editing and AI.How AI and genomics are being used to tackle some of the most challenging health issues.The future of food production with lab-grown meat and genetically modified crops.Predictions for the next big breakthroughs in biotechnology and artificial intelligence.Chapters:00:01:30 – Introduction to Jamie Metzl and Superconvergence00:02:35 – The Most Exciting and Worrisome Future Technologies00:04:04 – Potential Dangers of Genomics and AI00:06:12 – The Convergence of AI and Genomics: A Tipping Point00:10:05 – Ethical and Societal Implications of Genome Editing00:19:06 – Lab-Grown Meat: Science and Ethical Concerns00:29:52 – The Debate Over GMOs and Misinformation00:39:30 – Breakthroughs in Genome Editing and CRISPR Technologies00:54:50 – Applications of AI in Healthcare and Beyond01:02:43 – Navigating the Future of Personalized Medicine01:13:05 – Predictions for the Future: Sustainable Innovations and Human-AI IntegrationAdditional Resources:Jamie Metzl's websiteSuperconvergence: How the Genetics, Biotech, and AI Revolutions Will Transform Our Lives, Work, and WorldHacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of HumanityAlphaFold by DeepMindJennifer Doudna's work on CRISPR ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to “The James Altucher Show” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn

Steffen Cruz, former CTO of the Opentensor Foundation, has teamed up with long time friend Will Squires to form Macrocosmos. With subnets 1, 9 and 13 under their guidance and a protein folding subnet on testnet nearly ready for launch, this group is shaping the future of Bittensor and one of the most influential forces in the ecosystem. Video link below.  https://x.com/KeithSingery/status/1790806126528700584 https://www.macrocosmos.ai/ https://x.com/MacrocosmosA https://x.com/crux081208 https://x.com/WSquiresI https://github.com/macrocosm-os https://taostats.io/validators/bittensor-guru-podcast/ https://bittensor.guru

Donna is joined by Rowena Gates, the co-founder of Eng3. Its Nano-Vi devices are designed to address the problem of oxidative stress and cell damage, which accelerate ageing and disease development. To work proteins must fold properly. The oxidants we are exposed to stop that from happening. Rowena explains how the Nano-Vi device can aid… Continue reading The Connection Between Health and Protein Folding with Rowena Gates

Donna is joined by Rowena Gates, the co-founder of Eng3. Its Nano-Vi devices are designed to address the problem of oxidative stress and cell damage, which accelerate ageing and disease development. To work proteins must fold properly. The oxidants we are exposed to stop that from happening. Rowena explains how the Nano-Vi device can aid… Continue reading The Connection Between Health and Protein Folding with Rowena Gates

Hi everyone! This episode is a quick overview of the importance of protein folding and little glimpse of what happens when it goes wrong...Hope you enjoy and you learn something and always feel free to reach out to medtogether26@gmail.com with questions or comments!

For science-minded people, I think a good way to think of salvation history in the Bible is to consider it in the light of protein folding, where the same protein in “primary structure” is very different than that of “quaternary structure.” The same protein becomes something completely different in each stage, and until the “fullness of time” arrives for the Incarnation through Mary, the protein has not reached its highest state. Until a protein folds into a certain shape, it cannot perform its full function. This is a marvelous thing to study in science, and I have a hard time believing that people don't recognize the genius of God in this amazingly simple yet incredibly complex topic of protein folding. But then I can look at a blade of grass and see the wonder and awe of God in it, so maybe I'm strange. But it is truly mind blowing that the same peptide chains can configure into different shapes that have wildly different purposes and usages. This same unfolding and folding happens in individual lives. If you ever have the joy of watching someone in addiction come to believe and receive new life, this can happen before your eyes instead of over thousands of years. I realize this is quite a leap from reading the Bible in the light of professional wrestling, but protein folding may help us see that the world of Adam and Cain is different from that of Noah, and that of Abraham, and that of Moses, and that of Jesus. Each covenant is a “fold” toward the “fullness of time” that Jesus speaks of when he arrives. I once heard a person describe his awakening from addiction this way: throughout his life he felt as if he was holding a piece of construction paper in front of his face, and was never able to see much. Somewhere on this sheet of construction paper were two eye-holes, and now and then, he would shift the paper so that the eye-holes lined up with his eyes for a bit. And he could see. Once he began to pray and work toward a relationship with God, he could see more often, and now he can see, because he is in the right position. But really, he says that his sight was positioned for him. Something higher shifted him and the paper to allow the light. This is similar to how this protein folding metaphor works. The same chemical compound is present, but in order to become useful in a new way, a shift must happen. Although it is the exact same protein, it is not the same shape after the folding, and can suddenly do new things. It's the equivalent of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Once we are turned into the right shape we unlock the next phase, or level-up, as gamers would say. We can see this folding and changing in the sacred texts. If Adam is the primary structure of a protein, Moses seems to be quaternary structure in this metaphor. He unlocks new meaning in salvation history. Both are men, but they reach new heights as salvation history unfolds. And Jesus is infinitely beyond Moses, because it is he, God incarnate, who took on our human shape, but also made the atoms that form all proteins in the first place. He's the second person of the three-in-one, the Trinity, who holds the gravitational constant in perfect position to allow such miracles of physics to happen repeatedly. Occasionally he even pokes his finger into the laws of nature to, say, walk on water or just walk with us in our trials, and we call these moments miracles. In God's plan, somehow the descendants of Cain helped lead to this fourth folding, and now we await the final folding when the marriage of heaven and earth happen. Of course we don't understand it fully because we are not God, we are like dogs looking at humans and pondering their behavior, or like me observing the goose on the exit ramp and wondering why there are cars. Goose, dog, me - none are God, but the two animals in that list are living more in alignment with God's will than I am. Somehow, someway, cities and weapons and family breakdown is all allowed in God's plan. Geese getting hit on the exit ramp is part of the plan. Our history from Cain onward of scarring and ripping God's plentiful earth is part of the plan. The Chosen people, the Israelites attacked and killed the giant clans as part of the plan. Then they themselves were slaughtered by the Assyrians and Babylonians as part of the plan. Caesar killed a few million people in the Gallic wars as part of God's plan that preceded the fullness of time when Jesus arrived. Since the Resurrection we've had ever larger wars and plagues and famines. Personally, I can't understand it all without the ideas of free will and redemptive suffering. I wish you luck if you are going to spend a life trying to reconcile suicide, addiction, murder, poverty, starvation, and rampant sexual sin without free will and a living God that allows us to sin out of love but yearns for us to return and repent like Prodigal Sons. It is quite clear that sin is the cause of all suffering. Yet a little voice is calling to us all, if we will pause to listen for it, and only when we do can we “fold” into the next phase, as a more spiritually mature structure, when we allow God to take control, and his will to be done for our lives. It is always the Cains of this world that create a living hell in trying to create heaven through power and increasing technology. It seems obvious at this point that the next serious famine will come when our machines stop working, or electricity fails, or we poison the water. Yet we look back at those who lived sustainably in the middle ages and “dark ages” as ignorant fools, even though they lived in harmony with nature and in small communities, like the goose family on the exit ramp (from the prior post). We rush in our cars on massive highways and if we happen to run over the goose, we don't even stop. As William Blake said in the Proverbs of Hell, “The cut worm forgives the plow,” and also, “The busy bee has no time for sorrow.” These are not compliments, but highways to hell, and we willingly choose those paths. We assume the march of progress will save us but like Lamech and Cain, the wise of this age will be made fools. St. Paul was aware of this, as his own wisdom revealed itself as foolish. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (1 Cor 1:18-21)Cain never folded past his primary structure, but in the Saints you see the change, the shift, the turning, the folding - from primary to secondary to tertiary to quaternary. This is how and why people change once they fully see Christ as God himself. What seemed wise before becomes foolish once the light of faith alters the meaning of every moment and interaction, because the base fear of death is removed completely, and when that happens the kingdom of God is already among us. It's suddenly visible even amid the suffering. This protein folding metaphor can work on a social level or personal, because it seems that if we are stuck in sin, we have not leveled-up from primary structure. Or, if we have folded into an advanced structure, but then fall back we have gone through some “denaturing” process and need to surrender to God once again to level-up. (And of course, in the spiritual life we level-up by going down, like Dante going down into hell - by kneeling, we let go and let God fold us into the shape he wants, and prayer is the catalyst.) As for the mark of Cain, which protects him, it's disturbing to many that he is not killed. But the death penalty comes about when Noah's covenant is announced, and again in the Mosaic law. The world is still in primary structure when Cain commits sin and allows it into the world. (Worth noting here is that in the book of Numbers, the Israelite law requires “cities of refuge” for accidental death (manslaughter) and wandering exiles, so God's law shows mercy to those who haven't committed murder in malice.)But Cain then wanders as an exile, lost, in psychological torture apparently, turned away from God, it seems. Or perhaps he is saved? We cannot know, just as we cannot know who is saved or not, as the particular judgement of any person, besides the canonized saints, is known but to God alone. So Cain's descendants accomplish much, and seize power and wealth and pleasure. But there's a problem with those pursuits. Power lives in perpetual fear of losing power. Wealth lives in perpetual fear of losing wealth. Pleasure lives in…ok you get the point. We have a role to play in a much larger plan, and to play it properly our highest loyalty must be to Christ, not to a nation, not to a president, and not to an ideology. If you need a key to understanding the Old Testament, it is this: people sin, and things go badly, but it calls them to change, to fold into the next structure that leads them to their ultimate purpose. This is the password to unlocking the mysteries. Everyone sins. Everyone falls. But that is where the “folding” happens to allow us to fit into the puzzle of higher purpose. Abraham sins by taking two wives, and he even gives his wife Sarah to save his skin when he is fearful. He suffers for it. Moses sins, multiple times. He suffers for it. David sins so badly that even small children understand that his move to kill Uriah is an incredibly dirty mafia hit. For goodness sakes, Samson…we'll get to Samson later, in some other series. When the folding happens to us, where life and experience and time and age re-shape us, we can either become static in a unending prideful pity-party…or we can seek faith, hope, and charity. Even a protein like hemoglobin knows that when change happens, it works toward the purpose for which God created it, which is to carry oxygen to our cells. When it is disordered, you have sickle cell anemia and other maladies. And some proteins malfunction, just as some acorns never become oak trees. Such is God's will. God's way is beyond our pay grade of knowing, and even what we can know, we cannot fully understand. However, even a protein that malfunctions or an acorn that never germinates still is ready to attempt to live out its purpose. Even if deformed or broken, these “mindless” proteins and seeds know that to carry oxygen or to sprout a sapling is what they must do if the conditions are right. We are no different. Our primary structure is the joining of two cells, and then we fold into a process of mitosis in our mothers' wombs, then we fold into the light, then we fold into childhood, fold into adolescence, fold into adulthood, parenthood, and old age. From the first cell all the way to the grave, we have the same soul. The protein in its folding does not change, but becomes capable in different ways. We are made to be human, with a body and soul, and we are made by God and for God, thus our ultimate purpose is not to make money or win honor, it is to return to eternal life with God, who is the only being that can satisfy our souls. The hunger we have for meaning is the same as our cells for oxygen. Our bellies cry out for food, and we know food exists, so we eat. Our tongue notifies us that water is needed, and water exists. And our heart yearns to have a relationship with God, with a holy family, and it too exists. When all of these other hungers, thirsts, and yearnings have corresponding solutions, so does the greatest desire of all, which is to be loved and to seek supreme happiness, which can be had, in this life and the next. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whydidpetersink.substack.com

This week they discuss 2 articles 2 years apart about protein folding and implications of this success. They smoke the Lampert 1675 Edition Azul and drink the Iron Root's Saints Alley Heretic finished in Rhum casks.  They wrap up with some sci fi talk and hope we don't miss our successes like they have. ‘The game has changed.' AI triumphs at protein folding. Dec 2020 ‘The game has changed.' AI triumphs at protein folding | Science ‘The entire protein universe': AI predicts shape of nearly every known protein Now AI Can Be Used to Design New Proteins | The Scientist Magazine® (the-scientist.com)

Rowena Gates is a principal at Eng3 Corporation. She helped launch Eng3's NanoVi technology and currently oversees business development for its use in health, wellness, and performance.  Rowena has been a serial entrepreneur since 1995 when she co-founded one of the earliest companies to offer an Internet-based solution to the logistics industry. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Washington for her work on international strategic alliances and regional economic development. While her collaborative approach remains, her focus has shifted from the economic wellbeing of regions to the health and wellness of individuals. In this episode, Rowena chats with Tara about light frequencies, mitochondrial health and the NanoVi product that helps enable the correct protein folding in the body. Learn more about NanoVi here: http://www.eng3corp.com/tara Instagram: @eng3corp IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL DISCOVER:  00:02:00 - what people need to know about the process of protein folding in our body 00:12:28 - what NanoVi is and how it works 00:26:20 - how you can leverage hyperbaric oxygen therapy and NanoVi together 00:30:50 - how increasing mitochondrial energy is critical to health  

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.06.21.546009v1?rss=1 Authors: San Gil, R., Pascovici, D., Venturato, J., Brown-Wright, H., Mehta, P., Madrid San Martin, L., Wu, J., Chui, Y. K., Bademosi, A., Swaminathan, S., Luan, W., Berning, B. A., Wright, A. L., Keating, S. S., Lee, A., Morsch, M., Chung, R. S., Lisowski, L., Mirzaei, M., Walker, A. K. Abstract: Understanding the mechanisms that drive TDP-43 pathology is integral to combating neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). To address this, we sought to determine the timeline of proteomic alterations across disease course in TDP-43 proteinopathy. Using longitudinal quantitative proteomics analysis of cortex samples from the cytoplasmic TDP-43 rNLS8 mouse model of ALS and FTLD, we identified several distinct protein subsets characterized by temporal alterations in protein abundance across diverse biological pathways, including protein folding, intracellular transport, myelination, and neuronal synaptic function. Remarkably, neurons in the rNLS8 cortex elicited a transitory response primarily comprising protein-folding factors prior to and in the earliest stages of disease progression. This response included increased levels of DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 5, DNAJB5, and proof-of-concept studies showed that DNAJB5 over-expression decreased TDP-43 aggregation in cell and cortical neuron cultures. Conversely, knockout of Dnajb5 exacerbated motor impairments caused by AAV-mediated cytoplasmic TDP-43 expression in the brains and spinal cords of mice. Lastly, the late disease proteomic signatures of rNLS8 mouse cortex strongly correlated with changes in human autopsy-derived TDP-43 proteinopathy tissues, indicating commonality of disease processes. Together, these findings reveal molecular mechanisms that regulate protein levels through distinct stages of ALS and FTLD progression, and suggest that protein folding factors that combat cytoplasmic TDP-43 protein aggregation could be protective in disease. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Dr. Elica Kyoseva, Ph.D. is the Quantum for Bio Program Director, at Wellcome Leap ( https://wellcomeleap.org/our-team/elicakyoseva/ ), a $40M +$10M program focused on identifying, developing, and demonstrating biology and healthcare applications that will benefit from the quantum computers expected to emerge in the next 3-5 years. Wellcome Leap was established with $300 million in initial funding from the Wellcome Trust, the UK charitable foundation, to accelerate discovery and innovation for the benefit of human health, focusing on build bold, unconventional programs and fund them at scale—specifically programs that target global human health challenges, with the goal of achieving breakthrough scientific and technological solutions. Dr. Kyoseva completed her Ph.D. in Quantum Optics and Information, at Sofia University in Bulgaria, and then moved to the Center for Quantum Technologies in Singapore as a postdoc. Three years later, she established her own research group in Quantum Engineering at the Singapore University of Tech & Design and subsequently spent a year at MIT (Cambridge, USA) as a Research Fellow in the Nuclear Science and Engineering Department doing research on quantum control and engineering. In 2016, Dr. Kyoseva was awarded a Marie Curie fellowship for research excellence by the European Commission with which she relocated to Tel Aviv, Israel and continued her research in robust control methods for Quantum Computing at Tel Aviv University. Since the beginning of 2020 she served as an Entrepreneur in Residence and Advisor at a venture capital firm and was instrumental for their investments in quantum computing startups. In September 2020, she took a senior role with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop applications of quantum algorithms to the drug discovery process working on the cutting edge of applied quantum computing technologies to improve the lives of both humans and animals. Additionally to her scientific career, Dr. Kyoseva is very passionate about ending gender inequality in the STEM fields and served as a STEM Ambassador to the UN Women Singapore Committee for 2 years. Currently, she is the Managing Director for Israel of the global non-profit organization Girls in Tech and on the Advisory Board of She Quantum and works towards encouraging more girls and women to pursue a career in Quantum Computing. Support the show

On today's ID the Future, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor hosts systems engineer Steve Laufmann, author with physician Howard Glicksman of the new book Your Designed Body. Egnor makes the surprising confession that his medical library is full of engineering texts because at some point he discovered that engineering texts, and engineering principles, often shed more light on human physiology than did his physiology books. Egnor, then, is extraordinarily well prepared to interview Laufmann about the amazing engineering of the human body. Tune in for Part 1, and stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3. Source

On this ID the Future, philosopher of biology Paul Nelson further explores AlphaFold 2, a cutting edge computer program from Google's DeepMind designed to rapidly suss out important secrets in the realm of proteins, indispensable molecular biological workhorses that come in thousands of different shapes and sizes. Nelson enthuses about AlphaFold 2 but also explains why he is convinced that AlphaFold's creators have hit a series of immovable obstacles. The watchword here—orphans. Tune in to learn what these mischievous orphan proteins are about, and what they suggest for AlphaFold, evolution, and intelligent design. Source

Today's ID the Future spotlights AlphaFold, an artificial intelligence program in the news for its impressive breakthroughs at predicting a protein's 3D structure from its amino acid sequence. Philosopher of Biology Paul Nelson walks listeners through the importance of this “amazing breakthrough,” as he describes it in a recent Evolution News article; but don't uncork the champagne bottles just yet. The reason, according to Nelson, is that while proteins, protein sequences, and protein folding promise to reveal much that is still mysterious in molecular biology, we now know that biological information involves far more than just an organism's proteome—that is, far more than the full suite of proteins expressed by an organism. Nelson uses analogies to manmade machines and cognates Read More › Source

On this classic ID the Future, hear another chapter from Nickell John Romjue's fascinating book I, Charles Darwin. Follow along as Darwin, on his visit to the twenty-first century, learns about DNA and the other amazing discoveries of molecular biology that have occurred since he developed his theory, as well as discoveries in physics and cosmology, which have our time-traveling Darwin reconsidering some of his earlier conclusions. Part 1 of the audio series is here. Part 2 is here. Part 3 is here. To learn more and to purchase the book, visit www.icharlesdarwin.com. Source

In this episode, we review the high-yield topic of Protein Folding and Degradation from the Biochemistry section. Follow Medbullets on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/medbullets Instagram: www.instagram.com/medbulletsofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/medbulletsIn this episode --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/medbulletsstep1/message

KSQD 6-29-2022 (rebroadcast): The roll of stress in chronic hives -- how to detect high histamine levels; The drug Baricitinib for rheumatoid arthritis also works for the hair loss condition alopecia areata; Artificial intelligence general solution to protein folding prediction from just DNA sequence; Using psilocybin to treat depression; How to repel ticks when in the woods; Many body and hair products have deleterious chemicals, especially bad for fetal development; Question about ketamine vs psilocybin use for depression; Pre-adolescents exposed to air pollution show deleterious changes in brain activity measured by MRI; The effect of stress on adolescent brain functions; Therapies to calm the spinal cord to relieve muscle spasms; Using interfering RNA to lower production of the unhealthy Lipoprotein (a)

KSQD 6-29-2022: The roll of stress in chronic hives -- how to detect high histamine levels; The drug Baricitinib for rheumatoid arthritis also works for the hair loss condition alopecia areata; Artificial intelligence general solution to protein folding prediction from just DNA sequence; Using psilocybin to treat depression; How to repel ticks when in the woods; Many body and hair products have deleterious chemicals, especially bad for fetal development; Question about ketamine vs psilocybin use for depression; Pre-adolescents exposed to air pollution show deleterious changes in brain activity measured by MRI; The effect of stress on adolescent brain functions; Therapies to calm the spinal cord to relieve muscle spasms; Using interfering RNA to lower production of the unhealthy Lipoprotein (a)

Using machine learning to predict how a protein folds helps solve a riddle in biology. But it is just the start.These algorithms open up new opportunities to explore the physiological processes that have eluded research, adapt and create proteins for therapeutic purposes, and even power nano-molecular machines.This week we speak with Professor David Baker about the enormous scope for making new proteins and how that translates into practical uses to tackle diseases, such as Covid-19.They also discuss the “technological molecular design revolution” and how nanomachines could work like tiny vacuum cleaners to clear arteries from atherosclerosis or our brains from Alzheimer's amyloid plaques.David Baker also explains why none of this is possible without a sense of community in the lab.Theory and Practice is a presentation of GV and Google AI.This season we'll dive deep into the languages of life through explorations of the "dark genome", genome editing, protein folding, the future of aging, and more.Hosted by Anthony Philippakis (Venture Partner at GV) and Alex Wiltschko (Staff Research Scientist with Google AI), Theory and Practice opens the doors to the cutting edge of biology and computer science through conversations with leaders in the field.

This ID the Future brings in protein scientist Douglas Axe to discuss his contribution to a new book, The Comprehensive Guide to Science and Faith. Axe and host Casey Luskin discuss Axe's thinking on the design intuition, the evidence that it's triggered almost universally in small children when they observe things like dragonflies or fresh-baked cookies, and why he's convinced that this intuition is a rational one rooted in our true sense of what sorts of things require know-how for their creation. For those who retort “Science!,” Axe has some of that to offer as well. As he tells Luskin, he led an experiment at a lab in Cambridge, England, on the abilities and limits of an enzyme to evolve. The research findings Read More › Source

This episode is about protein folding, specifically the protein folding problem that has pervaded biochemistry since 1960, when the first atomic-resolution protein structure was presented. First I will explain what proteins are, why they are important, what they are made of - proteins 101 - then begin unravelling the problem of how they fold. We will explore the motivations behind the problem and its greatest challenges. Finally we'll consider the existing methods for determining protein structure, with particular focus on DeepMind's AlphaFold, before finishing with the future of protein folding.https://whatwedontknow.buzzsprout.com/

George Gilder talks to Robert J. Marks about his book Gaming AI: Why AI Can’t Think but Can Transform Jobs. Show Notes 00:00:45 | Introducing George Gilder 00:03:30 | Is AI a new demotion of the human race? 00:04:59 | The AI movement 00:06:39 | DeepMind and protein folding 00:11:42 | Code-breaking in World War II 00:13:50 | Interpreting between… Source

KSQD 7-28-2021: A review of a variety of all important vaccines and the promise of RNA vaccine technology; Dr. Dawn favors topical hormone replacement therapy over oral versions; The problem of the Delta Coronavirus variant: weak symptoms but rapid spread; Brain to speech translation! Personal story for those who would benefit; Decoding words from brain signals -- Personal story for those who would benefit; Wearable brain-machine interfaces; New AI algorithms help the predicting protein folding problem

Our special guest, Spencer, wonders what protein folding is, and Linh and Dimitri try their best to explain it… slowly… Follow Spencer Curtis on Twitter: https://twitter.com/spencerccurtis References: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proteinfolding - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminoacid - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folding@home - https://foldingathome.org - Community science program - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzcTgrxMzZk - Motor Protein Errata: - Nucleotides used in RNA: C (cytosine), G (guanine), A (adenine), U (uracil) - Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

(0:45) - AlphaFold Solves Protein FoldingResearchers have struggled with the problem of protein folding for nearly 50 years but DeepMind - an Alphabet Inc. subsidiary - demonstrated the ability to detect protein folds using their AlphaFold AI algorithm at the biennial CASP competition in 2020. (6:30) - NASA JPL Tracks Firefighters For SafetyNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to develop a system capable of accurately monitoring the location of firefighters inside a building.  (10:40)  - Autonomous Shuttles Debut In DTUNobina is the largest transport group in the nordic region and they recently got approval to begin their autonomous shuttle trial at Technical University of Denmark (DTU). This trial will provide some much needed information on viability, areas to improve, and some data on how the future of urban planning will be orchestrated to consider autonomous vehicles.

What is the protein folding problem that has left researchers stuck for nearly 50 years? Knowing the 3D shape of proteins is so important for our understanding of various diseases and vaccine development. However, these shapes are fantastically complex and difficult to predict. Researchers have spent years trying to determine the 3D structure of proteins. Thanks to AI systems like AlphaFold, it's now much easier and faster to predict protein shapes. AlphaFold is currently leading the way in protein folding research and has been described as a “revolution in biology.” In this episode of Short and Sweet AI, I explore the protein folding problem in more detail and how AlphaFold is accelerating our understanding of protein structures. In this episode, find out: Why protein folding is so important Why it's so difficult to predict protein structures How Google's DeepMind created AlphaFold How successful AlphaFold has been in predicting protein structures Important Links and Mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg7WjuFs8F4 (AlphaFold: The making of a scientific breakthrough) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpedmJdrTpY (Protein folding explained) https://drpepermd.com/episode/walloped-by-alphago/ (Walloped by AlphaGo) https://drpepermd.com/episode/what-is-alphazero/ (What is AlphaZero?) https://deepmind.com/blog/article/AlphaFold-Using-AI-for-scientific-discovery (AlphaFold: Using AI for scientific discovery) Resources: Nature.com - https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03348-4 (‘It will change everything': DeepMind's AI makes gigantic leap in solving protein structures) SciTech Daily - https://scitechdaily.com/major-scientific-advance-deepmind-ai-alphafold-solves-50-year-old-grand-challenge-of-protein-structure-prediction/ (Major Scientific Advance: DeepMind AI AlphaFold Solves 50-Year-Old Grand Challenge of Protein Structure Prediction) Episode Transcript: Hello to you who are curious about AI. I'm Dr. Peper and today I'm talking about AlphaFold. One of Biology's most difficult challenges, one that researchers have been stuck on for nearly 50 years is how to determine a protein's 3D shape from its amino-acid sequence. It's known as “the protein folding problem”. When I first came across the subject, I thought, ok, that's a biology problem and maybe AI will solve it but there's no big story here. I was wrong. Some biologists spend months, years, or even decades performing experiments to determine the precise shape of a protein. Sometimes they never succeed. But they persist because having the ability to know how a protein folds up can accelerate our ability to understand diseases, develop new medicines and vaccines, and crack one of the greatest challenges in biology. Why is protein folding so important? Proteins structures contain as much, if not more information, than stored in DNA. Their 3D shapes are fantastically complex. Proteins are made up of strings of amino acids, called the building blocks of life. In order to function, the strings twist and fold into a precise, delicate shapes that turn or wrap around each other. These strings can even merge into bigger, megaplex structures. Only then can these proteins function in the way necessary to build and sustain life. A protein's shape defines what the protein can do and what it cannot do. But there's an astronomical number of ways a protein can fold into its final 3D structure. It's called Levinthal's paradox. Cyrus Levinthal, a molecular biologist, published a paper in 1969 called “How to Fold Graciously.” He found there are so many degrees of freedom in an unfolded chain of amino acids, the molecule has an astronomical number of possible configurations. There're an estimated 200 million known proteins with 30 million new ones discovered every year. Each one has a unique 3D shape which determines how it works and what it does. For the last 50 years, biologists discovered the...

Dr. Dinler Antunes explains what the protein folding problem is and gives a bit of history on the problem. Dr. Antunes describes the types of methods for solving the problem computationally. He then discusses the rise of AlphaFold 2 for protein folding and gives his thoughts on its impact. Our discussion then shifts to the molecular docking and related problems, where the problem becomes to predict how molecules interact with each other. Dr. Antunes discusses how this problem shows up in the real world, for instance when a drug interacts with a protein. He explains the computational aspect of molecular docking and molecular dynamics. Finally, we learn about related work in relation to finding potential treatments for SARS-CoV-2.

This week we talk about SETI@home, macromolecules, and AlphaFold2.We also discuss proteins, Foldit, and CASP. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

COVID-19 Update; News Items: Chuck Yeagar dies at 97, The Smellicopter, COVID Anti-Vaxxers, Are We Ready for Aliens; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Protein Folding; Name That Logical Fallacy: More Slippery Slope; Science or Fiction

Distinguish between activated and deactivated proteins and how each form is reached.