An AI model developed in 2020 solved a 50 year old problem - Predicting proteins complex structure in humans. What is the model called?

The correct answer is Alpha Fold 2.

Key Points

• AlphaFold 2 is an AI model developed by DeepMind, a subsidiary of Alphabet, in 2020.
• It solved the long-standing problem of predicting 3D protein structures from their amino acid sequences.
• AlphaFold 2 demonstrated groundbreaking accuracy in the Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction (CASP14) competition held in 2020.
• This development has significant implications for drug discovery, biotechnology, and understanding diseases at a molecular level.
• The algorithm utilizes advanced machine learning techniques, including deep neural networks, to achieve its predictions.

Additional Information

• Protein Folding Problem
  • Protein folding refers to the process by which a protein chain acquires its functional 3D structure.
  • This structure is crucial for a protein's biological function.
  • Understanding protein folding has been a key challenge in biology for over 50 years.
• DeepMind and AlphaFold
  • DeepMind is a UK-based AI company acquired by Alphabet Inc. in 2014.
  • AlphaFold is one of DeepMind's flagship projects aimed at solving complex biological problems.
• Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction (CASP)
  • CASP is a biennial competition that evaluates methods for protein structure prediction.
  • AlphaFold 2 achieved near-experimental accuracy in CASP14, revolutionizing the field.
• Implications of AlphaFold
  • It accelerates research in areas like drug development and genetic disorders.
  • AlphaFold's predictions are publicly available through the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database.
  • This open-access approach democratizes scientific progress.