Online gamers beat medical research

[j_garcia]

Using an online game, gamers unraveled an enzyme chain in 3 weeks, one that researchers have been stumped by for 10 years. Maybe all that gaming does pay off Weird but cool:

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/online-gamers-crack-aids-enzyme-puzzle-161920724.html

Developed in 2008 by the University of Washington, it is a fun-for-purpose video game in which gamers, divided into competing groups, compete to unfold chains of amino acids -- the building blocks of proteins -- using a set of online tools.

To the astonishment of the scientists, the gamers produced an accurate model of the enzyme in just three weeks.

 

[Ares]

And to think there are parents telling their kids that playing video games would never amount to anything...for shame.

 

[Arcane19]

Crazy stuff, good find.