3. Foldit! Bend those proteins…
Here is where citizen science games all began. ‘Foldit!‘ is the Grandaddy of online science games and since starting in 2008 has attracted a huge following. Players solve complex three dimensional puzzles by “folding proteins”, and the best scoring players have already helped scientists get a better grasp on how diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer work.
The game is like a cross between playing a complex Rubik cube and fiddling with virtual plasticine! When you start playing you are given a virtual ‘protein’ that you must bend and mold into an ‘optimal’ shape. By using your mouse gameplay is basically bending a multi-coloured worm into as small a shape as possible: The smaller you can fold your protein, the higher your score. But bending it the wrong direction could lead to different parts of the molecule clashing which reduces your score.
Protein folding? Come Again?
Proteins are intrinsic to every living thing and even though biologists know quite a lot about them, little is known about what they actually look like! In order to better understand and build treatments for diseases like HIV/AIDS, scientists need to work out how proteins are shaped in three dimensions. Because these molecules are too tiny to see with a microscope, their shape needs to be ‘worked out’ by following a set of complex rules. Computers can try to do this by methodically going through every possible shape (which takes hours) but humans can often deduce the ‘optimal’ shape after playing around for just a few minutes!
Is it any good? The game is certainly pretty complex, and it will take a good hour to play through all the tutorials and learn the ‘rules’ of how to fold a protein. There is a huge and extremely competitive online community of players and you can even join a ‘group’ of like-minded puzzle addicts to try to work your way to the highest score.
Playability: 6/10 – A well put together game, but the game needs to be downloaded onto your computer, and unless you’ve got a modern PC the 3D graphics will be slow and jerky.
Fun Factor: 6/10 – Bending multi-coloured worms has a strange appeal, but you will need a good dose of perseverance to get into it properly.
Value to Humanity: 8/10 – Good players will make a real contribution to scientific understanding, and these findings could feasibly lead to developing treatments and cures in the future.
Good For: Competitive Puzzle players, Members of Mensa, Rubik cube fans
Click Here to Download and Play FoldIt!
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