AlphaFold 3, More Amazing Than AlphaGo ··· "Unlocking the Secrets of Life"

AI, Unlocking the Secrets of Life... Transforming Drug Development
AI Unlocks the Secrets of Life... Transforming Drug Development

Article by Columnist Choi Bong-hyuk | theesg News
Article by Columnist Choi Bong-hyuk | theesg News

Protein structure is key to understanding life's phenomena. However, predicting this structure remained a decades-long challenge in the life sciences. Artificial intelligence (AI) has provided the answer to this problem. The protagonist is 'AlphaFold,' an AI developed by Google DeepMind.
Protein structure is key to understanding life's phenomena. However, predicting this structure remained a decades-long challenge in the life sciences. Artificial intelligence (AI) has provided the answer to this problem. The protagonist is 'AlphaFold,' an AI developed by Google DeepMind.

AlphaFold is an AI program that accurately predicts the three-dimensional structure of proteins using only amino acid sequences. Simply put, it means the AI first sketches out the twists and turns of proteins, which are as long and complex as tangled threads. Since proteins must fold into specific structures to function properly, AlphaFold's predictions provide revolutionary insights for understanding life phenomena and developing new drugs.
AlphaFold is an AI program that accurately predicts the three-dimensional structure of proteins using only amino acid sequences. Simply put, it means the AI first sketches out the twists and turns of proteins, which are as long and complex as tangled threads. Since proteins must fold into specific structures to function properly, AlphaFold's predictions provide revolutionary insights for understanding life phenomena and developing new drugs.

Challenging the 'Protein Folding' Puzzle
Challenging the 'Protein Folding' Puzzle

In the mid-2010s, after astonishing the world with its chess and Go AI 'AlphaGo,' DeepMind embarked on another challenge. This time, it was the 'protein folding problem,' often called the 'holy grail' of life sciences. Previously, revealing protein structures required years of experiments and enormous research funding. DeepMind believed that AI's pattern recognition capabilities and vast data resources could solve this problem.
In the mid-2010s, after astonishing the world with its chess and Go AI 'AlphaGo,' DeepMind embarked on another challenge. This time, it was the 'protein folding problem,' often called the 'holy grail' of life sciences. Previously, revealing protein structures required years of experiments and enormous research funding. DeepMind believed that AI's pattern recognition capabilities and vast data resources could solve this problem.

Proving Its Prowess at the AI Protein Structure Prediction Olympics
Proving Its Prowess at the AI Protein Structure Prediction Olympics

AlphaFold made its debut at the 2018 international protein structure prediction competition 'CASP.' Despite being version 1.0, it achieved higher accuracy than any existing prediction method, securing first place. At the time, it wasn't yet at a level to replace experiments, but it proved the potential for AI to change the paradigm of life sciences.
AlphaFold made its debut at the 2018 international protein structure prediction competition 'CASP.' Despite being version 1.0, it achieved higher accuracy than any existing prediction method, securing first place. At the time, it wasn't yet at a level to replace experiments, but it proved the potential for AI to change the paradigm of life sciences.

In 2020, AlphaFold 2.0 showcased a completely new level of performance at the same competition. It achieved prediction accuracy comparable to or even surpassing actual experimental results. The scientific community hailed this as "the virtual solution to the protein folding problem."
In 2020, AlphaFold 2.0 showcased a completely new level of performance at the same competition. It achieved prediction accuracy comparable to or even surpassing actual experimental results. The scientific community hailed this as "the virtual solution to the protein folding problem."

Changing the Landscape of Science Through Data Disclosure
Changing the Landscape of Science Through Data Disclosure

In 2021, DeepMind made AlphaFold's prediction model and source code freely available to scientists worldwide. Simultaneously, it predicted and database-ized the 3D structures of millions of proteins. This data is now widely used across numerous life science fields, including drug development, disease research, and enzyme engineering. Research that once took years can now be completed in just minutes, significantly reducing the time and cost of drug development.
In 2021, DeepMind made AlphaFold's prediction model and source code freely available to scientists worldwide. Simultaneously, it predicted and database-ized the 3D structures of millions of proteins. This data is now widely used across numerous life science fields, including drug development, disease research, and enzyme engineering. Research that once took years can now be completed in just minutes, significantly reducing the time and cost of drug development.

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