Scientists win 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for groundbreaking work on protein structures
In 2024, Three researchers’ work becomes a ground-breaking work for which they get the Nobel Prize in 2024 in the field of Chemistry. The studies have reshaped how we understand proteins, the fundamental units of life. It was awarded to David Baker of the University of Washington, along with Demis Hassabis and John Jumper of Google DeepMind.
The Fundamentals Of Protein Structures
Proteins are the building blocks of bones, skin, hair and tissues. They are large, complex molecules that play a number of critical roles in the body, from DNA repair to blood oxygenation. All living organisms are partly composed of proteins, organized groups of amino acids that can fold into complex forms necessary to carry out life’s processes.
Contributions from David Baker: Protein Design
David Baker is trying to crack one of the toughest codes in nature: design entirely new proteins, something once believed nearly impossible. Baker and his team did this in 2003 with their design of new proteins that can serve as valuable tools for use in medicine, as well as vaccines, and nanotechnology. The team has generated a protein that can guard against the coronavirus in this latter effort, and has been strikingly successful.
Deepest Understanding of Inheritance Award for AI) by Demis Hassabis, John Jumper
The breakthrough was claimed by a team led by Demis Hassabis and John Jumper at Google DeepMind, who built an AI (artificial intelligence) model able to identify the shape of nearly every one of around 200mn proteins researchers have catalogued. The model (Alpha Fold) built by this AI has fundamentally since revolutionized biology by solving a 50-year-old problem. Their discovery has enabled researchers to predict protein structures with unprecedented accuracy, and promises a host of other benefits across science and medicine.
Seeing the Significance of these Findings
Both teams were praised by the Nobel Committee for the discoveries they made, and the future potential their research papers are holding. The AI developed by Hassabis and Jumper amounts to a more widely available “Google search” for protein structures, meaning tens of millions of researchers around the world use it. The ability to design new proteins promises tremendous benefits to mankind, ranging from pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
In brief: The Postgenomic Age in Chemistry and Biology
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureates are recognized for their work on the discovery, development and production of proteins. Their research not only resolves stubborn problems but also provides a platform for future scientific discoveries that could transform everything from medicine to biology.
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