The Artificial Intelligence Paves a New Highway in Biochemical Research

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For the first time, a scientific progression achieved by Artificial Intelligence(A.I.) has been awarded with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024. There are more than billions of types of protein folds, with no known mechanism. Previously, the specific and detailed structure of proteins were unknown. However, the new  Alpha fold technology has enabled precise prediction of the protein structure. 

Proteins are complex molecules that form most of the living objects, and their shapes determine the function of the living organism. For decades, after humans started to research biochemicals, scientists struggled to predict how amino acids fold in the three dimensional space. However, Alpha Fold uses the A.I. to accurately predict its protein shape based on the information they have. This kind of technology will break the limit of researching topics that humans thought was impossible for thousands of years.

You may wonder if AlphaFold is the first time ever to solve a scientific problem using A.I. Answering the question, no. Scientists used the A.I. sensor to direct the gas that humans can hardly detect. Graphene-based sensors are being developed to mimic the human sense of smell, detecting toxic gas with high sensitivity. Information collected by the sensor is calculated by the A.I, detecting if the gas is toxic or not. Electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student Byung Joon Bae adds, "Our AI-powered system has the potential to make industrial settings, urban areas and even residential buildings safer by constantly monitoring air quality. It's a major step forward in preventing long-term health risks and protecting the environment" (Bae, 2024). 

“They cracked the code for proteins’ amazing structures” (The Nobel Prize, 2024). The biochemical field was astonished by such breakthroughs; Since predicting the protein folds was the major challenge for decades, AlphaFolds prediction significantly accelerated and facilitated the research process. However, some have expressed that while AlphaFold’s predictions are highly accurate for many proteins, there are still challenges on understating proteins that require experimental validation.

AlphaFold is set to calculate and understand the protein structure by using A.I. Its ability to predict protein folding with high accuracy accelerates research in fields like drug discovery, disease treatment, and biotechnology. This innovation enables faster scientific progress, offering new opportunities for medical advancements and solving global challenges. AlphaFold provides a powerful tool that will innovate and reshape how we approach complex biological problems. 

“AI-Powered System Detects Toxic Gases with Speed and Precision.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 5 Nov. 2024, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241105114328.htm.

Chan, Kelvin, et al. “Nobel Prize in Chemistry Honors 3 Scientists Who Used AI to Design Proteins - Life’s Building Blocks.” AP News, AP News, 14 Oct. 2024, apnews.com/article/nobel-chemistry-prize-56f4d9e90591dfe7d9d840a8c8c9d553.

“The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024.” NobelPrize.Org, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2024/popular-information/. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

“The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024.” NobelPrize.Org, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2024/press-release/. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.